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Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Take steps on SNF and HLW disposal
Matt Bowen
With a new administration and Congress, it is time once again to ponder what will happen—if anything—on U.S. spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste management policy over the next few years. One element of the forthcoming discussion seems clear: The executive and legislative branches are eager to talk about recycling commercial SNF. Whatever the merits of doing so, it does not obviate the need for one or more facilities for disposal of remaining long-lived radionuclides. For that reason, making progress on U.S. disposal capabilities remains urgent, lest the associated radionuclide inventories simply be left for future generations to deal with.
In March, Rick Perry, who was secretary of energy during President Trump’s first administration, observed that during his tenure at the Department of Energy it became clear to him that any plan to move SNF “required some practical consent of the receiving state and local community.”1
G. W. Hollenberg, J. L. Jackson, J. A. Basmajian
Nuclear Technology | Volume 49 | Number 1 | June 1980 | Pages 92-101
Technical Paper | Nuclear Power Reactor Safety / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT80-A32510
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An instrumented absorber experiment in the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II yielded data on the helium release of boron carbide at exposures up to 53 × 1020 neutron captures/cm3 and temperatures from 766 to 952°C. Helium release results demonstrated a high rate of helium release initially, and a much lower rate at higher burnup levels. In addition, the experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of vents in releasing gas from a plenum during irradiation.
