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Division Spotlight
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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
Canada clears Darlington to produce Lu-177 and Y-90
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has amended Ontario Power Generation’s power reactor operating license for Darlington nuclear power plant to authorize the production of the medical radioisotopes lutetium-177 and yttrium-90.
Kai Hämäläinen, Päivi Mäenalanen, Jouko Mononen, Jussi Heinonen (STUK)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 963-967
Finland is the first country in the world to license a spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and disposal facility. Posiva Ltd. (Posiva) submitted the construction license application (CLA) in the end of 2012 and Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) made its’ review of the CLA within next two year and gave the statement and safety evaluation report to Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE) in February 2015. The construction license for Posiva was granted by the Government in November 2015.
STUK started planning the regulatory oversight of construction activities after finishing the CLA review. Regulatory oversight of encapsulation plant construction will follow mainly standard principles for nuclear facilities taking into account the graded approach. Oversight of construction of the underground disposal facility will require novel approach since excavating safety classified rooms in bedrock keeping in mind the long term safety aspects differs from traditional nuclear facility construction.
Posiva has constructed underground rock characterization facility, Onkalo, at the facility site during 2004-2016. STUK has regulated the construction of Onkalo as it would have been a nuclear facility because it was planned from the very beginning to expand the Onkalo in the future for the disposal facility. The gained experience will be used for the future regulatory oversight concept but it will require more development for the central tunnels, disposal tunnels and disposal holes which are the safety classified parts of the disposal facility.
Article will give an overview on the regulatory oversight of spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and underground disposal facility during the construction period and licensing of these nuclear facilities. Oversight during construction covers oversight of detailed design of systems, structures and component, feasibility demonstrations, construction activities for both facilities, monitoring the effects of construction of the underground disposal facility and commissioning of both facilities
