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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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WIPP: Lessons in transportation safety
As part of a future consent-based approach by the federal government to site new deep geologic repositories for nuclear waste, local communities and states that are considering hosting such facilities are sure to have many questions. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the only example of such a repository in operation, and it offers the opportunity for state and local officials to visit and judge for themselves the risks and benefits of hosting a similar facility. But its history can also provide lessons for these officials, particularly the political process leading up to the opening of WIPP, the safety of WIPP operations and transportation of waste from generator facilities to the site, and the economic impacts the project has had on the local area of Carlsbad, as well as the rest of the state of New Mexico.
ANS Standards Board established the Risk-informed, Performance-based Principles and Policy Committee (RP3C) to support modernizing of ANS standards. RP3C’s activities for training and knowledge sharing of risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) principles and practices include the RP3C Community of Practice (CoP). The purpose of this CoP is to support knowledge sharing of the development and application of RIPB principles and practices within the nuclear industry. This can include, but is not limited to, nuclear power reactors, research reactors, fuel cycle, and decommissioning. It can include U.S. domestic and international activities as well.
This CoP is formally sponsored and led by RP3C. The CoP is held virtually on the last Friday of a month and is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Membership to this CoP is open to all professionals interested in RIPB principles and practices. Those interested in being included in announcements may contact standards@ans.org. Information about the next presentation and links to past presentations are provided below. Many of the CoP presentations are posted to ANS’s Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NST Open Research) platform in the RP3C CoP Collection.
What is a Community of Practice?
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are group of professionals who share knowledge around a specific topic, craft, or profession. They can form organically or be directed. They can be physical, virtual, or combinations thereof.
Why are CoPs important?
CoPs are well established ways to support knowledge management and transfer. They are used frequently by organizations to help break down organizational barriers where information typically flows up and then down and across an organization. CoPs provide like-minded professionals an opportunity to share knowledge outside of the normal management and project process. CoPs enrich a professional's development and strengthen an organization's ability to manage knowledge effectively.
Next CoP Presentation:
May 29, 2026 - 3pm to 4pm ET
"New Reactor Licensing Frameworks: Parts 53 & 57" by Jon Facemire, Senior Project Manager - New Nuclear, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
ZOOM JOIN LINK
Add this and future CoP events to your calendar
Methodologies
These presentations discuss the development of RIPB methodologies that are higher level than an individual standard. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned during efforts to produce approaches and/or guidance that combine and/or synthesize information from multiple different standards.
Standards
These presentations discuss the development of standards that include RIPB methods and/or approaches. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned during efforts to revise an existing standard to incorporate RIPB principles as well as those developing new standards that incorporate these methods.
Concepts
These presentations discuss concepts that are foundational and/or complementary to RIPB methods. This content is most relevant to those interested in developing and/or applying RIPB approaches (e.g., standards or methodologies).
Applications
These presentations discuss tangible examples of applying RIPB methods in various contexts. This content is most relevant to those who would benefit from understanding the benefits, challenges, and lessons learned from implementing RIPB approaches (e.g., standards, methodologies, or guidance).
Perspectives
These presentations provide various perspectives on the role of RIPB principles, methods, and approaches in current topics or issues. This content is most relevant to those interested in understanding the status and potential future implementation of RIPB principles, methods, and approaches.
Informational
These presentations provide information about various topics related to RIPB principles, policies, and applications. This content is most relevant to those interested in learning about the important aspects of performance-based regulation history, ASME Section XI Division 2, and the next steps for the 10 CFR Part 53 rulemaking effort.
Last modified May 6, 2026, 4:07pm CDT
