Waste Management Day 2

The morning started with some early meetings and a quick walk around the exhibit hall. Then it was downstairs for the sessions.

The panel on “Producing Solutions and Creating Acceptable Disposal Pathways for all DOE Radioactive Waste Streams” was particularly interesting. This session focussed on waste streams and how to create acceptable pathways for the storage and disposal. It included how community engagement near DOE facilities worked, the budget implications of acceptable disposal pathways and international lessons learned for waste streams.

Presenters and panellists included:

• Amy Fitzgerald, Government Affairs and Information Services Director, City of Oak Ridge on “Producing Solutions and Creating Acceptable Disposal Pathways”
• Christine Gelles Chief Operating Officer, Longenecker & Associates
• Betsy Forinash Deputy Manager, Carlsbad Field Office, US DOE Office of Environmental Management, US DOE EM – CBFO on “The Role of WIPP: Waste Solutions and Efficiencies”
• Nathan Anderson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office on “Nuclear Waste Disposal: Observations and Opportunities”
• Carolyn Hanson, Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Council of the States on “Roadmap to Disposal - Building on International Experience for Success”
• Stefan Mayer Team Leader Disposal, Waste Technology Section, Nuclear Energy Department, IAEA

I managed to pop into a few presentations throughout the day - some were very technical and others were more broad-based. I thought the one by Ewan Woodbridge from Bristol University was a good balance for me - it was about using drones fitted with gamma-ray detectors for aerial inspection of legacy mine sites in Arizona.

There was also a panel later in the day on “Progress at Sellafield” that was informative and interesting with Chris Halliwell Head of Decommissioning Projects, Sellafield Ltd, Alan Wylie Superintending Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation and Clive Nixon Group Chief Nuclear Strategy Officer, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Tuesday's evening reception is generally one of the busiest. AtkinsRéalis had a big crowd at their stand where they were serving an amazing variety of Bourbon whiskeys to taste.

Later on, Mirion Technologies, Inc. hosted their usual event in the Hyatt. This year there was a Hawaiian theme with a Lei (flower necklace) presented when entering. The Mirion folks were wearing Hawaiian shirts and there was music from a group doing the Hawaiian equivalent of the Haka. This included audience participation!

The last event of the evening (for me) was a visit to Majerle's where Pentek Inc held their usual open bar. It was packed to the rafters as usual.