Tag: Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management

Southeast Compact Commission’s Administrative Committee Meets

Posted on by MidwestCompact

On September 12, 2018, the Administrative Committee of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management held a special called meeting via teleconference.

During the teleconference, the Committee discussed administrative matters related to the continued operations and staffing of the Commission, including, but not limited to, Commission bylaws; staffing requirements; staff salaries and benefits; personnel policies; internal controls for accounting; and, transition planning.

The following is the agenda for the committee meeting:

  • Introduction and Remarks (Donna Hodges, Chair)
  • Public Comment Pertaining to Agenda Items Only (Public)
  • Approval of Minutes from June 25, 2018 (Committee Members)
  • Discussion of Administrative Matters Related to the Continued Operations and Staffing of the Commission (Committee Members)
  • Other Business (Committee Members)
  • Public Comment (Public)
  • Adjourn

All Southeast Compact Commission and committee meetings are open to the public.  Interested stakeholders were provided an opportunity to participate in the call at offices in states located within the Southeast Compact Commission including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.

For additional information, please contact Southeast Compact Commission Executive Director Ted Buckner at (919) 380-7780 or at secc@secompact.org.

2019 Hodes Award Nominations Sought

Posted on by MidwestCompact

The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is accepting nominations for the 2019 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award—a program that recognizes an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  The award recipient will present the innovation being recognized at a lecture during the Waste Management ’19 Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.  The award recipient will receive a $5,000 honorarium and all travel expenses will be paid.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2018.

Overview

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award—established in March, 2003—is awarded to an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.

The award recipient will be recognized with a special plaque and an invitation to present a lecture about the innovation during the annual international Waste Management Symposium (WM ’19).  The 2019 symposium is sponsored by the University of Arizona and will be held in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 2019.

A special time is reserved during the Symposium for the lecture and the award presentation. The Southeast Compact Commission will provide the award recipient a $5,000 honorarium and will pay travel expenses and per diem (in accordance with Commission Travel Policies) for an individual to present the lecture.

Criteria

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award recognizes innovation industry-wide.  The award is not limited to any specific endeavor—contributions may be from any type of work with radioactive materials (nuclear energy, biomedical, research, etc.), or in any facet of that work, such as planning, production, maintenance, administration, or research.  The types of innovations to be considered include, but are not limited to:

  • conception and development of new approaches or practices in the prevention, management, and regulation of radioactive waste;
  • new technologies or practices in the art and science of waste management; and,
  • new educational approaches in the field of waste management.

The criteria for selection include:

  1. Innovation.  Is the improvement unique? Is it a fresh approach to a standard problem? Is it a visionary approach to an anticipated problem?
  2. Safety.  Does the practice enhance radiation protection?
  3. Economics.  Does the approach produce significant cost savings to government, industry or the public?
  4. Transferability.  Is this new practice applicable in other settings and can it be replicated?  Does it increase the body of technical knowledge across the industry?

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the individual/group must consent to being nominated and must be willing to prepare and present a lecture about the innovation being recognized at the Waste Management Symposium.  Individuals or organizations can nominate themselves or another individual, company, institution, or organization.

Nominations

To nominate yourself or another individual, company, or organization for this distinguished award, please contact:

Awards Committee
c/o Ted Buckner

Executive Director
Southeast Compact Commission
Post Office Box 5427
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 380-7780

(919) 380-7710 – FAX
tedb@secompact.org

or visit the Southeast Compact Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org/.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2018.

Southeast Compact Commission Holds 110th Business Meeting

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On June 26, 2018, the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management held its 110th business meeting at the Environmental Finance Authority Office in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Southeast Compact Commission’s Policy and Planning Committee and Administrative Committee met one day earlier at the same location.

Business Meeting

The 110th business meeting of the Southeast Compact Commission began at 9:00 a.m. EDT on June 26 in the Board Room at the Environmental Finance Authority Office.  During the business meeting, the Southeast Compact Commission received committee reports; adopted a budget for fiscal year 2018-19; elected a new Chair-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer; and, conducted other business as it came before the Commission.

Policy and Planning Committee Meeting

The Policy and Planning Committee met at 1:00 p.m. EDT on June 25 in the Board Room at the Environmental Finance Authority Office.  During the Policy and Planning Committee meeting, the Committee considered and reviewed the Strategic Plan and other matters as they came before the committee.

Administrative Committee Meeting

The Administrative Committee began at 3:30 p.m. EDT on June 25 in the Board Room at the Environmental Finance Authority Office.  During the Administrative Committee meeting, the committee discussed a budget for fiscal year 2018-19; Southeast Compact Commission finances; the ad hoc committee review of staff salaries and benefits; and, conducted other business as it came before the Commission.

All Southeast Compact Commission and committee meetings are open to the public.

For additional information, please contact the Southeast Compact Commission at (919) 380-7780 or at secc@secompact.org

Southeast Compact Commission Seeks Proposals for Compensation and Benefits Study

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The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management (Commission) is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to perform a salary study and analysis of fringe benefits of the Commission employees, their respective positions and job classifications as it relates to the market.

The purpose of this study is to examine the base pay and employee benefits of current positions and perform a geographical and professional market comparison of those positions.  The consultant will also recommend a five-year plan that will provide a methodology for evaluating and updating pay scales in accordance to the market.

The Commission asks that Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum (LLW Forum) members and supporters please forward the Request for Proposals (RFP) to all firms and individuals that you are aware of who may have an interest in conducting the study and analysis described in the RFP.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) may be found at the Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org.  

For additional information, please contact Ted Buckner, the Commission’s Executive Director, at tedb@secompact.org or at (919) 380-7780.

Draft Agenda Released for Fall 2017 LLW Forum Meeting

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Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia
October 16-17, 2017

The draft agenda for the upcoming Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum (LLW Forum) meeting has been released and posted to the organization’s website at www.llwforum.org. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Old Town Alexandria Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia on October 16-17, 2017.

As a reminder, the discount rate hotel room block for the meeting closes in just four weeks on September 29, 2017, unless the block reaches capacity in advance of the deadline.  Currently, there is only very limited space remaining in the discount room block.   Accordingly, interested stakeholders are encouraged to register and make hotel reservations for the meeting at your earliest convenience.

The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission are co-sponsoring the meeting.

The LLW Forum meeting documents—including a meeting bulletin, registration form and draft agenda—have been posted to the LLW Forum Meeting page of the organization’s web site at www.llwforum.org.  As a new option for interested stakeholders, a registration form may be completed and submitted online.

Agenda Topics  The following is a list of agenda topics for the meeting:

  • panel discussion/interactive dialogue re regulatory oversight of oil and gas operations—management and disposition of the resultant radiological byproduct material;
  • panel session re decommissioning of nuclear power plants—regulatory requirements and updates, operator experiences and future planning considerations;
  • development and implementation of a program re source reuse and reutilization;
  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulatory program emerging issues including rulemaking and guidance development; management of very low-level radioactive waste; and, program budget request;
  • NRC’s proposed revisions re guidance for alternative disposal of low-activity waste;
  • IMPEP process and non-common indicator re low-level radioactive waste disposal program;
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activities and updates including the development of new federal guidance for dose and risk assessment;
  • addressing cybersecurity issues and concerns at U.S. nuclear power plants;
  • emergency planning for radiological incidents and nuclear terrorism;
  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) activities and updates including path forward for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and transuranic waste across the DOE complex; waste management forecasts, planning and prioritization; and, next steps re Greater-than-Class C environmental impact statement;
  • Category 3 source security and accountability re-evaluation;
  • Mount Sinai experience in reducing and removing the risk of malicious use of radioactive materials;
  • pilot Source Collection and Threat Reduction (SCATR) project re disposal of high-activity cesium irradiator;
  • preparation and submittal of report to Congress by the Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force;
  • reporting and tracking of commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal;
  • NRC import and export waste and licensing activities;
  • radium contamination at non-military sites across the country;
  • updates and activities re the Waste Control Specialists commercial and federal low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Andrews County, Texas; and,
  • updates and activities re the Clive low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Tooele County, Utah.

Attendance  Officials from states, compacts, federal agencies, nuclear utilities, disposal operators, brokers/processors, industry, and other interested parties are encouraged to attend the spring 2017 LLW Forum meeting.

LLW Forum meetings are an excellent opportunity to stay up-to-date on the most recent and significant developments in the area of low-level radioactive waste management and disposal.  They also offer an important opportunity to network with other government and industry officials and to participate in decision-making on future actions and endeavors affecting low-level radioactive waste management and disposal.

Location and Dates  The fall 2017 LLW Forum meeting will be held on Monday, October 16 (9:00 am – 6:00 p.m.) and Tuesday, October 17 (8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel, which is located at 1767 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia.

Located in the historic, vibrant King Street neighborhood, the Hilton Alexandria Old Town hotel is one of the most convenient hotels in Alexandria, VA for business and leisure travelers visiting Washington, DC.  The hotel is just steps away from King Street Metro station and close to Reagan National Airport.  Downtown DC attractions and government buildings are minutes away by Metro.

Registration  All persons must pre-register for the meeting and pay any associated registration fees in order to be allowed entry.  Registration forms are needed in order to ensure that you receive a meeting packet and name badge.  Accordingly, interested attendees are asked to please take a moment to complete the registration form at your earliest convenience and return it to the Southeast Compact Commission at the mailing or e-mail address listed at the bottom of the form.

The meeting is free for up to two individuals representing members of the LLW Forum.  Additional and non-member registration is $500, payable by check only to the “LLW Forum, Inc.”  (Credit card payments are not accepted.)

Reservations  Persons who plan to attend the meeting are strongly encouraged to make their hotel reservations and send in their registration forms as soon as possible, as we have exceeded our block at the last few meetings.

A limited block of hotel rooms has been reserved for Sunday, October 15th and Monday, October 16th at the rate of $231.00 plus tax per night (for single/double occupancy), $239 plus tax (king), $251 triple and $271 quad).  The same rates have been extended to three days prior and three days post the meeting dates.

To make a reservation, please call (703) 647-2035 (Group Code is OLW).  Reservations may also be made at the website at:

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/D/DCAOTHF-OLW-20171015/index.jhtml.

The deadline for reserving a room at the discounted rate is September 29, 2017.

Transportation and Directions  From Reagan National Airport via the Metro, the hotel is located next to the King Street Metro Station, accessible by the Blue and Yellow lines and only two stops from Reagan National Airport. Directions from other airports are given on the Hilton website, www.hiltonalexandria.com.  Taxi fares are typically around $20.00.

If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Todd D. Lovinger, Esq.—Executive Director of the LLW Forum and Project Director of the Disused Sources and Part 61 Working Groups (DSWG/P61WG)—at (754) 779-7551 or at LLWForumInc@aol.com. 

2018 Hodes Award Nominations Sought

Posted on by MidwestCompact

The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is accepting nominations for the 2018 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award—a program that recognizes an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  The award recipient will present the innovation being recognized at a lecture during the Waste Management ’18 Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.  The award recipient will receive a $5,000 honorarium and all travel expenses will be paid.
Criteria  The criteria for selection include:

  1. Innovation.  Is the improvement unique? Is it a fresh approach to a standard problem? Is it a visionary approach to an anticipated problem?
  2. Safety.  Does the practice enhance radiation protection?
  3. Economics.  Does the approach produce significant cost savings to government, industry or the public?
  4. Transferability.  Is this new practice applicable in other settings and can it be replicated?  Does it increase the body of technical knowledge across the industry?

Eligibility  To be eligible for the award, the individual/group must consent to being nominated and must be willing to prepare and present a lecture about the innovation being recognized at the Waste Management Symposium.  Individuals or organizations can nominate themselves or another individual, company, institution, or organization.

Nominations  To nominate yourself or another individual, company, or organization for this distinguished award, please contact:

Awards Committee
c/o Ted Buckner

Executive Director
Southeast Compact Commission
Post Office Box 5427
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 380-7780
(919) 380-7710 – FAX
tedb@secompact.org

or visit the Southeast Compact Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org/.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2017.

LLW Forum Announces Details re Fall 2017 LLW Forum Meeting

Posted on by MidwestCompact

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum (LLW Forum) is pleased to announce that our fall 2017 meeting will be held on Monday, October 16 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) and Tuesday, October 17 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) at: 

Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel
1767 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia

Located in the historic, vibrant King Street neighborhood, the Hilton Alexandria Old Town hotel is one of the most convenient hotels in Alexandria, Virginia for business and leisure travelers visiting the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  The hotel is just steps away from King Street Metro station and close to Reagan National Airport.  Downtown DC attractions and government buildings are minutes away by metro.

The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission are co-sponsoring the meeting.

If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Todd D. Lovinger, Esq.—Executive Director of the LLW Forum and Project Director of the Disused Sources and Part 61 Working Groups (DSWG/P61WG)—at (754) 779-7551 or at LLWForumInc@aol.com. 

Southeast Compact Commission’s Administrative Committee Holds Teleconference Meeting

Posted on by MidwestCompact

On September 6, 2016, the Administrative Committee of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management held a teleconference meeting beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET.  The following was the agenda for the Administrative Committee meeting:

  •   Introduction and Remarks (Donna Hodges, Chair)
  •   Public Comment Pertaining to Agenda Items Only (Public)
  •   Approval of Minutes from June 22, 2016 (Committee Members)
  •   Consideration of Renewal of the Contract with the Executive Director to Continue Employment (Committee Members)
  •   Other Business (Committee Members)
  •   Public Comment (Public)
  •   Adjourn

For additional information, please contact the Southeast Compact Commission at (919) 380-7780 or at secc@secompact.org.  

Southeast Compact Commission Elects New Officers

Posted on by MidwestCompact

On June 23, 2016, the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-level Radioactive Waste Management elected the following new officers at its 108th Business Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

  •   Debra Shults:  The Commission elected Debra Shults as Chair, which duties will include presiding at all Commission meetings, appointing the membership of all committees of the Commission, officially representing the Commission, and performing all other duties that are normally performed by a presiding officer.  Shults has served as an Alternate Commissioner from the State of Tennessee since 1989 and as the Commission’s Vice-Chair since 2004.  She has over thirty years of professional experience in managing environmental programs in the state.  In 2010, Shultz was appointed as the Director of the Division of Radiological Health (DRH)) in the Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).  She serves as the Governor’s appointed State Liaison Officer to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); the designee to receive advance notifications regarding shipments of certain radioactive materials per 10 CFR 37; and, as Treasurer of the Organization of Agreement States (OAS).
  •   Steve Harrison:  The Commission elected Steve Harrison as Chair-Elect.  His duties will include representing the Commission on behalf of the Chair when needed; preparing to assume the position of Chair to assure continuity in the leadership of the Commission; and, assumption of the position of Chair if the current Chair is unable to perform her duties.  As Chair-Elect, Harrison will serve as the Vice-Chair and will automatically become the Chair after serving a two-year term as Chair-Elect.  Harrison has served as one of the two Commissioners from the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2014.  He has served as the Director of the Commonwealth’s Office of Radiological Health in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) since 2012.  Harrison joined VDH in 2003 where he has served as Assistant State Planning Coordinator, State Hospital Coordinator, Strategic National Stockpile and Exercise Coordinator, and Emergency Preparedness & Response’s Central Region Planner.  Prior to joining VDH, Harrison worked for Dominion Resources for 23 years, where he performed nuclear emergency planning and conducted radiological surveillance and testing.
  •   Paul Burks:  The Commission elected Paul Burks as Secretary/Treasurer, which duties will include supervising and controlling the funds of the Commission and ensuring that the minutes of all Commission meetings are recorded, prepared, and distributed to each member of the Commission.  Burks has represented the State of Georgia since 1984.  He has served on various committees of the Commission and as Chair of the Administrative Committee.  After serving nearly 31 years in Georgia state government, Burks retired in 2006 as the Executive Director of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).  Since 2008, he has worked on a consulting and part-time basis for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia.  He currently serves as State Services Liaison for the Institute.

The Southeast Compact for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is an agreement among six states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia—to provide for the responsible management of the region’s low-level radioactive waste.  The Southeast Compact Commission oversees administration of the Compact.

For additional information, please contact Ted Buckner, Executive Director of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, at (919) 380-7780 or at tedb@secompact.org or go to the Southeast Compact Commission’s web site at www.secompact.org.

2017 Hodes Award Nominations Sought

Posted on by MidwestCompact

The Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is accepting nominations for the 2017 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award—a program that recognizes an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  The award recipient will present the innovation being recognized at a lecture during the Waste Management ’17 Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.  The award recipient will receive a $5,000 honorarium and all travel expenses will be paid.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2016.
Background

Dr. Richard S. Hodes was a distinguished statesman and a lifetime scholar.  He was one of the negotiators of the Southeast Compact law, in itself an innovative approach to public policy in waste management.  He then served as the chair of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management from its inception in 1983 until his death in 2002.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hodes developed and supported innovation in medicine, law, public policy, and technology.  The Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Dr. Hodes and his achievements in the field of low-level radioactive waste management.
The Award

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award—established in March, 2003—is awarded to an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.

The award recipient will be recognized with a special plaque and an invitation to present a lecture about the innovation during the annual International Waste Management Symposium (WM ’17).  The 2017 symposium is sponsored by the University of Arizona and will be held in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 2017.

A special time is reserved during the Symposium for the lecture and the award presentation. The Southeast Compact Commission will provide the award recipient a $5,000 honorarium and will pay travel expenses and per diem (in accordance with Commission Travel Policies) for an individual to present the lecture.
Criteria

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award recognizes innovation industry-wide.  The award is not limited to any specific endeavor—contributions may be from any type of work with radioactive materials (nuclear energy, biomedical, research, etc.), or in any facet of that work, such as planning, production, maintenance, administration, or research.  The types of innovations to be considered include, but are not limited to:

  • conception and development of new approaches or practices in the prevention, management, and regulation of radioactive waste;
  • new technologies or practices in the art and science of waste management; and,
  • new educational approaches in the field of waste management.

The criteria for selection include:

  1. Innovation.  Is the improvement unique? Is it a fresh approach to a standard problem? Is it a visionary approach to an anticipated problem?
  2. Safety.  Does the practice enhance radiation protection?
  3. Economics.  Does the approach produce significant cost savings to government, industry or the public?
  4. Transferability.  Is this new practice applicable in other settings and can it be replicated?  Does it increase the body of technical knowledge across the industry?

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the individual/group must consent to being nominated and must be willing to prepare and present a lecture about the innovation being recognized at the Waste Management Symposium.  Individuals or organizations can nominate themselves or another individual, company, institution, or organization.

Nominations

To nominate yourself or another individual, company, or organization for this distinguished award, please contact:

Awards Committee
c/o Ted Buckner

Executive Director
Southeast Compact Commission
Post Office Box 5427
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 380-7780

(919) 380-7710 – FAX
tedb@secompact.org

or visit the Southeast Compact Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org/.

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2016.