MINUTES OF THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING NUCLEAR ...

MINUTES OF THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING
NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS SAFETY DIVISION
ANS NATIONAL MEETING
June 8, 2008
ANAHEIM, CA
ATTENDEES:
• Raymond Gallucci, Program Committee Chair rhg@nrc.gov
• Larry Zull; Program Committee Vice-Chair larryz@dnfsb.gov
• Stephen P. Schultz, Program Committee Secretary spschultz@duke-energy.com
• Amy Hull, Special Sessions Coordinator amy.hull@nrc.gov
• Kevin O’Kula, Topical Meetings Coordinator kevin.okula@wsms.com
• Agustin Alonso agustin.alonso@nexus5.com
• Robert Andre rdandre@gmail.com
• Anthony Baratta anthony.baratta@nrc.gov
• Robert J. Budnitz rjbudnitz@lbl.gov
• Allen Camp alcamp@sandia.gov
• Tony Cappucci tony.cappucci@wsms.com
• David Diamond diamond@bnl.gov
• N. Prasad Kadambi Prasad.Kadambi@nrc.gov
• Gerald Loignon gloignon@scana.com
• Charles “Chip” Martin charlesm@dnfsb.gov
• Herb Massie hmassie1@dnfsb.gov
• Dana A. Powers dapower@sandia.gov
• Bonnie Shapiro bshapir@sandia.gov
• Jan van Erp vanerp@aol.com
• Hartmut Wider hartmut.wider@gmx.de
A. Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Ray Gallucci, Program Committee Chair called the Meeting to order at 4:00 PM, welcoming all. The
Agenda for the Meeting is provided as Attachment 1.
B. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
Steve Schultz, Secretary, presented the Minutes of the previous Program Committee Meeting held at
the International Meeting in Washington DC. The Minutes were unanimously approved with
Amendment to add Hartmut Wider to the attendance listing. The amended Minutes for the Meeting
are provided as Attachment 2.
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C. Committee Reports
a. National Program Committee (NPC) (Larry Zull and Steve Schultz)
Larry Zull reported that the NPC session held at the February Paper Review focused mainly on
meeting planning for Anaheim and Reno rather than policy issues. Although there is an opportunity
for the Program Committee to meet at that forum, several NPC standing committee members are not
present. Larry noted that the next NPC meeting is on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 4:00 PM.
b. Paper Review for Anaheim Meeting (Larry Zull and Amy Hull) [see Attachment 4]
Larry Zull reported that 39 papers were finalized in seven full sessions and one half-session. Larry
Zull and the Committee recognized Dana Powers and Hartmut Wider for their superior contribution
to the technical program of the division by organizing multiple sessions focusing on experimentation
and analyses for severe accident phenomena: VERCORS, MASCA, ARTIST, and PHEBUS
programs. Larry Zull, Amy Hull, and Steve Schultz attended the Paper Review. No papers were
received for several of the session topics that the NISD Program Committee and only a few in some
that needed to be combined into more general sessions. The results of Dana’s and Hartmut’s work
(described above) demonstrate that the Committee should refocus efforts on session organization for
Call for Paper Topical Sessions.
There was discussion regarding the proposed session that had been planned for Anaheim GNEP
(Budnitz and Planchon). The consensus held that the GNEP Program is not ripe for reporting or
organizing a session given that the funding and work is in a transition. Herb Massie commented on
the need for the Division to develop a success-oriented formula re session selection. Ray Gallucci
noted that one element of that has been focus on timely, relevant meeting and session topics.
c. Operations and Power Division Liaison (Prasad Kadambi)
Prasad Kadambi reported that the OPD Program Committee continues to be concerned with the
payout system for rewarding performance for papers and panels at National Meetings. There is a
proposal for a “points” rating system that has been discussed at the National Program Committee
meetings. OPD is also promoting the elimination of the Track System as a designation for Sessions at
National Meetings. In the past the Technical Program Committee was charged with developing
Tracks for each meeting as part of the Call for Papers. In theory the TPC was charged with
developing the Tracks based upon the theme of the meeting and provided to the Division Program
Committees as a basis for deriving topical \sessions. Over the past few meetings the Technical
Program Chairs have not found value in designating the Tracks. Generally, they have not been
furnished early enough to affect the Division’s Sessions’ selection or the Divisions do not focus on
use of the Track System. Finally, the Tracks have not been used at the Paper Review “Auction”
sessions to place Sessions. Divisions may only do this on an informal basis. In summary, the Track
System is seeing little use and benefit. We can expect Technical Program Chair for upcoming
meetings to skip the step of assigning a matrix of Tracks.
d. Thermal-Hydraulics Division Liaison (Dana Powers)
Dana Powers noted that there continues to be an overlap in technical interest areas with NISD. THD
has 29 Papers this meeting, which is not as much as expected (45-50). There is a plenary session on
NURETH meeting. With respect to overlap: focus areas in THD discussions include GSI 191 (with
emphasis on sump screen performance) and Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) issues for reactors
(BWR Mark 1, for example) following power uprates or as part of issue resolution for plant life
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extension. A Severe Accident stand-alone topical meeting could be attractive to both THD and
NISD in the 2011 to 2012 timeframe. Collaboration between these Divisions would be a positive step
taken on NISD’s part (more on this later in the topical meetings presentation by Kevin O’Kula). The
THD discussions on Reno and Atlanta sessions and the resultant listings are typical for THD.
e. Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division Liaison (Herb Massie)
No report this meeting. Herb Massie plans to attend the FCWMD meeting in Reno.
f. Young Members Group (Robert Andre)
Robert Andre has agreed to assume this role for the NISD Program Committee. The meeting for
YMG began at 7:00 AM Sunday. There were four Division Liaisons at the meeting; however, a
discussion of the liaison role was curtailed by the close of that meeting. The PD encouraged YMG to
help determine the best practices.
In the 2009 Winter/International Meeting in Washington DC the Young Members Congress would
like NISD (and other divisions) support to help develop and participate in Joint Sessions. These
could include tutorial sessions, as well as technical sessions.
D. Topical Meetings Report [see Attachment 3] (Kevin O’Kula)
a. Topical Reviews by Category (Kevin O’Kula)
Kevin O’Kula presented the Topical Meetings report provided in Attachment 3. He focused first on
the status of PSA ’08 set for September 7 th – 11 th in Knoxville, Tennessee (see Item 1; Attachment 3).
The success of the team assembling this meeting is apparent in the report. Bob Budnitz iterated the
importance of the Special Session honoring Chauncey Starr organized as part of this meeting. Once
again as we did in November, the PC expressed their appreciation for George Flanagan’s work on this
Topical.
Next Kevin introduced to the PC the proposal for an embedded topical on Nuclear Production of
Hydrogen (see Item 5; Attachment 3). The proposal is to have an embedded meeting with the 2010
Annual Meeting in San Diego. Steve Herring (INL) is prepared to serve as a Technical Program
Chair. If NISD is interested in co-sponsoring this meet to promote the safety aspects of hydrogen
technology, NISD should identify an NISD Technical Program Co-chair. This proposal will go to
Calendar Placement this meeting.
With regard to the Risk Management Meeting proposed to be as an embedded meeting during the
2009 Winter/International Meeting in Washington DC, Ron Knief will be providing a more detailed
report in Reno (see Item 2; Attachment 3).
The proposition of building upon the success of the Special Sessions on severe accident experiments
for this meeting to build a topical on Severe Accident Prevention and Mitigation discussed and
promoted (see Item 3; Attachment 3). . The consensus was the interest would be high, from Europe
and Asia as well as the US. There were several approaches described and evaluated, including a
Special Session Track, an embedded topical, or a stand-alone topical. Dana Powers indicated that the
Albuquerque Section would be interested in the latter (see also the Thermal-Hydraulics Division
liaison report above). A motion was passed to establish a focus team to evaluate these options and
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provide recommendations to the Committee in our next meeting. Agustin Alonso, Hartmut Wider,
Dana Powers, Jan van Erp, and Kevin O’Kula volunteered to perform this work.
With regard to the sequence of Best Estimate embedded meetings as part of National Meetings, Kevin
O’Kula has evaluated the calendar and concludes that 2012 or 2011 could be the appropriate schedule
to fit the NISD meeting format (see Item 4; Attachment 3).
The NISD approach for the Second International Meeting on the Safety and Technology of Nuclear
Hydrogen Production, Control, and Management (see above and Item 5; Attachment 3) was
augmented by the following: NISD will need to be prepared to participate and provide
resources/staffing to support this Topical in 2010. Others that have committed to support include the
National Hydrogen Association (trade group) and Ken Schultz from the Working Group on Nuclear
Production of Hydrogen. The NISD PC approved such support anticipating the venue as San Diego
in June 2010.
b. EFCOG Opportunities for Collaboration (Bonnie Shapiro)
Bonnie Shapiro related recent further discussions with the Energy Facilities Contractors Operating
Group (EFCOG) regarding opportunities for collaboration with NISD. Expense of ANS meetings
remains an issue. Bonnie relates the connection to NISD is the Safety Analysis Working Group
Committee. The near term meetings are being planned as stand-alone EFCOG meetings. Las Vegas
was selected as the venue for the 2009 EFCOG annual meeting. The continuing recommendation for
future consideration by NISD Program Committee: EFCOG-related sessions at a frequency of
~2/year could be of mutual benefit and help to further a relationship.
E. Special Sessions Report [see Attachment 5] (Amy Hull)
Amy Hull presented the sessions established and proposed for the Anaheim, Reno, and Atlanta
meetings. The focus of the discussion was on those panel discussions that should be assembled as
soon as they are timely. The discussion related to the Reno meeting included a PSA topical summary
session panel and Safety Issues – Yucca Mountain Surface Facilities.
The sessions that were captured for the Atlanta Meeting in the Call for Papers are as follows:
Nuclear Installations Safety
Nuclear Installations Safety: General
Current Issues in Reactor Safety
Emerging Issues in Nuclear Facility Safety
Generation IV Reactors – Findings from ASME/DOE Materials Project
Generic Aging Lessons Learned in NPP License Renewal
NGNP Licensing Strategy
Practical Life Extension for Older Defense Nuclear Facilities
Proactive Management of Materials Degradation
Progress in Regulation of Safety Culture
Safety for Reprocessing Plants - Modeling Safety Issues of Fuel Reprocessing
Safety of Gas-Cooled Reactors
Amy Hull, Larry Zull, and Steve Schultz are unable to attend the Paper Review session in July for the
Reno meeting. Chip Martin agreed to attend on behalf of NISD.
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F. New Members
Three new members were approved by the NISD PC for recommendation to the Executive
Committee.
Anthony J. Cappucci
Robert Andre (YMG)
Totju L. Totev
(promoted by Kevin O’Kula)
(promoted by David Diamond)
(promoted by Jan van Erp)
G. New Secretary (and Topical Meetings Coordinator?) (Ray Gallucci)
Robert Andre was promoted and approved by the NISD PC as Secretary beginning at the Reno
meeting.
Other New Opportunities for PC Members
The Topical Meetings Coordinator position is also ready for a new candidate, as Kevin O’Kula has
served the position well for several years and is accepting new responsibilities within the Division.
Recommendations or expressions of interest are welcome.
H. Old / Other Business (Ray Gallucci)
It is recommended that the Liaison Reports be provided after the working agenda topics of the
meeting.
I. Adjournment (Program Committee)
The meeting was adjourned by Ray Gallucci at 5:50 PM.
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