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<strong>Inside</strong><br />

Leading the way in Nuclear Information and Records Management<br />

magazine<br />

Visit us at: <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org<br />

Bob<br />

Larrivee<br />

Top 50 Global<br />

Thought<br />

Leaders &<br />

Influencers in<br />

Privacy for<br />

<strong>2020</strong><br />

Workflow for a Reason<br />

Understanding the process of<br />

microfilm conversion<br />

nextScan/ST Imaging<br />

Document Digitization QC<br />

Integrated Scanning of America<br />

Issue # 09, <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong>


Contents<br />

<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

5<br />

7<br />

11<br />

Workflow for a Reason<br />

Understanding the process of microfilm conversion<br />

By Matt Anderson, Vice President of Marketing, ST Imaging / nextScan<br />

Bob Larrivee Selected as one of the “Top 50 Global Thought<br />

Leaders & Influencers on Privacy” for <strong>2020</strong><br />

Document Digitization QC<br />

By Manuel Bulwa, Integrated Scanning of America<br />

8<br />

12<br />

13<br />

From the CRM: So You Want to Become a CRA/CRM?<br />

By Gil Brueckner, CRM/NS<br />

From the Institute for Certified Records Managers (ICRM) Office<br />

Information Capture: Looking Beyond Records<br />

By Bob Larrivee, President of Bob Larrivee Consultancy<br />

14<br />

16<br />

Chronicles of NIM: A Retrospective on Information Management in<br />

Nuclear Power<br />

By Eugene Yang, KISMET Consulting, Inc.<br />

<strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> Conference Pictorial<br />

2 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

CONTENTS<br />

in every issue<br />

TREASURER REPORT—6<br />

FROM THE PRESIDENT—20<br />

VICE PRESIDENT REPORT—21<br />

PDBU NEWS—21<br />

M&MBU NEWS—22<br />

RIMBU NEWS—23<br />

INDUSTRY NEWS—24<br />

Editors<br />

Neal and Sandra Miller<br />

DevereauxInc@outlook.com<br />

Advertising<br />

Neal.F.Miller@gmail.com<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> Headquarters<br />

Sarah Perkins<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> Administrator<br />

245 Sunnyridge Ave., #41<br />

Fairfield, CT 06824<br />

nirma@nirma.org<br />

In addition to our own articles,<br />

<strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> publishes guest<br />

articles from agencies and<br />

vendors. Please be advised that<br />

the views and opinions<br />

expressed in these articles are<br />

those of the authors and do not<br />

necessarily reflect the opinions<br />

of <strong>NIRMA</strong> or its Board of<br />

Directors.<br />

<strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 3


Workflow<br />

for a Reason<br />

Understanding the process of<br />

microfilm conversion.<br />

By Matt Anderson,<br />

Vice President of Marketing, nextScan<br />

W<br />

hile you may think microformcapture<br />

is simple: Point,<br />

Shoot, and Capture; TRUE<br />

microform conversion is<br />

complicated. The engineers at nextScan<br />

have decades of combined experience<br />

scanning microforms. Over those years<br />

they have learned to streamline and<br />

perfect the conversion process rather<br />

than cut corners, literally.<br />

First, all data must be captured and<br />

frames must be detected instantly.<br />

When we capture a roll of film we save<br />

it as RAW data allowing for maximum<br />

flexibility during the remaining<br />

operations. Next, a technician audits the<br />

scan to make sure all data has been<br />

Every conversion project is<br />

important, vital even. Your<br />

records are important to us<br />

too. This is why we created a<br />

process that not only scans<br />

your microfilm quickly, but<br />

also delivers perfect images<br />

with all being captured with<br />

complete confidence.<br />

collected properly,<br />

and then makes<br />

any necessary<br />

adjustments before<br />

indexing. And<br />

finally, we create a datafile to deliver a<br />

document when requested. So, why do<br />

we do it this way? When scanning<br />

thousands, or even millions of<br />

microfilm images, you cannot afford to<br />

miss a single one.<br />

One Size Does Not Fit All<br />

nextScan, along with ST Imaging,<br />

make up the microfilm division of<br />

Digital Check, the<br />

world’s leading<br />

manufacturer of<br />

check scanners. Not<br />

only are we experts<br />

in the field of<br />

microform capture<br />

but also check and<br />

other imaging. We<br />

offer many<br />

technologies with<br />

our scanning<br />

solutions, including<br />

Contact Image<br />

Sensors (CIS), Area<br />

Array Cameras, and<br />

Line Scan Sensors.<br />

We use CIS sensors<br />

in our check<br />

scanning products. We offer an Area<br />

Array Camera, which is like the camera<br />

in your cell phone, in our ViewScan 4<br />

microfilm scanner. And we use a Line<br />

Scan Sensor on our high-speed capture<br />

scanners. One image sensor is not the<br />

best solution for all situations. Make<br />

sure you use the right tool for your job.<br />

Advantages of Line<br />

Scanning Technology<br />

For continuous, uninterrupted<br />

scanning of microforms, line scanning<br />

technology is superior. Line scanning<br />

involves precise strobe lighting to allow<br />

the line image sensor to capture every<br />

row of pixels, one at a time, as the film<br />

passes below. This ensures nothing is<br />

missed during the capture process.<br />

And a RAW data file is best for<br />

capturing when using a line scan sensor<br />

because it stores every piece of data as<br />

the microfilm moves beneath the<br />

Continued on next page.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 5


STimaging<br />

Continued from previous page.<br />

next can<br />

S<br />

sensor. This RAW data can then be<br />

scrutinized, and any necessary<br />

adjustments can be applied before<br />

output. We all know microfilm<br />

documents are FAR from perfect. The<br />

RAW data file allows for further editing,<br />

such as brightness, contrast, straighten,<br />

and cropping before output. Skipping<br />

this step by directly outputting from<br />

capture forces file compression to<br />

maximize disk space which could result<br />

in lost information that could never be<br />

recovered.<br />

Additionally, any number of file<br />

types can be built from the original<br />

RAW data file. This means that PDF,<br />

PDF/A, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and many<br />

more types can be created providing<br />

maximum flexibility. Other solutions<br />

force users to determine the file type<br />

before conversion, severely limiting the<br />

user’s post-scan options.<br />

Area Array Cameras<br />

The Area Array Camera is a very<br />

good camera for single shot, stabilized<br />

capture. These are similar to the sensors<br />

found in your cell phone or digital<br />

camera. These cameras are ideal for<br />

taking still images and delivering high<br />

resolution images, which is why we use<br />

this style of camera in the ViewScan 4<br />

on-demand microfilm scanner.<br />

However, any movement or vibration of<br />

the camera or microform may cause<br />

distortion to the image which can cause<br />

the image to appear smeared or to<br />

overlap resulting in poor image quality.<br />

You can see an example of this by<br />

taking a picture with your phone while<br />

moving it. That is not the kind of scan<br />

you want permanently in your archive.<br />

Scan with the Conversion<br />

Experts<br />

Every conversion project is<br />

important, vital even. Your records are<br />

important to us too. This is why we<br />

created a process that not only scans<br />

your microfilm quickly, but also delivers<br />

perfect images with all being captured<br />

with complete confidence. Are you<br />

considering a conversion project? Let<br />

our experience help you convert your<br />

collection with confidence!<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>’s Financial Holdings<br />

As of: September 17, <strong>2020</strong><br />

Anita S. Beren<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> Treasurer<br />

Money Market Account $ 109,919.46<br />

Checking Account $ 19,105.20<br />

Debit Account $ 967.09<br />

6 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Bob Larrivee Selected<br />

as one of the<br />

“Top 50 Global Thought<br />

Leaders & Influencers<br />

on Privacy”<br />

for <strong>2020</strong><br />

their thoughts on various topics, gain exposure to a wideranging<br />

audience, and connect with peers who share similar<br />

interests. Selection for the Top 50 is done using a patented<br />

algorithm that monitors post activities and ranks them<br />

according to the results<br />

“It is a great honor to be included on this list of global<br />

thought leaders,” said Larrivee. “I want to thank all who<br />

supported me in this endeavor.”<br />

Larrivee was also recently elected to the <strong>NIRMA</strong> Board<br />

of Directors where he will serve over the next three years,<br />

beginning in January 2021. Joining <strong>NIRMA</strong> in 2005, Larrivee<br />

immediately began to jump in and work with the <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

team to provide high quality education focused on process<br />

improvement and automation, and information management.<br />

“I’d like to congratulate Bob on making the Thinkers 360<br />

list,” said <strong>NIRMA</strong> President Michelle Smith. “We are also<br />

very pleased to have him as a member of our board. He will<br />

be a great asset to our organization.”<br />

N<br />

<strong>2020</strong>.<br />

IRMA Board Member-elect and independent<br />

business consultant, Bob Larrivee was recently<br />

named one of the Thinkers 360’s “Top 50 Global<br />

Thought Leaders and Influencers on Privacy” for<br />

Thinkers 360 is an open platform where analysts,<br />

authors, consultants, and more, are able to write and post<br />

Larrivee is a former vice president and chief analyst of<br />

AIIM International where he developed and delivered a<br />

variety of educational courses and worked to make them<br />

available through the <strong>NIRMA</strong> Pre-conference workshop<br />

offerings. Upon his departure from AIIM, he immediately<br />

engaged with and became part of the <strong>NIRMA</strong> Marketing and<br />

Membership Business Unit helping to provide guidance and<br />

direction for future activities, and member enrollment.<br />

Today, Larrivee is working with business organizations as<br />

an independent consultant, helping document and map their<br />

operational processes and practices, and to identify areas of<br />

opportunity to improve and automate their business<br />

processes and practices.<br />

Click here for full list of recipients.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 7


From the CRM<br />

So You Want to<br />

Become a CRA/CRM?<br />

By Gil Brueckner CRM/NS<br />

I<br />

f you read Bruce Walters’ article “To CRM or Not to<br />

CRM?” in the <strong>Fall</strong> 2019 <strong>NIRMA</strong> newsletter and you’re<br />

thinking about becoming a Certified Records Analyst<br />

(CRA) or Certified Records Manager (CRM), or maybe<br />

you’re already working towards certification, then read on.<br />

This article will describe my journey towards certification and<br />

provide some tips and strategies to make your journey easier.<br />

Cost of Certification<br />

The costs associated with certification are shown below:<br />

I decided to become a CRM after attending the <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

conference in 2014. I realized I had gaps in my knowledge<br />

and certification provided a means to become more<br />

knowledgeable. I completed CRM certification in 2018.<br />

Requirements for CRA/CRM Certification<br />

The requirements to apply for certification are a<br />

combination of education and experience ranging from a high<br />

school diploma plus five years of experience to a bachelor’s<br />

degree with one year of experience. There is a five-year time<br />

limit to achieve certification, which starts when your<br />

application is accepted. See the ICRM site for more<br />

information on applying for certification.<br />

Ways to Save Money<br />

You can save on books by renting them from<br />

Amazon.com. You can also go to the ICRM – Bookstore to<br />

buy/sell books and other prep resources. You can save<br />

money by not taking an exam prep course, but I don’t<br />

recommend it. The course I took was invaluable!<br />

CRA or CRM?<br />

Which certification should you apply for? It depends on<br />

your interests. The CRA is focused on the core aspects of<br />

RM and is geared towards individual contributors. It requires<br />

passing three exams (Parts 2 – 4). The CRM builds upon the<br />

CRA curriculum by adding leadership and technology topics.<br />

It requires passing six exams (Parts 1 – 6). If you’re not sure<br />

where to start, begin with the CRA. Once you achieve your<br />

CRA (within five years), the clock stops on completing your<br />

full CRM certification. You will be required to maintain your<br />

CRA (100 credit hours every five years), but you can work<br />

toward your CRM whenever you see fit.<br />

Funding Certification<br />

To offset the cost of certification, check with your<br />

employer. Some employers will reimburse certifications. If<br />

yours will, great! If not, perhaps your employer has an<br />

employee award program that can be applied towards<br />

certification. Also, don’t forget to apply for the La ARMA<br />

Nostra Certification Reimbursement Program through the<br />

ARMA International Education Foundation. This annual<br />

program offers six recipients a $500 reimbursement grant to<br />

offset the cost of certification.<br />

Time Commitment<br />

The time spent preparing for the exam will vary with<br />

each person. I spent approximately 250 hours over 2 years to<br />

prepare for the exams for Parts 1 - 6.<br />

8 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Study Strategies<br />

Begin preparing for Parts 1 – 5 with<br />

the ICRM Exam Outlines and Sample<br />

Questions. You will need to refer to this<br />

information as you review the<br />

Recommended Reading material. I used<br />

the Exam Outlines to create a list of<br />

questions to answer as I read the books.<br />

I also used the free study app StudyBlue<br />

to study for Parts 1 - 5 (Tip: Search for<br />

existing study notes that other CRMs<br />

have posted).<br />

For Part 6, which is a timed essay<br />

response to two business case studies, I<br />

attended an exam prep course offered<br />

by my local ARMA chapter. The course<br />

provided sample case studies, responses,<br />

writing strategies, and immediate<br />

feedback. It was helpful! I also<br />

conducted my own timed practice tests<br />

using the sample business cases that the<br />

ICRM provides. Practicing under timed<br />

conditions helped me prepare for the<br />

real thing.<br />

Mentors<br />

I didn’t use a mentor, but I wish I<br />

had. I could have reduced my prep time<br />

had I engaged a mentor early on<br />

(especially for Part 6). If you don’t have<br />

a mentor, the ICRM and ARMA<br />

provide mentors, and I’m willing to<br />

serve as a mentor as well.<br />

Exam Day Preparation<br />

Based on guidance from the exam<br />

prep course, I took the exams for Parts<br />

1 – 5 at one sitting. However, you may<br />

want to take the tests one at a time—do<br />

what works best for you. To prepare, I<br />

studied intensely for two weeks prior to<br />

test day. You will want to review the<br />

Online Exam FAQs and “Taking the<br />

Test” video on the ICRM site<br />

(www.icrm.org). The video is important,<br />

as the ICRM has switched to online<br />

testing via Examity and you will want to<br />

familiarize yourself with it.<br />

For the Part 6 exam, I wrote several<br />

practice essays prior to the exam. My<br />

strategy for responding to a business<br />

case was to read the case quickly, then<br />

read it again and take notes, log any<br />

tasks specified in the case, and then<br />

begin writing. It’s important to pay<br />

attention to the instructions in the case<br />

and to use correct grammar and spelling,<br />

as graders can deduct points for poor<br />

grammar and spelling. Monitor your<br />

time during the Part 6 exam. Four hours<br />

to write two essays goes very quickly!<br />

Is Certification<br />

Worth the Effort?<br />

Absolutely! I use the knowledge I’ve<br />

gained every day at work. If you’re on<br />

the path to certification, don’t hesitate<br />

to reach out to me or other CRA/CRMs<br />

for advice. If you haven’t yet begun the<br />

journey towards certification—why not?<br />

It’s worthwhile!


It’s Our Birthday!<br />

For over 15 years, iBridge has helped thousands of<br />

organizations like <strong>NIRMA</strong> with their digital<br />

transformation needs.<br />

In celebration of starting our 16 th year<br />

we are adding new products, services<br />

and a totally new look.<br />

WE LISTEN. WE LEARN.<br />

WE EXECUTE.<br />

The new iBridge “infinity” logo is a symbol of expansion<br />

and an embrace of boundless innovation. The aspect of infinity<br />

is also an embrace of the customer-centric philosophy<br />

that has been at iBridge since inception.<br />

www.ibridgellc.com


DOCUMENT<br />

DIGITIZATION<br />

QC<br />

S<br />

ome industries tolerate<br />

Errors and Omissions (EO’s)<br />

in their document digitization<br />

projects more than others. In<br />

fact, some clients irresponsibly assume,<br />

without properly checking, that their<br />

Digitization Service Provider delivered<br />

all records, all meeting the<br />

requirements. Unfortunately, a late<br />

detection may have devastating, often<br />

irreparable consequences.<br />

Clients should demand solid answers<br />

from their providers about how their<br />

QC methodologies apply to the project,<br />

then trust and verify. Answers may<br />

include:<br />

A. Random sampling: Although<br />

essential in most projects for testing<br />

purposes, random sampling<br />

overpromises and under delivers.<br />

B. 100% QC: an elusive,<br />

underestimated notion often<br />

challenging due to time, cost and<br />

other constraints.<br />

C. Counting pages: Partially useful,<br />

but error prone, unreliable.<br />

D. Weak answers signal trouble. If<br />

clients do not act, egg is on their<br />

face.<br />

This article aspires to illustrate some<br />

better answers, and to lay a foundation<br />

for a production model to prevent,<br />

detect, remediate, reduce, trace and<br />

monitor EOs in a document digitization<br />

project.<br />

The basic concept is to identify<br />

critical points where EOs may occur<br />

and establish preventive and corrective<br />

semi-automated methodologies around<br />

certain metrics. By “semi-automated” I<br />

mean a combination of smart<br />

automation and human oversight. I use<br />

methodologies that enable valuable<br />

checks and balances in four workflow<br />

stages:<br />

1. Origination: At the point of<br />

custody acceptance.<br />

2. Production (Physical Context): At<br />

the beginning or end of each task<br />

throughout the production<br />

workflow.<br />

3. Published (Logical Context): When<br />

pages are classified, indexed and<br />

organized as logical documents.<br />

4. Submittal: When deliverables are<br />

subject to final acceptance.<br />

By cross-referencing, comparing and<br />

analyzing aggregate numbers based on<br />

data represented in these four<br />

coordinate systems, EOs become more<br />

conspicuous, allowing for remediation<br />

processes to be effective.<br />

A simplified production workflow<br />

includes many tasks (*), what could<br />

possibly go wrong?:<br />

<br />

<br />

By Manuel Bulwa,<br />

Integrated Scanning of America<br />

www.isausa.com<br />

Some documents may not have<br />

made it entirely through the<br />

production workflow.<br />

Pages can be missed, mutilated,<br />

folded, obstructed, out of sequence,<br />

out of scale, illegible, wrongly split<br />

or merged, overlapped, files may be<br />

corrupted, …<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Page groups can be wrongly<br />

classified, not indexed, duplicated,<br />

“buried”, …<br />

Incorrect, missing or extraneous<br />

document structures.<br />

Incomplete, missing or “made up”<br />

documents, …<br />

Deliverables may be incomplete,<br />

redundant, not fully complying with<br />

SOW, …<br />

Originals may be returned or<br />

disposed of without a valid digital<br />

counterpart.<br />

Originals may not be returned in<br />

full.<br />

Originals may not be returned as<br />

expected.<br />

Other.<br />

What are the causes of EOs?<br />

Each EO is associated to a root cause<br />

(*).<br />

Who is responsible for<br />

consequences?<br />

Both service provider and client have<br />

separate responsibilities(*).<br />

How can EOs be detected and<br />

corrected?: (*)<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Planning, testing and training<br />

Timing<br />

Use production level equipment<br />

Continued on next page.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 11


Continued from previous page.<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Use customizable production level software<br />

Beware of the human factor<br />

Avoid transactional capture, adopt batch capture<br />

methodologies instead<br />

Use ribbon methodologies for microforms<br />

Define and apply metrics for each category of defects<br />

Do not overlook the need to QC the return of originals<br />

100% QC:<br />

True 100% QC calls<br />

for a comparison<br />

between all originals<br />

against their digital<br />

version. My proposed<br />

model includes a<br />

video inventory of all<br />

originals before the<br />

Image blurred to protect client<br />

capture workflow<br />

confidenal data.<br />

starts, using smart<br />

glasses to facilitate “hands free” video recording. The<br />

downloaded video is analyzed by software to produce the<br />

“best” still images captured. We once recorded every<br />

page of every folder for a Human Resources project to<br />

perform 100% page by page visual QC against the<br />

scanned images. The video batches were distributed<br />

across multiple local and remote operators working on<br />

side by side image comparisons with all exceptions<br />

<br />

flagged, audited and acted upon.<br />

From the Institute for<br />

Certified Records<br />

Managers (ICRM) Office<br />

O<br />

n October 1, <strong>2020</strong> the Institute for Certified<br />

Records Managers announced its newest Post<br />

Certification Specialty Designation, the CRM/<br />

CIGO (Certified Information Governance<br />

Officers).<br />

The new CRM/CIGO certification process includes a<br />

training and testing program that is 100% online. The training<br />

is a master class in Information Governance (IG), followed<br />

by a week of study, and the CIGO certification examination.<br />

CRMs may enroll in the program at special rates beginning<br />

October 16, <strong>2020</strong> through June 1, 2021; and pay no<br />

application fee or CIGO membership fee.<br />

Manifest:<br />

A video inventory<br />

may instead capture<br />

only folder labels for<br />

manifest purposes, as<br />

a reliable manifest is<br />

the only way to<br />

initialize useful<br />

metrics. We video inventoried boxes of medical records<br />

at an average of two to three minutes per box. This<br />

manifest may have saved lives and helped in litigation.<br />

Conclusion:<br />

Automation makes possible to audit and trace QC/repair<br />

efforts, while human oversight helps control automation<br />

errors. Either one by itself, without the other is not sufficient.<br />

When smartly applied to relevant metrics using creative<br />

checks and balances, EOs become detectable and repairable.<br />

When smartly applied to batch oriented production workflow<br />

tasks, automation drastically reduces human EOs.<br />

(*): The original article has been substantially cut to comply<br />

with editorial space restrictions. Questions and additional<br />

levels of detail are available by request, emailing the author:<br />

mbulwa@isausa.com. Some of the concepts explained in this<br />

article are illustrated in a 5 minute video (click here to watch).<br />

The CRM/CIGO certification application will be on the<br />

ICRM.org website starting October 16, <strong>2020</strong>. When a CRM<br />

applies for the CRM/CIGO, a discount code will be<br />

provided. Then registration for the training and examination<br />

will occur on the CIGOA.org website. The discount code for<br />

the training and examination will be applied at checkout.<br />

CRM/CIGO certification will follow ICRM rules and<br />

procedures. CRM yearly membership fees are not increased<br />

due to the CIGO certification, however, an additional 20<br />

CMPs in the IG discipline will be required per five year cycle<br />

and will be prorated on an annual basis.<br />

Read the full press release here.<br />

12 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Inform[tion C[ptur_:<br />

Looking B_yon^ R_]or^s<br />

By Bob Larrivee<br />

Bob Larrivee Consultancy<br />

W<br />

e are increasingly hearing about information capture<br />

these days, and the important role it plays in relation<br />

to accessing it from anywhere, at any time, and on<br />

any device. This has never been more true than<br />

current times as businesses are hard pressed to keep their<br />

businesses operational using a remote workforce due to the<br />

COVID-19 outbreak.<br />

When we talk about information capture, there is a<br />

tendency to focus on records, yet records alone do not make<br />

up the entire corpus of vital business information.<br />

Information that comes from many sources and can be<br />

captured in many different ways. Of course, we are all<br />

familiar with using scanners to capture paper-based<br />

information, and there are ways to capture and ingest digitally<br />

born information like documents, spreadsheets, and more,<br />

but what of other types of information?<br />

In the nuclear industry, there is vital information<br />

related to systems, using sensors to track and manage various<br />

plant components and operational elements. Information is<br />

generated by drones, digital cameras, and humans using<br />

mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. So, information<br />

capture must now take a turn to go beyond just records to<br />

encompass a broader scope of information and ways to<br />

capture, manage, store, preserve, and share it.<br />

Information or Data or Record<br />

Over the years, I have heard and continue to hear discussions<br />

about data, data driven environments yet when you ask what<br />

data means, the response will vary greatly from person to<br />

person, based on their role within an organization. If you<br />

consider the definition that data are facts and statistics<br />

collected together for reference or analysis, one might<br />

conclude that proper context is provided in order to<br />

understand the data. It has always been my position that 42 is<br />

a data element, but without context, it is meaningless. When<br />

placed in proper context - $42.00 for a shirt – we now<br />

understand what 42 represents. This in turn makes it<br />

information containing data that is<br />

now meaningful.<br />

Once this information is<br />

ingested, analyzed, and acted upon, it<br />

might be saved and properly managed<br />

for future use, and yes, it may also be considered a record in<br />

which case it would be managed under the information<br />

governance guidelines addressing records management<br />

practices. My point here being that as curators of information<br />

and records, you must consider all possibilities of<br />

information capture, not just records.<br />

In My View<br />

The nuclear industry is unique in the sense that<br />

information and records are generated from many sources.<br />

Based on where you are employed, this information could be<br />

focused and soured within a power station, nuclear powered<br />

vessel, storage or containment facility, or logistics company.<br />

Vital information crosses departments ranging from plant<br />

operations, to human resources where employee medical<br />

records and x-rays may be found, documenting exposure<br />

levels.<br />

The devices used to capture this information might<br />

include scanners, digital business applications, robots, drones,<br />

geolocational tracking transmitters, and handheld devices.<br />

The locations of these information sources could be static as<br />

in a physical plant, or dynamic as in transport or nuclear<br />

powered vessels. In the near future, we will be capturing data<br />

from other planets as space exploration excels and the use of<br />

mini reactors increases.<br />

The time is now to look beyond records, assess what<br />

information is out there, how it is created, where it is sourced<br />

from, and what is needed to manage it securely and properly.<br />

Information and records should be viewed equally when it<br />

comes to capture not as separate entities.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 13


over the next few days are intense days<br />

of presentations, discussions…and late<br />

night “camaraderie”.<br />

A Retrospective on Information<br />

Management in Nuclear Power<br />

By Eugene Y. Yang,<br />

KISMET Consulting, Inc.<br />

T<br />

he true heart of <strong>NIRMA</strong> has been its committees and<br />

the guidance produced that continues to be relevant to the<br />

information management issues faced by the nuclear<br />

industry. I reflect in this article of participating in the<br />

development and promulgation of <strong>NIRMA</strong> guidance<br />

over the years.<br />

One day during the conference, a<br />

gruff yet friendly fellow by the name of<br />

Hans Ebner from Detroit Edison’s<br />

Fermi Station approaches the young<br />

man and says, “So what’s your<br />

background?” Hans and this young<br />

man get into a lively conversation about<br />

system development, lifecycles, and<br />

records ramifications. The<br />

conversation steers around to<br />

committee work. Hans then says,<br />

“Interested in joining a committee? The<br />

Computer Applications committee is<br />

getting together this afternoon. Why<br />

don’t you drop by?” With that, my<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> committee life began.<br />

A young man, ill at ease in a suit and tie, enters<br />

a hotel ballroom filled with circular tables,<br />

populated by men and women in similar business<br />

attire. The audio hubbub fills the air as colleagues<br />

representing their utilities talk to one another;<br />

long-time friends walk across the room to greet<br />

one another; laughter punctuates the air. It’s<br />

1987, and a young engineering consultant comes<br />

to his first <strong>NIRMA</strong> Symposium. Overwhelmed,<br />

he self-consciously seeks a familiar face from his<br />

company, and having located his compatriots (and<br />

luckily an empty chair at the same table!), weaves<br />

his way to settle in for the first day. What ensues<br />

Orlando, 2001<br />

Costa Mesa, 2009<br />

Though Computer Applications was the<br />

first committee I went to, I soon joined the<br />

Regulations Committee. I enjoyed this one<br />

because it dealt with current and emerging<br />

issues on information management from a<br />

regulatory and standards perspective; I came to<br />

understand the “business” of nuclear power.<br />

We dealt with the current issues of the day –<br />

construction, operations, maintenance – as well<br />

as longer term topics like decommissioning and<br />

PLEX (plant life extension). For a young guy,<br />

it was a little intimidating to sit next to Brenda<br />

14 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


If you haven’t done so,<br />

maybe it’s time for YOU<br />

to join one (or more!)<br />

of the committees of<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> today!<br />

Shelton or Steve Scott from the NRC, as they would provide<br />

a “heads-up” on upcoming regulatory changes.<br />

electronic records management program in a plant’s quality<br />

assurance program.<br />

What has been so rewarding is seeing the evolution of<br />

electronic document management systems to support nuclear<br />

power and seeing the application of the RIS or the TGs cited<br />

in the SER as the basis for electronic recordkeeping. Beyond<br />

this major milestone, I’ve had the chance to either lead or<br />

contribute to development and publication of White Papers,<br />

Position Papers, and other Technical Guidelines. In addition,<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> maintains its certification as a standards developing<br />

organization, most notably publishing, led by Rich Giska, the<br />

ANSI Standard, ANSI/<strong>NIRMA</strong> CM 1.0-2007 (R2015),<br />

“Guidelines For Configuration Management Of Nuclear<br />

Facilities”.<br />

Rockville 2011 (The push to harmonize the 4 TGs).<br />

In 1997, I would become the chair of the Regulations<br />

Committee and would serve in that role for three years. It<br />

was during this time that, in 1998, led by Bruce Evans, we<br />

published the four Technical Guidelines (TG) that formed<br />

the basis for the NRC’s Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 00-<br />

18, “Guidance on Managing Quality Assurance Records in<br />

Electronic Media.” Over the course of the next 10 years, we<br />

separately affirmed or updated these TGs. In 2011, we made<br />

a concerted effort to simultaneously update all four technical<br />

guidelines, harmonizing them to again work together as a<br />

whole. Duke Energy was able to request from the NRC a<br />

change to their Quality Assurance Topical to use 2011<br />

versions. The result was the issuance of a Safety Evaluation<br />

Report (SER) that allowed these TGs to be the basis of an<br />

timely guidance.<br />

Frankly, committee work<br />

was what made me stay with<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> for nearly 34 years.<br />

Being with my peers in the<br />

information management<br />

area of the nuclear industry<br />

has been fun, exciting…and<br />

challenging! Participation in<br />

committee work grew me<br />

by leaps and bounds. As it<br />

says in Proverbs 27:17,<br />

“Iron sharpens iron, and<br />

one man sharpens another.”<br />

I’ve been blessed with<br />

associations and friendships<br />

over those years. The grind<br />

of compiling, developing,<br />

tuning, and refining<br />

guidance was worth it; some<br />

of it was smooth sailing, but<br />

like when two metals are<br />

rubbed together, there’s<br />

friction and heat. All this to<br />

provide the industry with<br />

prudent, applicable, and<br />

If you haven’t done so, maybe it’s time for YOU to join<br />

one (or more!) of the committees of <strong>NIRMA</strong> today! Please<br />

go to the <strong>NIRMA</strong> website at www.nirma.org for more<br />

information. I hope to work alongside you some day!<br />

Eugene has been a member of <strong>NIRMA</strong> for over 33<br />

years. At the time he joined, <strong>NIRMA</strong> had only been in<br />

existence for 11 years. He would love to hear about<br />

stories and anecdotes from others, so do not hesitate to<br />

email him at: eugene.yang@kismetconsulting.com.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 15


One benefit to this<br />

years virtual<br />

conference is being<br />

able to mul‐task,<br />

geng in shape<br />

physically as well as<br />

mentally.<br />

Jim Conroy, Managing Partner AMS Store and Shred (right)<br />

congratulates Lou Rofrano, AMS VP of Sales, for receiving<br />

recognion from <strong>NIRMA</strong> for his parcipaon and leadership in<br />

launching the <strong>NIRMA</strong> Mentor Program at the <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

Annual Conference. Jim and AMS are long term supporters of<br />

the <strong>NIRMA</strong> organizaon and mission.


Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 19


From the President<br />

Michelle M. Smith<br />

e had a wonderful Conference<br />

W<br />

this past August. Our<br />

presenters spoke on issues that<br />

are relevant to the Nuclear<br />

Industry and presented us with<br />

challenges and solutions that will help<br />

define a path for our future. As the<br />

nuclear industry continues to adapt to<br />

the many challenges presented from<br />

COVID-19, our facilities will continue<br />

to look for efficiencies to drive changes<br />

to help the nuclear economy. Our<br />

hybrid conference was an example of<br />

how to adapt when presented with<br />

challenges.<br />

As nuclear professionals, we not only<br />

have to be willing and able, but also<br />

ready to accept challenges. That is what<br />

makes being a member of <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

important. <strong>NIRMA</strong> offers our<br />

membership technical guidance, an<br />

avenue for networking not just during<br />

the conference, but daily and a platform<br />

to make a difference in our industry. I<br />

observed many healthy conversations<br />

generated throughout the conference,<br />

which provided our membership with<br />

firsthand information on industry best<br />

practices.<br />

This year’s conference focused on<br />

many diverse topics. We heard from<br />

Colleen McClanahan who shared<br />

information on how the Federal Bureau<br />

of Investigation (FBI) Counters the<br />

Radiological Threat. Steve Weissman<br />

spoke on Pain and Glory: Records in<br />

the 21 st Century and Karen Fili spoke<br />

on Crisis Leadership: Safe and Sound,<br />

which addressed issues associated with<br />

COVID-19. In addition to our keynote<br />

speakers, we had the opportunity to<br />

hear from our vendors as they shared<br />

valuable information on industry<br />

products and services. The topics<br />

shared during the conference plays an<br />

A monthly Webinar<br />

series has been<br />

planned that will<br />

enhance educational<br />

opportunities amongst<br />

our membership<br />

beyond the annual<br />

Conference.<br />

important role in Strategic Planning. If<br />

you attended the Conference and<br />

missed any of the speakers or vendors,<br />

please access the <strong>NIRMA</strong> conference<br />

application for information. This<br />

application will be available to our<br />

attendees until December 1, <strong>2020</strong>.<br />

A significant part of creating the path<br />

for the future is ensuring alignment with<br />

our goals. The <strong>NIRMA</strong> board members<br />

met to review the Strategic Plan and the<br />

<strong>2020</strong> goals. One goal is to assist in the<br />

educational development of our<br />

members through a variety of means.<br />

A monthly Webinar series has been<br />

planned that will enhance educational<br />

opportunities amongst our membership<br />

beyond the annual Conference.<br />

Additionally, <strong>NIRMA</strong>’s Professional<br />

Development Business Unit created a<br />

Mentorship Program to assist with the<br />

knowledge transfer between our sage<br />

members and newer members. We<br />

have many volunteer members with an<br />

array of knowledge (mentors) that we<br />

have begun pairing with several newer<br />

members (mentees) who have asked for<br />

assistance with a variety of topics.<br />

Sharing our knowledge with one<br />

another is a great way to ensure our<br />

future success. We are looking to add<br />

to our bank of mentors who would be<br />

willing to pass along their knowledge to<br />

others in <strong>NIRMA</strong>.<br />

Another important goal is to look for<br />

ways to increase membership. Please<br />

realize that each of us can assist by<br />

sharing information about <strong>NIRMA</strong> with<br />

our peers and colleagues in an effort to<br />

ensure the growth of our organization.<br />

These are just a few examples of<br />

how your active participation in<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> can make a difference.<br />

As president, I will continue to look<br />

for opportunities to ensure alignment<br />

with our <strong>2020</strong> goals and to ensure<br />

further opportunities for 2021. Your<br />

input is very important to the success of<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>. Please submit any ideas that<br />

you may have to nirma@nirma.org.<br />

20 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Technology Leads the<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>2020</strong> Conference<br />

Janice Hoerber, Vice President<br />

W<br />

hat a unique experience that<br />

the <strong>NIRMA</strong> conference<br />

attendees signed up for! Most<br />

participated remotely via the<br />

internet using Webex for the 44 th<br />

Nuclear Information Management<br />

Conference from the comfort of their<br />

home or from a quiet space at work. A<br />

few ventured to the JW Marriott Las<br />

Vegas Resort to join in person. Either<br />

way, we knew this was going to be an<br />

immersion into the audio visual tools<br />

and virtual technology that <strong>NIRMA</strong> had<br />

never done before!<br />

The survey feedback has been<br />

positive and will help guide ongoing<br />

improvements to the conference<br />

proceedings for next year. Our sincere<br />

appreciation goes out to all the<br />

attendees, the distinguished speakers,<br />

and the dedicated vendors & sponsors<br />

who helped make the conference<br />

feasible. I truly enjoyed watching the<br />

conference unfold online, as we were<br />

able to listen together (be it virtually) to<br />

the sessions, ask questions in the chat<br />

function, and exchange ideas within the<br />

Webex platform that the PSAV audio<br />

visual team supported for <strong>NIRMA</strong>.<br />

We recognize your feedback that the<br />

interactive benchmarking sessions were<br />

again very popular and more engaging<br />

(maybe even fun?) using the online<br />

tools. Our minds were opened to new<br />

possibilities using the virtual technology<br />

such as for international keynote<br />

speakers to be able to present from<br />

across the world without requiring the<br />

burden of travel.<br />

Our thoughts have already begun for<br />

next year. The 45 th <strong>NIRMA</strong> anniversary<br />

conference has a great ring to it, and<br />

will arrive with great pride for those<br />

who have been with the <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

organization over the years. Many<br />

special people have volunteered their<br />

time and talents to serve <strong>NIRMA</strong>'s<br />

purpose. It is with pleasure that we<br />

celebrate the anniversary milestones to<br />

remember the great <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

achievements and to pass the torch to<br />

the next gen of <strong>NIRMA</strong> members!<br />

Professional Development<br />

Business Unit (PDBU) News<br />

Tammy Cutts, PDBU Director<br />

I<br />

t was exciting to get to take part in<br />

the hybrid <strong>NIRMA</strong> Conference<br />

this past August. In addition to<br />

meshing the virtual portion of the<br />

conference with the in-person pieces,<br />

there are a few new additions from<br />

PDBU.<br />

The first of these is the development<br />

of the new mentorship program by my<br />

co-director Lou Rofrano of AMS Store<br />

and Shred. Lou put an incredible<br />

amount of time and effort into<br />

preparing the program and finding both<br />

mentors and mentees to participate.<br />

This program is in the early stages, but<br />

I’m very excited to see the level of<br />

participation we have so far and I’m<br />

looking forward to seeing this program<br />

grow and become established in<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>.<br />

Another development is a series of<br />

webinars. We had a test webinar in<br />

June and have incorporated lessons<br />

learned from that. We’re going forward<br />

with these webinars this <strong>Fall</strong>. Be on the<br />

lookout for a survey of topics you<br />

would like to see addressed in this<br />

manner. We’re also looking for<br />

individuals who would be interested in<br />

developing and presenting a webinar to<br />

As your <strong>NIRMA</strong> Vice President, I have<br />

thoroughly enjoyed planning the past three years<br />

of conferences. I will soon hand off the<br />

conference planning for 2021 to Bruce Walters<br />

who will bring great new ideas and experience<br />

to this role. I am honored to become the 2021<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> President and look forward to<br />

working alongside the membership and a strong<br />

Board of Directors to advance <strong>NIRMA</strong>'s<br />

goals. Thank you for the opportunity!<br />

the industry as well.<br />

Please feel free to contact me<br />

(tammy.cutts@pge.com) with any ideas<br />

you may have.<br />

Finally, the ICRM announced that<br />

they will be presenting the CRA/CRM<br />

exams online starting this <strong>Fall</strong>, so be<br />

watching for more information on that.<br />

Those of you who are interested in<br />

obtaining one of these professional<br />

certifications will be able to do so from<br />

your home computers. I’m looking<br />

forward to taking advantage of this<br />

myself.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 21


MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING<br />

(M&M) Business Unit News<br />

Kathi Cole, CRM<br />

M&MBU Director<br />

he 2021 Board of Directors election results were<br />

communicated to the attendees at the <strong>2020</strong> Annual<br />

Business Meeting on Day 3 of the Conference in<br />

August. Here are the assignments for 2021:<br />

Board of Directors:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

President: Janice Hoerber<br />

Vice President: Bruce Walters, CRM/NS<br />

Treasurer: Michelle Smith<br />

Secretary: Lona Smith<br />

Director of Technical Programs: Bob Larrivee<br />

Director of Infrastructure: Sheila Pearcy, CRA<br />

2021 Business Unit Directors:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Membership & Marketing Business Unit<br />

(M&MBU)<br />

Director: Kathi Cole, CRM<br />

Co-Director: Denise Pickett, CRM/<br />

NS/FED<br />

Professional Development Business Unit<br />

(PDBU)<br />

Director: Tammy Cutts<br />

Co-Director: Lou Rofrano<br />

Regulations and Information Management Business Unit<br />

(RIMBU)<br />

Director: Stephanie Price<br />

Technical Advisor to the Board:<br />

<br />

Chris Boudreaux<br />

<strong>2020</strong> Nominating Committee:<br />

<br />

<br />

T<br />

Kathi Cole, CRM<br />

Jewell Yturralde<br />

We are featuring a new article<br />

entitled “From the CRM” starting<br />

with the fall addition of <strong>Inside</strong><br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>. We will feature one<br />

article in each of the quarterly<br />

magazines from one of our CRAs<br />

or CRMs.<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong> wants to give a BIG THANK YOU to Anita<br />

Beren for her service on the <strong>NIRMA</strong> Board!<br />

We wanted to take the time to share with all<br />

of the <strong>NIRMA</strong> membership that we are<br />

featuring a new article entitled “From the<br />

CRM” starting with the fall addition of <strong>Inside</strong><br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>. We will feature one article in each of<br />

the quarterly magazines from one of our CRAs<br />

or CRMs. Article topics might be as simple as<br />

why did you get your CRA/CRM? What value<br />

is it to you? What motivated you to apply for<br />

it and then go thru the grueling studying/<br />

testing to achieve it? Click here to take a look<br />

at the newest article from Gil Brueckner in this<br />

month’s edition of <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.<br />

A reminder to all <strong>NIRMA</strong> members. If you<br />

did not attend the hybrid conference this year, don’t forget to<br />

renew your membership.<br />

It is never too early to begin planning for the next<br />

conference, <strong>NIRMA</strong>’s 45 th Anniversary Conference. <strong>NIRMA</strong><br />

is very appreciative of the feedback members provided to our<br />

Post-Conference Survey. The Board wants the 2021<br />

conference to meet the needs of the novice through the<br />

seasoned veterans.<br />

As always, everyone is welcome to join the Membership &<br />

Marketing Business Unit. We hold monthly conference calls<br />

on the first Wednesday of each month. Email either me or<br />

Denise Pickett to let us know of your interest and we will add<br />

you to the call list. kjccole1@yahoo.com or<br />

denisearma@gmail.com.<br />

22 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Records & Information<br />

Management Business Unit<br />

(RIMBU) News<br />

R<br />

IMBU team members held their annual Summer<br />

Meeting in Virtually this year with an amazing level<br />

of participation by all. A special thank you goes out<br />

to those who made the technology available for us<br />

to support this effort.<br />

Election of RIMBU Director<br />

Chris Boudreaux announced his vacating of the Director<br />

role prior to the Summer Meeting this year as he pursues new<br />

ventures based on changes in his role at South Texas Project,<br />

thus leading RIMBU to an election to fill the Director<br />

position. Stephanie Price was nominated and unanimously<br />

voted in. Stephanie has been active with <strong>NIRMA</strong> for several<br />

years and served as a member of RIMBU since 2018, most<br />

recently filling the Co-Director position. She has participated<br />

on several review teams and is currently leading the TG24 -<br />

Procurement of Digitization Services team. Stephanie<br />

currently works for Southern Nuclear. We want to<br />

congratulate Stephanie on her new role within <strong>NIRMA</strong> and<br />

the RIMBU Team as Director.<br />

<strong>NIRMA</strong>/ANSI CM 1.0 – 5 Year Revision<br />

The proposed <strong>2020</strong> revision for the ANSI/<strong>NIRMA</strong> CM<br />

Standard is moving through the process with projected<br />

approval in the October/November timeframe. The<br />

proposed draft revision is completed, it has undergone a<br />

technical edit review and is ready for review.<br />

Review and voting on the proposed changes will be done<br />

by the Consensus Body that will be a group of industry<br />

individuals representing various interest groups, e.g., nuclear<br />

utilities, NSSS vendors, Architect/Engineers and Industry<br />

Organizations such as EPRI and the Configuration<br />

Management Benchmark Group (CMBG).<br />

The proposed revision will be distributed to the<br />

Consensus Body members in July with the ballots due in in<br />

October. If no issues are identified on the ballots, the<br />

proposed revision will be submitted to ANSI for final<br />

approval. If ballots identify issues, the issues will be resolved<br />

prior to submitting the proposed revision to ANSI. Current<br />

projections are that the proposed <strong>2020</strong> revision will be<br />

approved in late November <strong>2020</strong>.<br />

RIMBU to produce new Technical Guide on<br />

Digitization Services<br />

The team discussed the need for guidance on obtaining<br />

By Chris Boudreaux, RIMBU Business Unit Director<br />

digitization services for physical records. It was decided that a<br />

new Technical Guideline was warranted and would be an<br />

expansion of the guidance provided in TG08 - Development<br />

of Procurement Specifications for Microfilm Services. The<br />

new guideline will be Technical Guideline 24 (TG-24). The<br />

document has been progressing well since its charter in the<br />

Spring of this year, and now enters the final draft stages<br />

following the tremendous efforts of the team during the<br />

Summer Meeting. Thank you to all the members participating<br />

in this effort which are: Stephanie Price (Lead), Chris<br />

Boudreaux, Eugene Yang, Amy Odom, Michelle Reed,<br />

Kathy Padilla, and Lona Smith.<br />

Less with Less Benchmark<br />

RIMBU has held multiple discussions around the<br />

continually decreasing size of records organizations across<br />

the industry. The majority of facilities represented in both<br />

RIMBU and the larger <strong>NIRMA</strong> organization have<br />

experienced staffing reductions in records management,<br />

document control, and/or IT with little or no reduction in<br />

workload. Initially, RIMBU proposed a white paper on how<br />

to accomplish essential records management, document<br />

control, and IT functions with less staffing. After further<br />

discussion during our spring meeting, it was decided this<br />

topic would be better covered by an industry benchmarking<br />

effort. The RIMBU team will distribute a questionnaire to its<br />

membership asking for feedback on staffing levels and<br />

success stories on how facilities have implemented<br />

technology or reduced collateral duties in order to continue<br />

successfully performing core functions. Our membership’s<br />

participation in this effort is crucial to helping us all adapt to<br />

our changing industry.<br />

Cloud Computing White Paper Update<br />

The RIMBU team continued discussions around cloud<br />

computing during our Spring Meeting. Facilities continue to<br />

be faced with the question of whether nuclear records should<br />

be maintained in cloud storage. RIMBUs goal is provide<br />

guidance on developing a Cloud implementation strategy to<br />

include consideration of legal issues, regulatory compliance,<br />

security, audits, and more. The team continues to progress on<br />

this effort and hopes to enter the draft stage for this White<br />

Paper in the coming month.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 23


What Refueling a<br />

Nuclear Reactor<br />

During COVID-19<br />

Taught the<br />

Industry<br />

As the coronavirus pandemic<br />

continues, we’ve all had to adapt.<br />

Increasingly, the health crisis highlights<br />

how essential electricity is to our daily<br />

lives—from remote work to family<br />

Zoom calls.<br />

America’s 94 nuclear plants have also<br />

adjusted to these new circumstances<br />

and have continued to provide reliable,<br />

carbon-free energy to keep the<br />

electricity flowing. This was especially<br />

evident during the spring when COVID<br />

-19 brought new challenges to the<br />

seasonal effort to refuel 30 nuclear<br />

reactors across the country. This fall,<br />

the nuclear industry will take valuable<br />

lessons learned from that success as it<br />

prepares to refuel another two dozen<br />

reactors.<br />

What the Industry Learned<br />

Safety is the highest priority of every<br />

U.S. nuclear plant and there were no<br />

exceptions last spring as the nuclear<br />

energy industry worked to minimize the<br />

spread of coronavirus during refueling<br />

outages.<br />

Nuclear plants employ hundreds of<br />

workers and during a refueling outage,<br />

they bring in hundreds more people for<br />

maintenance and inspections. A nuclear<br />

plant is mostly a hands-on workplace,<br />

but innovative nuclear service<br />

companies were able to use new<br />

tools so some activities could be done<br />

remotely. For workers who still need to<br />

go on-site, the industry has changed its<br />

approach to scheduling duty shifts for<br />

certain plant personnel, keeping some<br />

of them together consistently in teams<br />

to reduce the opportunities for virus<br />

transmission.<br />

Many nuclear plants also worked with<br />

regulators to find changes in procedure<br />

to reduce the opportunities for<br />

infection, like postponing some annual<br />

medical exams or security guard<br />

weapons range activities as well as other<br />

lower priority maintenance activities.<br />

In addition to those broad efforts,<br />

plants were able to take on smaller—<br />

though no less effective—changes.<br />

These included decontaminating the<br />

buttons and switches in control rooms,<br />

extensive sanitizing of other<br />

workplaces, being ahead of the curve in<br />

marking the floors at six-foot intervals<br />

for social distancing, and requiring<br />

social distancing, mask-wearing and<br />

handwashing on-site, as well as<br />

encouraging the same practices outside<br />

of the workplace. Some plants even<br />

supplied employees with meals and<br />

groceries for their homes to help<br />

minimize the time that they needed to<br />

be in public areas.<br />

What the Industry Is Still Doing<br />

As we’ve seen, the days of COVID-<br />

19 have required extra equipment, extra<br />

precautions and an added sense of<br />

responsibility beyond just yourself. This<br />

is true when wearing a mask in public or<br />

assuring a reliable electricity supply.<br />

Nuclear operators have always been<br />

adept at working together across the<br />

industry; during the pandemic, this was<br />

even more valuable. Plants knew how to<br />

screen people at the plant gate for<br />

warning signs, like a fever or cough, or<br />

report if someone was sick at home. But<br />

they improved on that and learned to<br />

share this information across the<br />

industry.<br />

The industry has also continued to<br />

think ahead; it’s part of why nuclear<br />

energy is prepared for any emergency.<br />

Plants have had pandemic response<br />

plans since 2006 and updated them<br />

early this year before the virus first<br />

surged in the U.S. These plans included<br />

measures we consider standard today<br />

such as using protective equipment like<br />

masks, and exercising social distancing.<br />

Because of the possibility of<br />

hurricanes or other extreme weather,<br />

nuclear plants are also prepared to keep<br />

crews in the plants if necessary, with<br />

housing, food and other necessities, so<br />

that their vital work can continue, a<br />

precaution that could be used in a<br />

pandemic. Additionally, plants have also<br />

continued to identify people who could<br />

fill critical roles if others fall ill, and to<br />

exchange information and pool insights<br />

with reactor operators around the<br />

world.<br />

What’s Next<br />

The novel coronavirus has defied<br />

almost everyone’s ability to predict, but<br />

there’s one thing we can be assured of:<br />

Electricity will be essential to the<br />

recovery we all seek.<br />

As certain plants look to refuel their<br />

reactors this season, the industry is<br />

looking ahead as always to keep the<br />

lights on with reliable, carbon-free<br />

energy. With the lessons learned from<br />

operating during a pandemic and with<br />

the industry’s culture of preparedness,<br />

nuclear energy is ready for the next set<br />

of refueling outages.<br />

Article reprinted with permission<br />

of NEI. Read full article here.<br />

24 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


Exelon to retire<br />

four Illinois<br />

reactors early;<br />

generation nears<br />

record high in<br />

2019<br />

Dresden and Byron have registered<br />

revenue shortfalls for hundreds of<br />

millions of dollars due to declining<br />

energy prices and market rules that<br />

allow fossil fuel plants to underbid<br />

Continued on next page.<br />

The front entrance of the Three Mile<br />

Island Nuclear Power Plant (Source:<br />

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)<br />

Exelon Generation will retire two<br />

of its twin-unit power stations,<br />

Dresden Generating Station and<br />

Byron Generating Station, in the<br />

autumn of 2021, between 10 and 20<br />

years ahead of schedule, the company<br />

said in a statement at the end of<br />

August.<br />

Byron, located just outside of<br />

Byron, Illinois, will close September<br />

2021, 20 years before its license<br />

expires, while Dresden, found in<br />

Morris, Illinois, will close November<br />

2021, a decade before its license is up,<br />

the company said.<br />

The plants employ over 1,500 fulltime<br />

employees and 2,000<br />

supplemental workers during refueling<br />

outages, and supply 30% of Illinois’<br />

carbon-free energy, it said.<br />

“We recognize this comes as many<br />

of our communities are still recovering<br />

from the economic and public health<br />

impacts of the pandemic, and we will<br />

continue our dialogue with<br />

policymakers on ways to prevent these<br />

closures,” said President and CEO if<br />

Exelon Christopher Crane. “To that<br />

end, we have opened our books to<br />

policymakers and will continue to do<br />

so for any lawmaker who wishes to<br />

judge the plants’ profitability.”<br />

Washington, D.C.— Today the U.S.<br />

Nuclear Regulatory Commission<br />

completed Phase 6 of its review, the last<br />

and final phase, of the Design<br />

Certification Application (DCA) for<br />

NuScale’s groundbreaking small<br />

modular reactor (SMR) with the<br />

issuance of the Final Safety Evaluation<br />

Report (FSER). The FSER represents<br />

the completion of the technical review<br />

and approval of the NuScale SMR<br />

design. The following statement can be<br />

attributed to Marc Nichol, senior<br />

director of new reactors at the Nuclear<br />

Energy Institute:<br />

“The approval of NuScale’s small<br />

modular reactor design is not only a<br />

monumental milestone for NuScale but<br />

is a crucial step for the future of the<br />

industry. As the first U.S. small modular<br />

reactor design to be issued a FSER,<br />

NuScale is pioneering the way for<br />

additional innovative advanced nuclear<br />

technologies under development.<br />

“NuScale’s design approval, the first<br />

of its kind, brings the country closer to<br />

meeting its clean energy goals and<br />

making electricity more accessible for<br />

all. This milestone demonstrates the<br />

nuclear industry can meet the demands<br />

for reliable, safe and affordable carbonfree<br />

energy here in the U.S., but also<br />

meet the demands of customers across<br />

the world.<br />

“With growing customer interest<br />

and agreements with entities in the U.S.,<br />

Canada, Romania, the Czech Republic<br />

and Jordan, NuScale has sparked a<br />

turning point for the entire industry in<br />

the advancement of U.S. technological<br />

innovation and our goal of providing<br />

carbon-free energy across the globe.”<br />

Article reprinted with permission<br />

of NEI. Read full article here.<br />

Back to Content | <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 25


clean resources in the PJM capacity<br />

auction, the company said.<br />

These market rules also put Exelon<br />

Generation’s LaSalle and Braidwood<br />

nuclear power stations in Illinois at a<br />

high risk of being prematurely closed,<br />

Exelon warned.<br />

Nuclear generation nears<br />

record high in 2019<br />

Power generated from nuclear<br />

reactors increased for the seventh<br />

straight year in 2019, with electricity<br />

output rising by 95 TWh from a year<br />

earlier to 2,658 TW, the second highest<br />

output on record, the World Nuclear<br />

Association said in its World Nuclear<br />

Performance Report <strong>2020</strong>.<br />

By the end of 2019, the world’s 442<br />

operating reactors had a capacity of 392<br />

GWe, down slightly from the 397 GWe<br />

at the end of 2018, the report said.<br />

Thirteen reactors were shut down,<br />

including four which had not generated<br />

electricity since 2011 in Japan and<br />

three, in South Korea, Germany and<br />

Taiwan, prematurely shut due to<br />

political phase-out policies.<br />

Six new reactors started up last year,<br />

including four Pressurized Water<br />

Reactors (PWRs) – two in China, one<br />

in Russia and one in South Korea – and<br />

two small reactors on the first purposebuilt<br />

floating nuclear power plant in<br />

Pevek, northeast Russia. Meanwhile,<br />

new construction began on two<br />

reactors in China and one each in Iran,<br />

Russia and Britain.<br />

“There is an urgent need for the<br />

pace of grid connections and new<br />

construction starts to increase in order<br />

to expand the essential contribution<br />

nuclear energy makes to global clean<br />

energy provision and reach the nuclear<br />

industry’s Harmony goal,” Director<br />

General of the WNA Agneta Rising<br />

said in a preface to the report.<br />

Finland’s TVO announces<br />

further delays for<br />

Olkiluoto-3<br />

Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima<br />

Oyj (TVO) said the latest schedule<br />

from supplier Areva-Siemens<br />

consortium for the commissioning of<br />

the OL3 EPR plant shows fuel will be<br />

loaded into the reactor March 2021 and<br />

the unit will be connected to the grid in<br />

October of the same year, with<br />

electricity production starting February<br />

2022.<br />

Areva-Siemens told TVO in April<br />

that fuel loading would not take place<br />

as planned in June of this year and that<br />

electricity production would be delayed<br />

from the original schedule of March<br />

2021.<br />

The delay has been due to technical<br />

problems identified in tests, the<br />

increase in the amount of maintenance<br />

work caused by project delay and the<br />

lack of necessary spare parts, TVO<br />

said.<br />

“Technical problems have been<br />

related to sea water system equipment,<br />

cracks in the pressurizer safety valves’<br />

spring-loaded pilot control valves,<br />

faulty components in emergency diesel<br />

generators and the pressurizer surge<br />

line vibration problem. Faulty cable<br />

insulation has been detected in certain<br />

automation cabinets and these will be<br />

repaired during the autumn,” TVO said<br />

in a statement.<br />

Technical problems that have<br />

emerged on the plant unit have now<br />

been solved, and the repair works are<br />

currently ongoing, the company said.<br />

Ontario govt supports OPG<br />

plan to extend life of<br />

Pickering<br />

The Ontario government said mid-<br />

August it is backing a plan by Ontario<br />

Power Generation (OPG) to extend<br />

the life of the Pickering Nuclear<br />

Generating Station, with its units 1 and<br />

4 operating until the end of 2024 and<br />

units 5 and 8 operating until the end of<br />

2025.<br />

The plant, which employs around<br />

4,500 people, was previously scheduled<br />

to shutdown in 2024.<br />

“The safe operation of Ontario’s<br />

nuclear assets is our top priority,” said<br />

Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy,<br />

Northern Development and Mines in a<br />

statement. “I’m pleased that OPG has<br />

developed an innovative proposal that<br />

will provide Ontarians with emissionfree,<br />

low cost energy, and keep highlyskilled<br />

Ontarians working in their<br />

communities longer.”<br />

OPG needs final approval from the<br />

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission<br />

(CNSC) for its revised schedule.<br />

By Nuclear Energy <strong>Inside</strong>r<br />

Article reprinted with permission of<br />

Nuclear Energy <strong>Inside</strong>r.<br />

Read full article here.<br />

26 <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>.org <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong>


<strong>Inside</strong> <strong>NIRMA</strong> Magazine is<br />

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