Spring Inside NIRMA Issue 2023

Inside 

Leading the way in Nuclear Information and Records Management 

magazine 

Visit us at: NIRMA.org 

Wolf Creek Generating Station: 

Traveling the Road of 

Continuous Improvement 

Microfilm Scanner Equipment 

Trade-In 

nextScan 

SIGET: Focus on Artificial Intelligence 

Bob Larrivee, NIRMA Director of Technical Programs 

Industry News: 

⬧ NASA’s Artemis to take nuclear power to the moon 

⬧ State Nuclear Policy Action is Booming 

Issue # 16, Spring 2023

CONTENT 

6 

8 

16 

Microfilm Scanner Equipment Trade-In 

By Matt Anderson, Vice President of Marketing, nextScan 

Wolf Creek Generating Station: Traveling the Road of Continuous 

Improvement 

By Neal Miller, Devereaux Consulting / NIRMA Publication Specialist 

SIGET: Focused on Artificial Intelligence 

By Bob Larrivee, NIRMA’s Director of Technical Programs 

10 

Chronicles of NIM: A Retrospective on Information Management in Nuclear Power 

Remembering Steve Matson 

By Eugene Yang, KISMET Consulting, Inc. 

12 

12 

13 

14 

17 

In Memoriam of Susan Hunn 

NRC Finalizes Regulatory Issue 

Summary (RIS) 

By Margie Janney, CRM/NS/FED 

Introducing the New NIRMA Logo 

NIRMA and ICRM: Partners in 

Excellence 

By Deborah Robbins, Chair of ICRM 

Mentoring Committee 

Announcing New Technical Advisor to 

the NIRMA Board 

Photo courtesy Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 

On the Cover: Wolf Creek Generating Station in 

Kansas has been safely providing clean, reliable 

energy to the citizens of Kansas and Missouri since 

1985. Learn how their Document Services 

Department’s partnership with NIRMA has helped 

keep them “Traveling the Road of Continuous 

Improvement” as they strive to be among the 

industry’s best. 

2 Spring 2023 NIRMA.org Inside NIRMA

in every issue 

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD— 4 

SYMPOSIUM CORNER—5 

TREASURER REPORT—13 

PDBU NEWS—18 

M&MBU NEWS—19 

RIMBU NEWS—20 

INDUSTRY NEWS—21 

Letter from the Editors 

We at Inside NIRMA, value your opinion and are 

always looking to improve our magazine. Let us 

know what you like and dislike and what you’d 

like to see more of. Share your thoughts with our 

Communication Team at 

DevereauxInc@outlook.com. 

If you haven’t already done so, 

please take a moment to follow 

NIRMA on YouTube, Twitter 

and Instagram, like NIRMA on 

Facebook, and connect with 

NIRMA on LinkedIn. 

Thanks for reading. Please keep in touch! 

Neal and Sandra Miller 

Editors 

Editors 

Neal and Sandra Miller 

DevereauxInc@outlook.com 

Advertising 

Neal.F.Miller@gmail.com 

NIRMA Headquarters 

Sarah Perkins 

NIRMA Administrator 

nirma@nirma.org 

In addition to our own 

articles, Inside NIRMA 

publishes guest articles from 

agencies and vendors. Please 

be advised that the views and 

opinions expressed in these 

articles are those of the 

authors and do not 

necessarily reflect the 

opinions of NIRMA or its 

Board of Directors. 

Back to Content | Inside NIRMA NIRMA.org Spring 2023 3

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD 

D 

uring the recent Winter 

Board Meeting, we 

reflected on the current 

state of NIRMA. It is 

good. After several years of 

uncertainty from COVID, we can 

report that NIRMA is growing its 

membership and is currently 

financially stable. This reality 

enables the Board to focus on the 

future which is essential. We have 

been able to shore up some areas of 

opportunity and now can set the 

stage for NIRMA to again thrive. 

This past year we launched a 

shift in NIRMA direction, more 

future-focused toward emerging 

technologies and the challenges we 

now face as information managers. We 

have updated the NIRMA Strategic 

Plan with this goal through the 

SIGET (Special Interest Group on 

Emerging Technologies). At the 

Symposium, we were able to expand 

attendance from the nuclear power 

producers, Navy nuclear fuel 

services, NRC, various solution 

providers, and renewed participation 

from the DOE and national 

laboratories such as Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL) and Sandia. 

International attendance from the 

United Arab Emirates and Canada 

brought unique perspectives to 

expand our horizons. 

We are thankful for the growth 

and engagement of the NIRMA 

Business Units under strong coleaders. 

This is where the real value 

of NIRMA is found through great 

volunteers! NIRMA has always 

produced internationally respected 

guidance documents (TG's, ANSI/ 

NIRMA standard, position papers) 

and we are poised to continue that 

mission with engaged participation. 

We have strengthened our 

endorsement of professional 

certification to NIRMA membership 

and intend to expand the 

participation particularly for the 

unique Nuclear Specialist 

designation. NIRMA continues a 

strong relationship with the Institute 

of Certified Records Managers 

(ICRM) for training opportunities, 

as well as first-hand mentors 

attending the Symposium who have 

gone through the exam process. 

Other initiatives are in motion to 

simply give NIRMA a fresh look. 

These include: 

• New NIRMA logo - winner 

recently unveiled with rollout inprogress 

• SharePoint upgrade completed 

for Members-only site to a 

secure modern version 

• Designate a theme for this year 

in NIRMA of "Educate – 

Collaborate – Innovate" 

• Subtle image and title changes to 

Board articles in the eMagazine 

• Branding for a consistent 

"NIRMA 23 Symposium" title 

2023 NIRMA Board of Directors 

(L-R): Bob Larrivee (Dir. of Tech. Programs), Sheila 

Pearcy (Dir. of Infrastructure), Tammy Cutts 

(Treasurer), Janice Hoerber (President), Bruce Walters 

(Vice-President) and (inset) Kathi Cole (Secretary) 

It is a delicate balance of old and 

new. NIRMA has such a rich 

history of service, achievements, and 

respect in the nuclear industry. It is 

in our hands to ensure NIRMA is 

set for success in the future and with 

your support, we have no doubt it 

will continue to serve its 

constituents proudly! 

Thank you! 

4 Spring 2023 NIRMA.org Inside NIRMA

g 

reetings everyone. In less than six months, we 

will be gathering again for the 2023 Nuclear 

Information Management Symposium (August 

7-9), now referred to as NIRMA 23 

SYMPOSIUM, to be held at the JW Marriott Resort 

and Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The NIRMA Board decided at the Winter Board 

meeting to adopt the name NIRMA 23 

SYMPOSIUM as a new and exciting way to refer to 

our annual gathering. Symposium registration 

fees, which includes the 2024 membership fee, did 

not change from last year’s pricing. 

NIRMA 23 Symposium 

Exhibitor Hall just as we have had in past years. Last 

year, you may recall that we had 11 exhibitors 

participate and with your input, we may have more this 

year. And we are inviting the first five registered 

exhibitors, who did not participate last year, to give a 

scheduled 15-minute stand-alone Vendor Spotlight 

session about their company and product/service on 

Monday and Tuesday. And as is routine, we will host a 

Networking Reception with them at the end of the day 

on Tuesday. If you are an exhibitor and want this 

opportunity, please contact Sarah at nirma@nirma.org 

to register. 

We continue to look for companies to sponsor 

events such as meals or after-hour receptions. Your 

company will be recognized on our website and at the 

symposium. 

The Call for Papers has been published in a special 

edition of our monthly email in January and is also 

available on our website at nirma.org/annualsymposium 

under the SPEAK tab. I encourage you to 

register as a Speaker for a discount, share your 

experiences, and educate the rest of us. As we 

witnessed in 2022, we have a lot of knowledgeable 

members in NIRMA, with some new folks coming 

from as far as the United Arab Emirates. As a speaker, 

you will have an audience who will appreciate you 

taking that leap of faith. Give being a teacher and a 

learner a try this year. A list of possible topics is 

included in the Call for Papers. Case Studies are 

fantastic because they are actual experiences that 

colleagues are sharing, whether a project or process 

went quite well or horribly wrong. We can always learn 

from each of our successes and failures. Please share 

yours. 

We plan to continue offering a Fundamentals track 

for newbies, advanced tracks for the seasoned vets, and 

breaks for short networking opportunities, all in order 

to incorporate what you have come to expect 

educationally at the symposium. 

We have invited nearly two dozen of our exhibitor 

contacts to attend the Symposium and will have an 

For planning purposes, know that Business Unit 

meetings, including a Special Interest Group on 

Emerging Technologies (SIGET) working group, will 

be all day Thursday, August 10 th . Regulations and 

Information Management Business Unit (RIMBU) will 

likely continue on Friday morning, August 11 th . Please 

schedule your trip to Las Vegas to include an extra day 

(plus) to attend these important meetings. 

On the NIRMA website under the Annual 

Symposium tab are links to register for the Symposium, 

to Speak, to Sponsor, and to reserve your hotel room. 

The JW Marriott offers a limited number of rooms at 

the discounted Symposium rate, so you might want to 

reserve your room soon. 

The Board is also working on a pre-Symposium 

Sunday Outing, so you may want to arrive in time to 

join in. 

Last year was a spirited event, as colleagues got to 

reconnect after a couple years away, plus we had 35 

first-timer attendees who jumped right into it. We are 

working to improve upon the experience and to offer 

more opportunities for our attendees, exhibitors, and 

sponsors for NIRMA 23 Symposium. You really will 

want to join us. The entire Board plans to be there in 

August and we can’t wait to greet you. 


Microfilm Scanner 

Equipment Trade-In 

By Matt Anderson, 

Vice President of Marketing 

I 

s old and outdated technology 

slowing down the retrieval of 

your microfilm files? Does 

your microfilm equipment still 

operate on FireWire or even older 

technology? If you answered yes to 

either of these questions, your 

organization is working in a bygone 

technological era. Now is the time to 

update to an all new ViewScan 4 

microfilm scanner. 

Modern Equipment 

With today’s advancements in 

technology, using microfilm and 

microfiche has never been easier. 

Long gone are the days of a drawer 

filled with different lenses for each 

reduction ratio. We no longer 

bounce the light path over multiple 

mirrors to project onto a screen. 

Today, our digital image sensors 

focus the information off only one 

mirror, producing a crisp and clear 

image on the monitor instantly. This 

is achievable through the incredible 

processing power of modern PCs 

and USB3.0 SuperSpeed 

connections. These modern 

improvements allow the user to 

experience real-time live images 

without pixilation or image lag. 

PerfectView Software 

ST Imaging’s PerfectView 

software is revolutionizing the way 

people view and use their microfilm 

files. The simple, straightforward, 

minimal layout provides users only 

the tools they need in that moment. 

This intuitive design streamlines the 

process of retrieving, saving, and 

sharing files stored on microfilm. 

Built into PerfectView is 

PerfectFocus technology. Never 

focus your images again, as the 

ViewScan 4 has been mathematically 

calibrated to provide perfectly 

focused images automatically. 

Turn-Key Solution 

The ViewScan 4, PerfectView 

software, and an on-board Windows 

11 Mini PC with 500GB of storage 

delivers a turn-key solution for 

future access of your microfilm 

archives. Add a monitor, connect 

the cables, plug in the power, and 

you are scanning within minutes. 

The Windows 11 Mini PC will be 

imaged with PerfectView software 

and licensed to your organization. 

Only ST Imaging delivers a turnkey, 

out-of-the-box, microfilm scanning 

solution. 

Security 

In 2021 cybercrime was an 

estimated $623.7 million illicit 

business in the United States. Old 

PCs running obsolete operating 

systems pose a significant security 

risk. Beyond support being phased 

out on old hardware, that hardware 

Now, through this 

year’s NIRMA 

Symposium, trade-in 

that old and outdated 

microfilm equipment 

for a modern 

ViewScan 4 and 

receive an 18mp 

camera upgrade and 

PerfectView software 

at no cost! 

can’t access new security features 

making the system vulnerable. In 

addition, old hardware has known 

vulnerabilities which hackers can 

exploit. These are only a few of the 

security risks your organization faces 

in continuing to work on outdated 

equipment. 

Trade-In Offer 

Now, through this year’s NIRMA 

Symposium, trade-in that old and 

outdated microfilm equipment for a 

modern ViewScan 4 and receive an 

18mp camera upgrade and 

PerfectView software at no cost! 

Contact ST Imaging for more 

information. 

sales@stimaging.com 

847-501-3344 

6 Spring 2023 NIRMA.org Back to Content | Inside NIRMA

Microfilm Scanner on FireWire? 

TM 

Upgrade to a new ViewScan 4 

TM 

Trade-In 

Still laboring on an outdated, 

outmoded, old microfilm scanner? 

Upgrade to a ViewScan 4 with an 

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and new Windows 11 On-Board Mini PC! 

Upgrade ANY* FireWire 

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ViewScan 4 Edge 

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PerfectView Software 

Easy to use, simple color-coded software 

Image Ribbon, Annotation, Auto-Browse 

PerfectFocus - Images always in focus! 

Three-Year Factory Warranty 

ViewScan 4 Trade-In 

ViewScan 4 $5,695 

18MP Camera $3,395 

Mini-PC $1,145 

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________________ 

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Total $11,680 

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*Cannot be combined with any other offer. No substitutions. 

Trade-in of any ST200, ST200X, ViewScan, ViewScan II, or ViewScan III, regardless of condition; or any functioning, equivalent microfilm 

reader/printer product. Limit one trade-in per customer. Please contact ST Imaging for larger quantities. Offer Expires July 31, 2023

Wolf Creek Generating 

Station: Traveling the Road 

of Continuous 

Improvement 

By Neal Miller, 

Devereaux Consulting / NIRMA Publication 

Specialist 

Support from NIRMA Helps Keep 

Wolf Creek Document Services 

Department Right on Track 

L 

ike all nuclear organizations, 

the Document Services 

department at Wolf Creek 

Generating Station strives to 

be among the industry’s best. 

Continuous Improvement is a 

“Being a NIRMA member 

has empowered myself and 

other Wolf Creek Document 

Services members to be part 

of the teams that develop and 

improve NIRMA Technical 

Guidelines, position papers, 

and white papers.” 

Rhonda Redding 

moving target and to stay on an 

upwards trajectory, it requires not 

only hard work but also guidance 

and support. That’s what makes 

Wolf Creek’s involvement with 

NIRMA so important. 

“Since joining in 2019, we have 

gotten tremendous support from 

NIRMA,” said Wolf Creek’s 

Document Services Supervisor 

Rhonda Redding. “This has allowed 

us to stay ahead of the curve in the 

areas of quality records programs, 

regulatory 

compliance 

activities, 

electronic 

records 

initiatives, 

document 

management technologies, and 

knowledge management issues.” 

Wolf Creek has also benefitted 

from the technical sessions offered 

at NIRMA’s annual symposiums as 

well as peer-to-peer coaching 

opportunities and benchmarking. 

‘Being a NIRMA member has 

empowered myself and other Wolf 

Creek Document Services members 

to be part of the teams that develop 

and improve NIRMA Technical 

Guidelines, position papers, and 

white papers,” Redding said. 

“Working on these teams expands 

our knowledge of nuclear regulatory 

requirements for records and 

information management, while 

gaining advice from industry 

operating experience.” 


Wolf Creek’s Document Services organization and the KISMET team. 

(Front row L-R): Eugene Yang (KISMET), Rhonda Redding (Wolf Creek), Laura Schultz (Wolf Creek), and Linda 

Kaminski (Wolf Creek). 

(Back row L-R): Jo Ann Chovan (KISMET), Toni Johnson (KISMET), Jolene (Wolf Creek), Sandy Miller (KISMET), and 

Jessica Cole (Wolf Creek). 

Not pictured: Kayla Snovelle (Wolf Creek), Tim Rohland (KISMET), and Ed Gonzalez (KISMET). 

Wolf Creek’s relationship with 

NIRMA also led the station to the 

consultant supporting its new 

Electronic Document Management 

Tina Gilbert, Wolf Creek’s Document 

Services. 

System (EDMS) project, KISMET 

Consulting, Inc. 

“KISMET (which is led by 

former NIRMA President and 

Lifetime Member Eugene Yang) is 

among the industry’s leading 

document services support 

organizations with expertise in this 

area,” Redding said. “We are very 

fortunate to have been able to hire 

them.” KISMET has been assisting 

Wolf Creek with requirements 

development for the new EDMS, 

testing, data migration from their 

current EDMS (Curator) to the 

Alfresco cloud-based solution, plant 

staff training, and much more. 

In the three years since joining 

NIRMA, Redding has used the 

opportunity to not only learn but 

also for professional development. In 

August 2021 she was named the codirector 

of NIRMA’s Regulations 

and Information Management 

Business Unit (RIMBU) committee 

(see page 20). RIMBU provides 

NIRMA members the opportunity to 

learn about regulatory impacts, stay 

abreast of emerging issues, and 

develop industry guidance. This 

committee also fosters sharing and 

comparing knowledge and best 

practices on documents, information, 

and records management programs 

through the use of existing and 

emerging information technologies. 


By Eugene Y. Yang, 

Principal Consultant 

KISMET Consulting, Inc. 

In this edition of my column, I’ll be departing from my usual discussions on 

information management to remember a colleague and friend, Steve Matson. 

T 

he nuclear power industry has been going strong 

for the past sixty-five years. It’s been so 

resilient, bouncing back with more vigor after 

Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. 

During that time, we’ve seen emergent designs, new 

technologies, “holes in the ground,” construction, 

startup, operations, decommissioning, and plant sites 

returned to a “green field.” The consistent theme in 

this “circle of life” has been the dedicated people – the 

visionaries, the scientists, engineers, operators, 

administrative staff, and crafts that keep our nuclear 

plants going, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. 

Some of these dedicated staff devote their whole 

lives to nuclear – not only in doing a job, but a 

vocation; some, in turn, give back to the next 

generation. As NIRMA moves into its 47 th year of 

supporting the information management needs of the 

nuclear power industry, we have, sadly, lost another 

member who dedicated himself to furthering our 

Association. 

Steven Creg Matson passed away on Saturday, 

December 17, 2022 in Phoenix, AZ. 

After a stint in the Navy submarine program, Steve’s 

next “billet” was to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating 

Station (PVNGS) of Arizona Public Service. He was 

employed initially as an instrumentation and control 

engineer, where he supported process improvements 

and the station’s design configuration management 

program. Even then, Steve showed a penchant for 

giving back to the industry by being a contributor to 

both INPO and EPRI in developing guidance in the 

engineering change process. 

Where we 

got to know 

Steve was when 

he transitioned 

to being a 

Business/ 

Technical 

Consultant to 

the PVNGS’ 

records 

management program. He was instrumental in guiding 

the station in its implementation of digital signatures 

and using PDF 

as the station’s 

sustainable 

electronic 

record format. 

As he was 

doing that 

work, he 

immersed 

himself in the 

regulatory and 


usiness requirements for recordkeeping – for both 

quality assurance and non-quality assurance records. 

Steve was a “go-to” contributor to our Association’s 

technical guidance – whether that would be white 

papers, position papers, or technical guidelines. In the 

Regulations and Information Management Business 

Unit (RIMBU), we would typically have “interesting, 

exhaustive, and always educational” discussions on 

process and technology in the capture, storage, and 

retrieval of electronic records. Steve would be our guy 

on what standards and regulations we really needed to 

look at. The man’s mind was like a trap! He could not 

only provide regulatory or standards citation off the top 

of his head, but also give us the “Cliff Notes” version 

of the important stuff to know“ (“contained therein” – 

a favorite Steve-ism). Steve also took on leadership 

responsibilities in committee work and being a Board 

member. 

His crowning achievement was to add our electronic 

records guidance into nuclear standards space by 

initiating a liaison with ASME’s NQA-1 Committee; he 

was able to gain a seat at the table of the Programs 

Management Process (PMP) Subcommittee. Steve’s 

idea was that, in the past, NIRMA had some difficulty 

having its guidance recognized by the NRC. By placing 

NIRMA’s guidance into NQA-1, as new versions were 

developed, the NRC would review the guidance as part 

of their periodic review of nuclear standards. For this 

effort, the Association honored Steve with the Hans 

Ebner Memorial Award in 2016. 

(Bill Clover was able to continue what Steve started 

and worked with the PMP Subcommittee so that the 

first NQA-1 revision that contains NIRMA electronic 

records guidance is NQA-1-2017.) 

Steve’s giving nature was also displayed in how he 

mentored colleagues and younger staff. Outside of 

work, Steve was equally generous with his time in 

mentoring boys and girls on technical subjects, working 

on cars, fixing computers, and enjoying his love for the 

outdoors as he was frequently camping, hiking, and 

hunting. 

Steve – you were a great colleague, debater, mentor, 

resource … and friend. We will miss you, brother. 

Note: The Hans Ebner Memorial Award is given to the 

individual who, in a particular year, moved NIRMA, and 

the nuclear industry, forward in the area of information 

management. Hans Ebner was a past President and Board 

member of the Association; he worked at DTE Energy’s 

Fermi Nuclear Generating Station and, later, as a 

contractor to the Department of Energy. He was 

instrumental in getting the Association standing with 

ANSI. He was a bigger-than-life, bear of a man, and gave 

back to many of us by being a wonderful mentor to utility 

and federal personnel. He took me, a young engineer, under 

his wing in 1987 and gave me the confidence to pursue my 

career in nuclear power, information management, and 

leadership in NIRMA. 

Eugene has been a member of NIRMA for 

over 35 years, and served as President from 

1999-2001. At the time he joined, NIRMA 

had only been in existence for 11 years. He 

would love to hear about stories and anecdotes 

from others, so please email him at 

eugene.yang@kismetconsulting.com. 


Memorial to 

Susan Hunn 

e have lost another great NIRMA colleague, 

W 

Susan Hunn, who passed away February 3, 

2023. We fondly remember Susan and her 

significant contributions to the organization. 

She served as NIRMA President in 1996 following her 

previous roles of Secretary and Vice President. Susan 

was dedicated to promoting NIRMA’s forwardthinking 

attitude and was instrumental in evolving 

NIRMA’s Strategic Plan. She would serve in whatever 

capacity was asked of her. In acknowledgement of her 

efforts, she was recognized as a NIRMA Lifetime 

Member in 2000. 

Susan had a successful career at Southern California 

Edison for 37 years as a certified records manager 

(CRM). She had gained real world experience on 

records management issues with the shutdown and 

decommissioning of San Onofre Unit 1. While a 

member of the original NIRMA Regulations 

Committee, Susan shared her experience in supporting 

the first guidance document that NIRMA produced for 

decommissioning records. 

Her giving and 

gracious attitude 

was who Susan 

was. She doted on 

her husband, 

Fred, and their 

children, 

participated in 

school and 

community 

activities, and was 

an avid fan of 

hockey. She 

absolutely loved 

dogs and actively 

participated in Pet 

Project 

Foundation. 

Susan gave so much to NIRMA, to her family, 

friends, and colleagues, and we will miss her! 

NRC Finalizes 

Regulatory issue 

summary (ris) 

By Margie Janney, CRM/NS/FED 

o 

n December 16, 2022, the NRC finalized the 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) entitled, 

“NRC Plans to Establish Controlled 

Unclassified Information-Sharing Agreements 

with Non-Executive-Branch Entities,” to inform 

NRC licensees of the NRC’s expectations to handle 

controlled unclassified information (CUI) they receive 

from the NRC consistent with the CUI Rule 

requirements, while the NRC continues to engage in 

establishing CUI written agreements with them. You 

can find the RIS on NRC’s CUI public 

website, https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ 

cui.html. The RIS is referenced in the last paragraph 

on the page. It’s also linked under the “NRC CUI 

Resources”. 


INTRODUCING THE NEW 

NIRMA LOGO 

t 

he time has come to unveil the winning 

NIRMA Logo! The NIRMA Board asked for 

new forward-looking designs and nine were 

submitted. In January, the NIRMA membership voted 

with over 70% participation to determine the future 

logo. 

And the winner is…. 

and want to thank all who took the time to submit a 

design! 

The rollout of the new logo is starting now but will 

take some time and coordination. The NIRMA 

Secretary, Kathi Cole, is overseeing the effort and will 

track the list of documents and web locations for the 

NIRMA logo changeout. 

Congratulations to NIRMA member, Shaikhah 

Rashed Alabdouli, from the Nawah Energy Company, 

the operating subsidiary of Emirates Nuclear Energy 

Corporation (ENEC) based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab 

Emirates (UAE), for the winning logo design! Shaikhah 

was a first-time attendee at the 2022 NIRMA 

Symposium. We sincerely appreciate her creative effort 

NIRMA has a rich history, now in its 47 th year, 

providing guidance to commercial and DOE facilities 

for quality records programs, regulatory compliance 

activities, electronic records initiatives, and information 

management technologies. With a fresh new look, 

NIRMA will continue to serve and develop the highest 

level of guidance for an exciting future in the nuclear 

power industry! 

Tammy Cutts, NIRMA Treasurer 

NIRMA’s Financial Holdings 

as of February 15, 2023 

Checking Account $44,822.23 

Investment Account $94,420.76 


Institute of Certified 

Records Managers 

NIRMA and ICRM: 

Partners in Excellence 

T 

his year’s NIRMA Annual Symposium will 

feature outstanding sessions that provide 

current and timely education to professionals in 

the Nuclear Energy Industry. 

NIRMA also has a professional alliance with the 

Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) 

whereby NIRMA creates and the ICRM administers 

advanced certification and recognition through the 

Nuclear Information and Records Specialist (NS) 

certification. This certification is conferred on Certified 

Records Managers (CRM) and Certified Records 

Analysts (CRA) who meet the additional NS 

qualifications and pass the certification exam. This 

mutually beneficial relationship is almost as old as the 

institutions themselves. 

The ICRM was incorporated in 1975 to provide 

standards by which individuals involved in records and 

information management could be “measured, 

accredited and recognized according to criteria of 

experience and capability”. They partner with 

organizations whose core mission is to advance the field 

through education, advocacy, and professional 

development opportunities. 

In 1976, NIRMA was founded as the nuclear 

industry’s leader in information and records 

management. The mission of NIRMA is to provide 

guidance to those in the Nuclear Energy Industry for 

managing the information and records generated in this 

highly regulated environment. Aligning with the ICRM 

helps provide the resources and support needed for 

continuing education and professional development of 

NIRMA members. 

ICRM Certification 

The ICRM has two primary certifications, the CRM 

and the CRA, the 

latter was 

established in 

2017. These 

certifications 

provide a strong 

foundation of the 

knowledge and 

skills needed in the 

Records and 

Information 

Governance 

profession. There 

are six exam parts 

to pass for the 

CRM, including 

five 100-question 

By Deborah Robbins 

Chair of the ICRM Mentoring 

Committee 

multiple choice tests (Parts 1-5) and a written exam 

(Part 6) to become certified. To receive the CRA 

designation, an individual must pass Exam Parts 2-4. 

In 1990, the ICRM and NIRMA came 

together to develop an advanced 

certification for the Nuclear Industry. 

The concept was to develop an 

industry specific examination module. 

Nuclear Information and 

Records Specialist (NS) 

Certification 

In 1990, the ICRM and NIRMA came together to 

develop an advanced certification for the Nuclear 


Industry. The concept was to develop an industry 

specific examination module. The result of this 

relationship is the NS certification. This certification 

process is guided by the ICRM Exam Development 

Committee and the NIRMA Professional Certification 

Committee. NIRMA develops exam content and the 

ICRM administers the online testing process. 

In 2018, the NIRMA board voted to permit nuclear 

CRAs to sit for the Nuclear Information and Records 

Specialist examination to earn the Certified Records 

Analyst/Nuclear Information and Records Specialist 

(CRA/NS) certification. Prior to 2018, only CRMs were 

allowed to sit for the NS certification. Currently, any 

CRM or CRA NIRMA member in good standing, who 

has the requisite amount of nuclear records and 

information management (RIM) experience, can apply 

to sit for the NS exam. 

To assist individuals in their effort to obtain the 

CRA/CRM and the NS certifications, the ICRM has 

created a mentoring program that matches candidates to 

mentors who are already CRMs. 

A committee was established to 

enhance this area by providing 

resources for candidates studying for 

the exam, as well as creating a Mentor 

Program for all exam parts. 

What is the ICRM Mentoring 

Program? 

The Mentoring Program underwent a significant 

change in 2019. Historically mentors had been available 

for Exam Part 6 (the written exam), but there were no 

resources for individuals for Exam Parts 1-5. 

A committee was established to enhance this area by 

providing resources for candidates studying for the 

exam, as well as creating a Mentor Program for all exam 

parts. This program is guided by the ICRM Mentoring 

Committee and there is no cost associated with 

participating in the program. Mentors assist candidates 

by: 

• Sharing familiarity with ICRM Exam processes and 

procedures. 

• Sharing successes and challenges in RIM in 

alignment with the CRM exam outline and key 

knowledge areas. 

• Providing information on resources available to 

assist in preparing for exams. 

• Assisting in determining mentee’s areas of strength 

and weaknesses. 

• Providing guidance, feedback, and discussion on the 

annotated outlines and practice questions. 

• Discussing test-taking strategies. 

• Cheering candidates on and celebrating their 

successes! 

For information about upcoming workshops and 

exam resources, including how to apply as a candidate, 

visit Applying for The Examination | Institute of 

Certified Records Managers (icrm.org). If you are 

already a candidate and would like more information 

about the Mentoring Program, please check out the 

information found at Exam Preparation Resources | 

Institute of Certified Records Managers (icrm.org). 

About the Author 

Deborah Robbins is the Chair of the ICRM Mentoring 

Committee and works as a contractor for the 

Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management 

program under the auspices of TFE, Inc. 


siget: 

Focused on artificial 

intelligence 

By Bob Larrivee 

NIRMA’s Director of Technical Programs 

2023 is a very 

exciting year for 

NIRMA! 

I 

n 2022, The NIRMA Board 

announced the formation of 

a Special Interest Group on 

Emerging Technologies 

(SIGET). I am pleased to announce 

that SIGET is now part of 

Regulations and Information 

Management Business Unit 

(RIMBU) and will be Co-chaired by 

Ron Hedges and Stephen 

Fleshman. 

I am pleased to 

announce that the 

first area of focus 

for SIGET is a 

very hot topic. 

I am also pleased to announce 

that the first area of focus for 

SIGET is a very hot topic now 

across every business and in 

particular, the nuclear industry. The 

technology is artificial intelligence 

(AI), a technology with a great 

amount of publicity, both good and 

not so good in that it scares many 

people, while at the same time, it is 

proven to be of great benefit in 

automating business processes, 

enhancing the curation process, and 

even making some decisions based 

on preset criteria. 

As we move forward in 2023, you 

will see webinars, sessions at the 

symposium, even a white paper 

related to AI in nuclear. It is the role 

of SIGET to investigate emerging 

technologies like AI, identify if and 

where the technology is being used 

in nuclear operations, evaluate 

applications of this technology, and 

create informative materials that will 

bring greater awareness to the 

NIRMA membership. At the same 

time, white papers generated by 

SIGET, working with RIMBU, these 

white papers can become the 

foundation for more detailed 

positioning papers, technical guides, 

and even educational sessions by 

teaming with Professional 

Development Business Unit 

(PDBU). 

Soon, you will see articles from 

me, Ron, and Stephen that provide a 

glimpse of the future, and some 

considerations that as an 

Information Professional, you may 

want to consider in relation to your 

information and process 

management efforts. 

If you are interested in becoming 

a part of SIGET, you can reach out 

to me, Ron, or Stephen and we will 

gladly work with you to become part 

of the team. 

Not a NIRMA 

Member? 

Click here and 

join TODAY! 


ANNOUNCING NEW TECHNICAL 

ADVISOR TO THE NIRMA BOARD 

T 

he NIRMA Board welcomes a new volunteer, Dan 

Cassity, to the role of Technical Advisor to the Board. 

Dan introduces himself as follows: 

“After working at Ameren for 7 years, I'm currently the 

Lead Information Manager and Senior Product Owner for 

Enterprise Content Management. We manage a large assortment 

of Microsoft 365 products and we provide Information 

Architecture services to help co-workers transform business 

processes. Prior to joining Ameren, I was a Senior Human 

Resources & Readiness Manager in the United States Air Force. 

I retired after 20 years of Active Duty service. I spend my free 

time with my family and my hobbies include graphic design, 

illustration, and writing." 

Dan is quickly getting familiar with NIRMA and assisted Sarah with the SharePoint upgrade, formatting the new 

logo, and more! We appreciate his volunteer time and support for NIRMA. 

Thank you Chris! 

e sincerely thank Chris Boudreaux for his past 

W 

service to NIRMA in the role of "Technical 

Advisor to the Board". There is a lot of "tech" 

behind the scenes of NIRMA including its 

website, online store, webinars, eMagazines, and Sharepoint 

site. Chris was the first to serve in this newly created role in 

August 2018 while also serving as the RIMBU director with 

NIRMA. He provided excellent support and 

recommendations to the Board over the years. While Chris 

is stepping out of this role, he continues his busy "day job" 

in Cyber/Technology with STP Nuclear. 


Professional Development 

Business Unit (PDBU) News 

Lou Rofrano, PDBU Director 

Being your best! 

inter is slowly drawing to a 

W 

close and spring is fast 

approaching. We are 

through the frenzy of the 

winter holidays and even the Super 

Bowl is in the rearview mirror. 

Spring is the season of renewal, a 

time when the warm sun and 

additional daylight awakens the 

beauty that has laid dormant during 

the winter months. 

It has always struck me that it is 

the same for most people. In the 

spring we all seem to become a little 

more optimistic and energized. Even 

if you love winter sports and the 

gorgeous vistas that winter can 

provide, most people welcome the 

changes that spring brings and are 

affected by the change in season. It 

is the perfect time to capitalize on 

those energies to improve both 

personally and professionally. 

Here then are some spring time 

strategies for professional and 

personal development you may find 

useful. 

Personal 

• Stop scrolling and put down the 

phone. Smart phones today 

consume a tremendous amount 

of time and energy. Who among 

us has not lost time to these 

devices that for some become an 

addiction? If you can remember 

a time when your phone was on 

the wall and when you left home 

you could enjoy the serenity of 

not being in contact. Find the 

time to put down the phone and 

enjoy some quality time with 

yourself or someone important. 

• Focus on something you have 

wanted to do just for you and do 

it. Remember that you work at 

least five days a week and you 

should never feel bad about 

saying “this day away from the 

office is mine!” 

• Take the time to learn a new skill 

that will make life easier or more 

fun. It might be something small 

such as one of those useful 

“hacks” that make you smile. 

• With so many people working 

from home it is easy to get stuck 

in that office chair. Remember to 

get up and move. Take a walk 

over lunch and enjoy the fresh 

air. You will come back to the 

office energized and your 

creativity recharged. 

Professional 

• Likely you are looking at some 

challenging objectives for the 

first and second quarter. Make a 

list of the micro-steps you need 

to take to achieve each goal on 

time. Large objectives can seem 

over whelming when looked at 

with a macro view. Cut the job 

into manageable pieces and 

achieve more with less stress. 

• Select and participate in one 

event that develops a key skill set 

that will make you more 

successful. Plenty of resources 

are available on-line for every 

imaginable business skill. Often 

they are boiled down into 

useable summaries that speed 

adult learning. 

• Connect and network with other 

professionals on LinkedIn and 

start conversations with those 

contacts. Learn and share within 

the Records Management Global 

Community. 

• Start preparing to get your 

records management credentials, 

such as Certified Records 

Manager or Certified Records 

Analyst. Did you know we have 

ICRM leadership on the NIRMA 

team? Start a conversation. 

• Burned bridges are costly. If you 

have a professional relationship 

that has frayed over time but 

both parties would benefit by 

repairing that connection, then 

take positive steps to reconnect. 

Spring is a great time to renew 

and reflect. 

• Commit to enlarge your presence 

within the NIRMA community. 

There is lots of work to go 

around and your help could 

make the difference to all the 

other members. Sign up to 


MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING 

(M&M) Business Unit News 

G 

reetings and a Happy 2023 from the 

Membership & Marketing Business Unit 

(M&MBU). For those of you that are not 

aware, we are the folks working hard to 

educate the many about the NIRMA mission and 

ultimately get more folks to join NIRMA, become more 

involved, and ensure that everyone is getting the most 

value from their membership. We welcome input and 

new ideas and would love to hear from other members! 

As we look forward to 2023, we on the M&MBU 

Unit are constantly looking for ways to expand the 

outreach of NIRMA to all parties involved in Nuclear 

Records and Information Management. One area we 

are putting efforts into is trying to expand our outreach 

to more international audiences. We have a small 

international presence today and believe that we can 

expand further with this community. Currently, the 

international community is developing more new 

reactors and plants than the US and we hope to drive 

some new membership from them. We have begun 

reaching out to our colleagues overseas as well as 

vendors and customers to our north in Canada. If you 

have any suggestions about how to increase outreach to 

these folks or others, please let us know. 

Have you been enjoying the monthly member 

webinars from NIRMA? We hope so and if you were 

not aware, this is another area that the M&MBU helps 

to plan and facilitate. We have an exciting lineup of 

topics and speakers coming up in the next few months 

that we hope you will take advantage of and that you 

have been getting value from the topics and presenters 

so far. We always welcome new topics and ideas for 

Devin Cote, M&MBU Director 

future events. Do you have a great vendor or 

technology that you work with or a solution you would 

like to share? Let us know! 

As you are all hopefully aware by now, the 2023 

NIRMA Symposium is scheduled for August 7-9 

followed by the Business Unit meetings on August 10- 

11. We are still aways away, but it’s not too early to 

start planning and getting your approvals to attend this 

year’s symposium in person. If you are like most of us 

and need to provide some justification for attending the 

symposium, we have your back! In the works is a 

sample of a justification that you can tweak and modify 

with your management for the event. We hope to have 

this compiled and distributed soon. 

We are always looking for new partners and vendors 

that can contribute to NIRMA’s mission and set our 

members up for success. If you have any vendors or 

partners that you work with, please check with them to 

see if they would be interested in participating with 

NIRMA or joining us at the Symposium. If there’s a 

company or technology making your life easier and 

solving your information challenges, we would love to 

hear about them and try to get them more involved. 

Finally, for those that are interested in joining our 

meetings and adding value to the mission, we meet on 

the first Wednesday of the month at 1PM ET. Please 

reach out to Devin Cote @ 

devin.cote@microfocus.com for the invite or for 

additional information. 

Thank you! 

present at one of the monthly webinars. Don’t hide 

your light that can shine on others and reflect 

positively on you. 

• Finally, lock in your travel dates and get registered 

for this year’s NIRMA Symposium. We are excited 

about some of the plans that are already in motion. 

Learn and lead at this great annual event. 

Make it a great spring and find some time to be your 

best! 

Don’t forget we welcome one and all on our Monthly 

PDBU conference call held on the 3 rd Friday of every 

month at 9:00 Central. Contact Lou Rofrano, 

Lou@AMSStoeandShred.com or Gil Brueckner, 

Gil.Brueckner@ge.com to find out how to join us. 


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Regulations and Information 

Management Business Unit 

(RIMBU) News 

By Jordan Locke 

T 

Current Business 

he RIMBU team is preparing for our annual 

spring meeting on March 7th and 8th. This 

year, we are traveling to Richland, Washington 

where one of our team members has 

organized a tour of the Hanford site! We will be 

conducting several brainstorming sessions to focus on 

SIGET, RIM Beyond Design Basis, and continuing 

our efforts on our technical guidelines (TG) 

consolidation project, and benchmarking. We will 

have several presenters who will share information on 

industry foundation class (IFC) for 3D Models, the 

upcoming plans for TG consolidation, Electronic 

Signature Q&A, and many others. 

Status of RIMBU Action Items 

RIMBU has several action items we are working 

on. In November of last year, the RIMBU team voted 

to reaffirm TG-11, TG-15 and TG-21 and lastly a 

revision to TG-16 is in the works. In addition to the 

TG reaffirmation/revisions, we are conducting a 

comprehensive benchmark on the current state of 

RM across our industry. If you have not received the 

link to participate in the NIRMA/RIMBU survey, 

please reach out to our NIRMA administrator. 

(nirma@nirma.org). 

Join RIMBU and Get Involved! 

RIMBU provides many opportunities for individuals 

to increase their working knowledge of industry 

standards, conduct benchmarking, gain experience, and 

influence the standard industry guidance utilized by their 

RM teams. If you are interested in joining, please reach 

out to our Business Unit Director, Stephanie Price at 

sjprice@southernco.com or our Co-Director, Rhonda 

Redding at Rhonda.redding@evergy.com. 


NASA's Artemis to 

take nuclear power 

to the moon 

By Paul Day 

The Artemis I project’s uncrewed Orion spacecraft, 

which flew further than any spacecraft built for humans, 

is just the first of increasingly complex missions aimed 

at turning the moon into an outpost with a long-term 

human presence and as a steppingstone to Mars and 

further space exploration. 

But, in order for a human inhabited moon base to 

function on the lunar surface, where temperatures swing 

between -233C at night and 123C during the day, a 

reliable, constant power source is needed, and part of 

that power source will be nuclear, NASA has said. 

“We’re investing in what is characterized as an Earth/ 

moon economy by developing a capability for a 

sustained human presence on the surface of the moon. 

There are some basic needs that accompany this, and 

high-powered infrastructure is one of them,” says 

Anthony Calomino, nuclear technologies portfolio 

manager for NASA’s Space Technology Mission 

Directorate. 

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 

announced earlier this year they have selected three 

concept proposals for Phase One design of a fission 

surface power (FSP) system which, initially, would 

provide at least 40 kW of power, enough to run 30 

households for ten years. 

Those include designs from Lockheed Martin, partnered 

with BWXT and Creare, Westinghouse with Aerojet 

Rocketdyne, and IX, a joint venture between Intuitive 

Machines and X-Energy and partnered with Maxar and 

Boeing. 

The plan is to build a system that is scalable to a higher 

power without having a wholesale new design on the 

Artist's concept of new fission power system 

on the lunar surface. (Source: NASA) 

reactor or the power conversion systems. Capacity 

needs to be scalable to hundreds of kilowatts and, 

eventually, megawatts, something which fission power 

systems are uniquely suited to do, Calomino says. 

Phase Two will include a tested flight system that will 

transport a demonstration to the lunar surface by the 

end of this decade. 

Keep it light 

The main challenge for any system headed for the moon 

is that it must be jettisoned out of the Earth’s 

atmosphere as efficiently and economically as possible, 

and that means keeping the system’s mass at a 

minimum. 

“Mass is always the biggest concern for any space 

hardware, because it has to leave Earth, so the lighter 

you make it the better that capability can be in terms of 

servicing an operation in space,” Calomino says. 

“In terms of size and mass, kilowatts per kilogram, and 

just the logistics of getting 

this capability right, it has to 

be designed to be built on 

earth, then we have 

Continued on page 23. 


Solving Life Obsolescence a Key Part of the 

Puzzle for Nuclear Life Extensions 

By Paul Day 

Operators must be able to swap out 

old parts for new to keep a reactor 

running, but when like-for-like is 

unavailable, OEMs are faced with 

the challenge of finding an 

alternative while avoiding making 

any major changes. 

“There’s a rule of thumb that if a 

plant has to do a design change, it’ll 

cost anywhere from $300,000- 

$500,000 just in engineering, 

licensing changes, drawing changes, 

and that doesn’t include the cost of 

the required equipment … so we try, 

wherever possible, to keep our 

clients from doing a design change,” 

says Vice President of Westinghouse 

Parts Business in its Operating Plant 

Services unit Craig Irish. 

However, design changes and other 

innovative solutions such as additive 

manufacturing will be needed as an 

increasing number of nuclear power 

plant operators extend their plants’ 

lives from the original 40 years to 60 

years or further. 

Life extensions 

Many of the world’s nuclear power 

plants having been built in the latter 

part of the last century and 

applications for long-term operations 

(LTOs) are becoming increasingly 

common. 

As of the end of 2020, over 100 

nuclear reactors worldwide were 

operating beyond their initial 40- 

year licensed periods, with more 

than 30% of the nuclear fleet 

operating under LTO conditions, 

the OECD-NEA says. 

In the United States, where 

nuclear power has supplied 20% 

of electricity and is currently 

running 93 reactors with two new 

units under construction, the 

average age of the fleet is 41 years 

including three reactors that started 

operation 52 years ago, according 

to the Department of Energy 

(DOE). 

Nine U.S. reactors have active 

applications with the Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission (NRC) to 

extend their lives and 10 reactors 

have publicly announced plans to 

extend their licenses to 80 years. 

“Under current license basis 92 

percent of operating reactors would 

shut down by 2050 and 74 percent 

would shut down by 2050 with 

anticipated license renewals. 

However, if 54 reactors extended 

operation to 80 years, only 20 

percent of operating reactors would 

shut down by 2050,” the DOE said 

in its 2022 report on nuclear energy 

supply chains. 

U.S. Nuclear Power Reactor 

License Expirations by Year 

Westinghouse's 3D-printed thimble 

plug (Source: Westinghouse) 

Source: U.S. Department of Energy 

Obsolescence challenge 

The challenge, say OEMs, is keeping 

a supply chain running and up to 

date for complex, always-on 

machines that were built with 

Reagan-era (or earlier) technology. 

According to Westinghouse, a 

leading global parts manufacturer for 

power stations, approximately 35% 

of installed equipment in the nuclear 

industry is obsolete. 

In fact, with construction times for 

some plants approaching ten years, 

many of the parts can be obsolete 

before the plant has even started 

generating power, according to 

Westinghouse’s Irish. 

The high cost of design changes 

means that many operators, working 

with a plant that went online in the 



Continued from page 21. 

to get that hardware to wherever it is we want to use it, 

and these are relatively small, compact systems that are 

well suited to that.” 

For a 40-50 kW system, the reactor itself would be 

around the size of a small trash can, though once the 

systems are built around that including electronics, 

controls, and safety components, that grows to the size 

of a refrigerator. 

Add to that the power conversion system, such as 

radiators, the entire system grows to a medium-sized 

shipping container. 

Such a system could be transported in one or two 

payloads, or one launch vehicle. 

Infographic 

showing the evolution 

of lunar activities 

on the surface and 

in orbit: 

Article reprinted with permission of 

Reuters. Read full article here. 


1970’s, would work hard to keep it looking the same by 

the time it is set for decommissioning in 2030, he says. 

This was especially challenging when dealing with 

instrumentation and control (I&C) parts which may 

have worked with dials and levers when the plant was 

built but now in many cases can be digitalized. 

“They try like hell to keep plants exactly the same, with 

the same technology, the same parts, though obviously 

that’s not realistic, so operators have to introduce digital 

products where it makes sense,” he says. 

Internationally, part of the challenge is many of the parts 

produced for the nuclear industry face varying 

specifications depending on the regulator they are 

working under, restricting an already tight market to 

national boundaries. 

Such differences will become even more pronounced 

with the introduction of a new generation of reactors 

expected to begin commercial operations within the 

next decade, with more than 70 SMR designs under 

development in 18 countries. 

A common approach 

To meet the challenge, the nuclear industry must work 

along similar, if not identical, international guidelines. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and 

the OECD-NEA Nuclear Harmonization and 

Standardization Initiative (NHSI) was launched in 2022 

to bring together policymakers, regulators, designers, 

vendors, and operators to 

develop common regulatory 

and industrial approaches 

that view nuclear as 

a global fleet. 


Reuters. Read full article here. 


It’s only February, and so far this 

year, NEI is tracking more than 100 

bills related to nuclear energy. 

Building on the historic momentum 

seen in legislatures across the 

country last year, 2023 is proving to 

be just as significant as policymakers 

continue to turn to nuclear energy as 

the solution to energy woes. 

From Alaska to Maine, and just 

about everywhere in between, 

conversations on the importance of 

reliable, carbon-free energy are 

taking place in state houses. 

2022 was an unprecedented year for 

nuclear policy in the U.S. with 19 

states considering legislation and 12 

states enacting policies to support 

existing and new nuclear generation. 

Although we are just weeks into 

2023, here are the biggest legislative 

trends we are already seeing in state 

capitals: 

1. Advanced reactors 

What does the next generation 

of nuclear reactors look like? 

Just ask Virginia! Late last year, 

Governor Youngkin announced 

his moonshot intention to 

deploy a small modular reactor 

(SMR) in the Commonwealth 

within a decade. The General 

Assembly is actively considering 

multiple pieces of legislation that 

would help make this moonshot 

a reality. We are also seeing 

efforts to support advanced 

reactors in Washington, Indiana, 

Nebraska, Minnesota, New 

York, Oklahoma, Connecticut, 

South Dakota, West Virginia, 

Illinois, Oregon, and Maine. 

2. Moratorium repeals 

Last year, we saw West Virginia 

and Connecticut move to repeal 

their antiquated laws prohibiting 

the construction of nuclear 

facilities. This year, measures 

have been introduced in 

California, Oregon, Minnesota, 

and Illinois repealing each state’s 

nuclear moratorium. 

3. Workforce development 

NEI surveyed its member 

utilities and found that nearly 

300 gigawatts of small modular 

reactors would be needed by 

2050. This enormous demand 

requires a pipeline of trained and 

qualified workers—who will 

enjoy high-paying, long-lasting 

jobs. We’re seeing efforts in 

Washington, Virginia, West 

Virginia, South Carolina, and 

Nebraska to proactively develop 

the institutions necessary to train 

the next generation of the 

nuclear workforce. 

4. Clean energy standards 

What is the nation’s largest form 

of clean, carbon-free 

energy? States know the answer 

and are defining nuclear in 

standards and policies. 

Lawmakers in Missouri, Virginia, 



Save the Dates 

August 7-9, 2023 – Symposium 

August 10-11, 2023 – Business Unit Meetings 

JW Marriott Resort & Spa 

221 N. Rampart Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada 


New Hampshire, Connecticut, 

Massachusetts, Colorado, New 

Mexico, Tennessee, Idaho, and 

Arizona are moving to recognize 

nuclear as a fundamental and 

reliable clean source of 

energy. Minnesota moved 

quickly and just signed into law a 

clean energy standard, which 

includes nuclear, to meet their 

100% carbon-free goal by 2040. 

5. Studying Nuclear Energy 

States with and without nuclear 

assets are looking to learn more 

about advanced nuclear 

technology. New Hampshire, 

Michigan, Maryland, Montana, 

and Nebraska have led the 

charge with commissioning 

feasibility studies. This year 

South Dakota has already passed 

their SMR study bill, while 

Colorado, Oklahoma, 

Minnesota, and New York are 

exploring study options. 

Nebraska and Minnesota are 

particularly interested in 

hydrogen production from 

nuclear energy. 

6. Governors on deck 

Governors are talking nuclear in 

their State of the State 

Addresses. Tennessee’s 

Governor Lee just proposed a 

$50 million Nuclear Fast Track 

fund to recruit companies that 

will specifically establish a 

nuclear development and 

manufacturing ecosystem in the 

state. Wyoming’s Governor 

Gordon, Alaska’s Governor 

Dunleavy, and Virginia’s 

Governor Youngkin also touted 

nuclear projects in their 

addresses. 

As you can see, 2023 is shaping up 

to be an exciting year for the nuclear 

industry. As policymakers face 

concerns about maintaining a reliable 

electric grid, meeting carbon 

emission goals, and lowering 

electricity prices, they are turning to 

nuclear energy as the solution. 

Looking to learn more about 

historical legislative and regulatory 

success around nuclear energy? 

Visit NEI’s report on state 

legislation and regulations and 

read NCSL’s recent report on 

nuclear policy in the states. 

Looking to see what policy actions 

can be taken to reduce barriers to 

advanced nuclear deployment? 

Visit NEI’s report on policy options 

for states. 

Also, please share “What Every 

Governor Needs to Know About 

Nuclear” and “What Every 

Legislator Needs to Know About 

Nuclear” with your networks 

of state policymakers. 


NEI. Read full article here. 


Inside NIRMA Magazine is 

published three times annually. 

Click here to view past issues.

Spring Inside NIRMA Issue 2023

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