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NRC Renews SwRI Contract to Operate Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
CNWRA supports NRC with technical assistance for research and nuclear
regulatory reviews
SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed its contract
with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to operate the Center for
Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA).
Valued at potentially up to $52 million, over a five-year period of
performance (inclusive of one-year base period and four one-year option
periods) the contract provides continuing technical assistance and
research support to NRC activities related to storage, transportation,
possible reprocessing and ultimate geological disposal of spent nuclear
fuel and high-level radioactive wastes.
“For 30 years, CNWRA has been central to supporting NRC’s mission
through evaluations of engineering and environmental and scientific
factors affecting management of radioactive wastes,” said Dr. Wesley C.
Patrick, CNWRA executive director.
SwRI has operated CNWRA since it was created in 1987 as a federally
funded research and development center. CNWRA provides independent
technical assistance and research support to the NRC, the U.S.
regulatory agency responsible for evaluating safety and environmental
aspects of storage, transportation and disposal of radioactive wastes.
Recognized as a center of excellence in earth science and engineering,
CNWRA supports the NRC with a broad range of technical assistance and
research. CNWRA expertise includes environmental evaluations, fire
protection engineering, hazard assessments, materials degradation and
aging management. The center provides performance and probabilistic risk
assessments, risk-informed license review and site characterization. It
also supports public outreach and stakeholder engagement associated with
rule-making and licensing activities.
“SwRI is proud that our CNWRA operations support the NRC in its mission
to protect public health and safety,” said SwRI President and CEO Adam
Hamilton. “Our staff members have expertise spanning the environmental,
geological and material sciences, as well as the engineering disciplines
needed to evaluate safety and environmental compliance of nuclear
facilities.”
SwRI operates CNWRA facilities in San Antonio and Rockville, Maryland.
Beyond its primary mission of supporting NRC, CNWRA conducts independent
research and peer reviews related to radioactive waste management for
foreign governments and regulatory agencies around the world.
For more information, visit https://cnwra.swri.org.
Contacts
Southwest Research Institute
Robert Crowe, 210-522-4630
[email protected]
