PNNL

PNNL senior research economist Dave Anderson was recently invited by colleagues at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to serve on a working group of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Environmental and Siting Consensus Committee (ESCC). His subject matter expertise in the areas of socioeconomics, environmental justice, and land use and his many years of environmental siting and regulatory support of NRC and DOE site work related to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 make Anderson well-suited to supporting this effort.

The committee's newly formed ANS-2.6-201x working group is charged with updating the standard titled Guidelines for Estimating Present and Projecting Future Population Distributions Surrounding Power Reactor Sites. "The standard provides civilian and government professionals with generally accepted demographic methodologies for the estimation and projection of human population distributions and densities near nuclear facility sites in order to facilitate the regulatory authority's review of site suitability relative to population considerations," Anderson explained.

Updated Guidance Will Meet Nuclear Energy Regulatory Guidelines

Guidance is needed on suitable procedures for developing estimates and forecasts of human population distribution near nuclear facility sites that comply with regulatory requirements such as 10 CFR 50, "Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities,” 10 CFR 100, “Reactor Site Criteria," and 10 CFR 1021, "National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures."

The ESCC is composed of a mix of professionals from public and private sector enterprises. Its working groups prepare and maintain voluntary consensus standards for all aspects of nuclear power plant and non-reactor nuclear facility siting, environmental assessment, environmental management, environmental monitoring, and the categorization and evaluation of natural phenomena hazards at these public and private sector nuclear facilities.