Seeking Qualified Candidates for the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

AGENCY:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Request for résumés.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking qualified candidates for appointment to its Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS).

ADDRESSES:

Submit résumés to: Ms. Sherry Meador, Administrative Assistant, ACRS/ACNW, Mail Stop T2E-26, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or e-mail SAM@NRC.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Congress established the ACRS to provide the NRC with independent expert advice on matters related to the safety of existing and proposed nuclear power plants and on the adequacy of proposed reactor safety standards. The Committee work currently emphasizes safety issues associated with the operation of 103 commercial nuclear units in the United States; the pursuit of a risk-informed and performance-based regulatory approach; license renewal applications; risk-informed revisions to 10 CFR Part 50; power uprates; transient and accident analysis codes; materials degradation issues; use of mixed oxide and high burnup fuels; and advanced reactor designs.

The ACRS membership includes individuals from national laboratories, academia, and industry who possess specific technical expertise along with a broad perspective in addressing safety concerns. Committee members are selected from a variety of engineering and scientific disciplines, such as nuclear power plant operations, nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, metallurgical engineering, risk assessment, structural engineering, materials science, and instrumentation and process control systems. At this time, candidates are specifically being sought who have 15 years of experience in the areas of nuclear engineering, probabilistic risk assessment, and/or plant operations. Candidates with pertinent graduate level experience will be given additional consideration. Individuals should have a demonstrated record of accomplishments in the area of nuclear reactor safety.

Criteria used to evaluate candidates include education and experience, demonstrated skills in nuclear safety matters, and the ability to solve problems. Additionally, the Commission considers the need for specific expertise in relationship to current and future tasks. Consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Commission seeks candidates with varying views so that the membership on the Committee will be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and functions to be performed by the Committee.

Because conflict-of-interest regulations restrict the participation of members actively involved in the regulated aspects of the nuclear industry, the degree and nature of any such involvement will be weighed. Each qualified candidate's financial interests must be reconciled with applicable Federal and NRC rules and regulations prior to final appointment. This might require divestiture of securities issued by nuclear industry entities, or discontinuance of industry-funded research contracts or grants.

A résumé describing the educational and professional background of the candidate, including any special accomplishments, professional references, current address, and telephone number should be provided. All qualified candidates will receive careful consideration. Appointment will be made without regard to such factors as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disabilities. Candidates must be citizens of the United States and be able to devote approximately 80-100 days per year to Committee business. Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2004.