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Holtec Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Utah and Hi Tech Solutions to Deploy Nuclear SMRs

LCG, May 1, 2025--Holtec International (Holtec) announced the signing on April 29 of a strategic cooperation agreement with the State of Utah and Hi Tech Solutions, a leading nuclear services provider based in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate in the deployment of Holtec's SMR-300s (small modular reactor) in Utah and the broader Mountain West region. Hi Tech will play a leading role in the project development and workforce training to support the rise of new nuclear power generation in the region.

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EPA and Texas Railroad Commission Sign Memorandum of Agreement for Permitting Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide

LCG, April 29, 2025--Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) today outlining the state’s plans to administer programs related to carbon storage wells, known as Class VI wells. The MOA signing is a required step in the RRC’s application to be granted authority to permit Class VI wells in the state of Texas. EPA is currently preparing a proposed approval of RRC’s primacy application.

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Industry News

NRC Asks Nuclear Plant Operators to Check Cooling Nozzles

LCG, Aug. 6, 2001-- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday issued a bulletin seeking information from several nuclear power licensees regarding the structural integrity of cooling nozzles which penetrate the reactor pressure vessel of pressurized water reactors.

Recent discoveries of cracked and leaking nozzles at two reactors prompted the request, the NRC said, because they have raised concerns about the structural integrity of reactor penetration nozzles inthe top of reactor pressure vessels at pressurized water reactors throughout the industry.

It's the direction the cracks go that has the agency concerned. During refueling outage inspections, some nozzles have been found with lengthwise cracks. These were not considered a safety problem and the nozzles were replaced during the outages. Earlier this year, however, cracks that went part way around the nozzles were found at the two reactors.

In addition to providing coolant to maintain the reactor coolant system pressure boundary, the nozzles also serve as guides for control rods which pass through them at the top of a reactor vessel head. The control rods are moved in and out of the bundles of fuel rods to regulate the level of a reactor's output.

The NRC said "cracking of the control rod drive mechanism nozzles represent a degradation of the primary reactor coolant system boundary, and hence, is potentially safety significant."

The agency said it is requesting information from pressurized water reactor licensees to determine whether current inspection practices are adequate and whether any additional regulatory response by the agency is necessary.

The bulletin requires that pressurized water reactor operators submit a written response indicatingwhether the requested information will be submitted within the required 30-day time period. NRClicensees unable to satisfy this requirement will have to submit a written description of any alternativecourse of action they propose to take, including the basis for its acceptability.

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