SafeSite Nuclear
International
Nuclear Installation Siting &
Regulatory Compliance Solutions
About Us ...
We are an independent consulting firm specializing in domestic and international nuclear regulatory affairs, with a particular focus on siting-related challenges. We support activities related to a wide range of nuclear facilities, including large light water reactors, small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and microreactors. Our qualifications are rooted in extensive experience and deep expertise in scientific research and nuclear power plant siting regulations.
At SafeSite Nuclear International we provide comprehensive technical, regulatory, and advisory services to international regulatory bodies, their partners, and affiliates. Our expert guidance empowers clients to make sound and technically defensible licensing decisions, ensuring the safe installation and operation of nuclear installations. We strive to support our clients through every aspect of regulatory activities, from site selection and characterization to thorough evaluations. We are dedicated to helping our clients navigate the complexities of nuclear siting regulations, ensuring their projects meet the highest domestic and IAEA safety standards.
Principal Consultant
Dr. Dogan Seber, our Principal Consultant and founder, brings over 30 years of scientific research expertise and more than 15 years of regulatory experience at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As an internationally recognized expert, he also has a deep understanding of IAEA Safety Standards, ensuring your projects benefit from unparalleled knowledge and precision.
Our Vision
To become the foremost independent consultant in nuclear regulation, empowering our clients through expert assessments, customized training, and innovative solutions that enhance regulatory decision-making.
Our Mission
To deliver innovative solutions and expert advice for the safe and responsible siting of nuclear installations, while promoting best practices in the latest scientific research and ensuring full compliance with national and international safety standards.
In Brief...
SafeSite Nuclear International offers expert advisory support to nuclear regulatory agencies and their technical support organizations, focusing on independent assessments of external hazards, siting issues, and regulatory compliance. We deliver tailored consultations, customized training, and specialized solutions to ensure robust regulatory practices and compliance. Our services are designed to mitigate project risks and address siting-related issues early in the licensing process. By providing in-depth technical expertise for complex external hazard studies, we supplement the capabilities of regulatory agencies and help establish clear pathways for successful project outcomes.
Our Signature Services
Regulatory Support and Technical Assistance for New Nuclear Installation Siting
The services offered include providing expert advice and regulatory assistance to agencies responsible for reviewing site proposals, conducting peer reviews of the site selection and evaluation processes to ensure that the proposed site meets the necessary international safety requirements.
Development of Nuclear Siting Safety Evaluation Reports
Review and evaluation of technical information in Final Safety Assessment Reports developed by applicants, draft Technical Evaluation Reports with critical acceptability criteria, and conduct inspections to ensure compliance with regulatory siting requirements for nuclear facilities.
International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Standards Compliance Reviews
Customized Professional Development Trainings for Regulatory Technical Staff
Conducting assessments and reviews of national regulatory documents, identifying areas of non-compliance with the IAEA Safety Standards, and proposing measures to address deficiencies. Providing guidance and training on the interpretation and implementation of IAEA requirements
Specialized training sessions that are tailored to specific needs of individuals or organizations interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in several key technical areas required to become an effective regulator
Regulatory Support and Technical Assistance for Nuclear Installation Siting
We support regulatory agencies, governments, and private organizations that are involved in the selection of an appropriate location for a new nuclear installation. This process involves site selection, evaluation and the suitability of a proposed site based on various factors, such as external hazards.
Our services include providing expert advice and regulatory assistance to agencies responsible for reviewing site safety assessments, conducting peer reviews of the site selection processes to ensure that the proposed site meets the necessary requirements. Such services are critical to ensuring that the proposed nuclear installations are sited in locations that are safe and protected against external hazards. Our services also help ensure compliance with the IAEA’s Safety Standards and international best practices.
Research Support for Nuclear Installation
External Hazard Assessments
At SafeSite Nuclear, we offer research support for the assessment of external hazards affecting nuclear power plants. Our services encompass a wide range of potential hazards, including seismic events, floods, severe weather, and human-induced hazards.
We conduct in-depth research on external hazards and their potential impacts on nuclear facilities, developing and refining hazard models and risk assessment tools. Our team evaluates and enhances existing risk mitigation strategies, and we are also dedicated to creating innovative techniques and approaches to bolster the resilience of critical facilities against external threats.
The primary goal of our services is to support the development of evidence-based hazard protection strategies, thereby improving the safety and security of nuclear facilities. Additionally, our research contributes to informing and meeting regulatory and compliance requirements related to external hazards, which may be crucial for licensing and regulatory approval processes.
Peer Review Services for Siting Safety Assessment Reports
We evaluate external hazard safety assessment reports developed for nuclear installation siting. These assessments describe detailed analyses of geological, seismic, geotechnical, hydrological, environmental, and other conditions. The goal of nuclear siting safety assessments and reviews is to ensure that nuclear facilities are sited in locations that are safe against external hazards. One of the key aspects of our efforts is to ensure safety assessment reports comply with the national and international safety regulations and minimize the likelihood of accidents and incidents that could have significant consequences.
These reviews may also include evaluating the facility's design, construction, and operations to ensure that they are consistent with safety regulations and the industry best practices. The safety assessments and reviews also involve identifying potential safety risks and proposing mitigation strategies to reduce those risks.
Advisory Support to External Hazard Assessments for Regulatory Activities
These activities support project management activities related to identification and evaluation of external hazards that may impact the safety and security of a nuclear facility. External hazards including natural events such as earthquakes, floods, and severe weather, as well as man-made hazards.
Regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing nuclear facilities often require external hazard assessments as part of the licensing and regulatory approval process. External hazard assessments evaluate the potential impact of a hazard phenomenon on the facility to be installed and propose measures to mitigate the risks associated with these hazards.
The services offered in this category include providing technical expertise and advice on the identification and evaluation of external hazards, as well as on the development and implementation of hazard mitigation strategies. The services may also include conducting safety assessments and reviews and providing guidance and support for regulatory activities related to external hazard assessments.
The goal of these services is to ensure that decision makers have all the support they need in their licensing decision to make sure nuclear facilities are designed, constructed, and operated in a manner that minimizes risks associated with external hazards and that the safety and security of the facility and its personnel are protected.
Review of Seismic Hazard Assessments Conducted for Nuclear Installations
We offer services to review seismic hazard assessments conducted for a nuclear power plant siting. Seismic hazards are a significant concern for nuclear facilities and determination of seismic hazards for a nuclear facility is significantly different from seismic hazards conducted for non-critical facilities.
Development of Nuclear Siting Safety Evaluation Reports
We extensively review the technical information included in Final Safety Assessment Reports (FSARs) and develop Technical Evaluation Reports (TERs) that provide critical acceptability criteria of the technical information included in the FSARs. The FSARs submitted by licensees or applicants contain technical information about the required siting safety information for the proposed nuclear facility. TERs evaluate the adequacy and completeness of the information provided in the FSARs and provide recommendations for any additional safety critical information needs that may be necessary for the regulatory agency before making a final decision. The TERs typically include an evaluation of the licensee's or applicant's safety analysis and assessments, a review of the regulatory requirements, an assessment of the potential hazards and risks associated with the proposed or existing nuclear facility.
These activities may also include conducting on-site inspections and audits to assist the safety reviews and to ensure that the facility to be built is in compliance with regulatory siting requirements.
International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Standards Compliance Reviews
We provide services to ensure that a planned nuclear installation is in compliance with the safety requirements and guidelines set forth by the IAEA. These requirements cover a broad range of areas, including nuclear safety, radiation protection, nuclear security, and safeguards.
Compliance with the IAEA requirements is critical for ensuring that nuclear installations are designed, constructed, and operated in a manner that protects workers, the public, and the environment from potential hazards associated with nuclear activities. These services also help to ensure that the nuclear facility is in compliance with international standards and best practices and may be required for regulatory approval and international cooperation.
The services offered in this category may include conducting compliance assessments and reviews, identifying areas of non-compliance, and proposing measures to address deficiencies. The services may also include providing guidance and training on the interpretation and implementation of IAEA requirements, as well as facilitating communication and collaboration with the IAEA and other international organizations.
Professional Development and Training Activities
Training on the Use of the IAEA Safety Standards for Nuclear Installation Site Selection and Evaluation
Specialized, customized trainings on the use of the IAEA Safety Standards for nuclear installation siting and evaluation refers to the provision of training services focused specifically on the safety standards developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These safety standards provide a framework for ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities and activities worldwide.
The training services offered in this category may include an introduction to the IAEA safety standards, guidance on how to implement the standards in practice, and hands-on training in using tools and techniques for applying the standards in specific contexts. The training may be customized to meet the specific needs and requirements of individual organizations or groups, and may cover a wide range of topics related to nuclear safety and security, such as protection against external hazards, emergency preparedness and response, and safety culture.
The goal of these training services is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and apply the IAEA safety standards in their work related to nuclear safety and security. The training may be delivered in various formats, such as online or in-person training sessions, and may be tailored to the needs of different audiences, such as regulators, mangers, or technical experts. By providing specialized, customized training on IAEA safety standards, organizations can enhance their safety culture, improve their compliance with international safety requirements, and enhance the safety and security of their nuclear facilities and activities.
Training on Probabilistic and Deterministic Seismic Hazard Assessments for
Nuclear Installations
We provide training services to evaluate safety assessment reports to determine the adequacy of seismic hazard assessments conducted to establish the design basis ground motions for nuclear facilities.
Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) involves evaluating the likelihood of earthquakes and other seismic events occurring at a given location, taking into account factors such as historical seismic activity, geology, and site-specific ground motion models. Deterministic seismic hazard analysis, on the other hand, involves evaluating the potential impact of a specific earthquake likely occurring on an existing fault in the region of a nuclear facility.
These assessments and reviews are critical for ensuring that nuclear facilities are sited and built to stay functional against seismic hazards. These assessments help to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities and inform the design and construction activities of the facility to ensure that it can withstand potential seismic events. The assessments and reviews may also involve proposing mitigation measures to reduce the potential impact of seismic hazards on the facility.
The services offered in this category may include PSHA basics, conducting confirmatory seismic hazard assessments, providing guidance on key factors influencing seismic hazard assessments, and ensuring that the facility complies with applicable seismic safety regulations and industry best practices. Ultimately, the goal of these services is to provide professional development activities for technical and managerial staff to be knowledgeable about how seismic hazards are calculated and areas needing attention during review and evaluation activities.
Training on Geophysical, Geological, and Geotechnical Site Safety Assessments
We offer advisory support services and training to assess the geology, seismic source characterization, ground motion models, and local soil properties of proposed or existing nuclear facility sites. These evaluations are essential for understanding the site's geologic and geotechnical characteristics, helping to identify potential risks and external hazards that could affect the facility's safety and security.
Geophysical site assessments may involve using non-invasive techniques to obtain information about the subsurface geology and geologic structures. These techniques may include seismic reflection, seismic refraction, gravity and magnetic surveys, electrical resistivity, ground-penetrating radar, etc.
Geotechnical site assessments, on the other hand, typically involve drilling boreholes and collecting soil samples, downhole measurements to evaluate the physical and engineering properties of the soil and rock at the site. The results of the assessments are used to inform the design and construction of the nuclear facility, including the foundation, retaining walls, and other structural elements.
The services offered in this category may also include conducting site assessments, analyzing and interpreting available data, and providing guidance on the design and construction of the facility based on the results of these assessments.
Training on
Seismic Site Response Calculations and Reviews
Seismic site response assessments refer to the process of evaluating the response of the ground and soil to seismic ground motions at a proposed or existing nuclear facility site. These assessments are critical for determining the potential impact of seismic events on the facility, including the likelihood of ground failure, liquefaction, or other soil-related hazards.
The assessments typically involve analyzing soil and rock properties at the site, as well as the local seismic hazard characteristics. The analysis may include developing numerical models to simulate the seismic response of the site and estimating ground motion parameters at the surface or at the foundation levels. The results of the assessment may be used to inform the design and construction of the nuclear facility to ensure that it is capable of withstanding potential seismic hazards.
Seismic site response assessments are typically conducted as part of a broader seismic hazard assessment and review process. They are critical for ensuring that nuclear facilities are sited in locations that are safe from seismic hazards and that the design and construction of the facility are based on accurate and reliable data and analyses.
The services offered in this category may include conducting seismic site response assessments, providing guidance on the interpretation of results, and proposing mitigation measures to reduce the potential impact of seismic hazards on the facility.
Service Terms and Options
Basic
Receive immediate, expert support that ensures your decisions are backed by sound science and best regulatory practices. This service is ideal for those who need a quick and targeted support. Whether you are seeking a second opinion on a siting-related regulatory issue, ensuring that a siting decision is well-founded, scientifically sound, and complies with international standards, or requiring short-term assistance with challenging nuclear siting concerns.
Comprehensive
Gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing every aspects of your decisions are backed by experienced technical and regulatory professionals. This option is ideal for long-term support, covering a broad spectrum of activities from project planning related to external hazards, to vendor selection process, regulatory guidance, training sessions, review of articles and reports. Customize a plan tailored to your specific needs.
Premium
Experience the ultimate in long-term value, with comprehensive guidance that drives successful regulatory outcomes. This option is perfect for comprehensive support, addressing all your siting and external hazards technical and regulatory licensing needs—from initial planning through to the final licensing stages. Ideal for long-term projects, this service provides the best value for your investment, ensuring thorough and expert guidance throughout every phase of your nuclear siting regulatory activities.
Contact Us
We stand ready to support your nuclear siting needs, whether they involve complex, long-term projects or a quick second opinion on a safety assessment. Whether you need comprehensive guidance on regulatory affairs or just a brief conversation about a specific project plan, we are here to help. Our tailored services are designed to proactively mitigate project risks, address siting challenges early in the licensing process, and pave the way for successful project outcomes. No matter the scale or complexity, we are your committed partner in achieving safe and secure nuclear siting solutions.
