The Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week announced the appointment of a new head for the agency’s Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. Marc Dapas, who has been with the NRC for 27 years, takes over for Catherine Haney, who in January moved from agency headquarters in Rockville, Md., to take the position of Region II administrator in Atlanta.
The office’s long list of responsibilities include “regulating activities which provide for the safe and secure production of nuclear fuel used in commercial nuclear reactors; the safe storage, transportation and disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and the transportation of radioactive materials regulated under the Atomic Energy Act,” according to the NRC website. It also supports NRC licensing operations, required by a federal court order, for the canceled Yucca Mountain, Nev., geologic repository for nuclear waste by ensuring “appropriate standards and regulatory guidance are in place,” and oversees regulation and licensing of waste recycling technologies.
Dapas joined the NRC in 1989 as an operations specialist at the Rockville headquarters. His roles since then have included deputy administrator of the Region I office in King of Prussia, Pa.; deputy director of the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response; and administrator for the Region IV office near Dallas.
“Marc Dapas’ experience in a variety of roles across the agency will serve him well as he takes the helm of our nuclear materials office,” Victor McCree, NRC executive director for operations, said in a press release. “He has shown an unparalleled commitment to technical and managerial excellence in a wide variety of assignments in our regional offices as well as at NRC headquarters.”
Scott Moore, who took over as the office’s acting director when Haney left, will return to his position of deputy director.
