Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

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• Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
• Committee Support Staff

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

Chairman: Walter L. Kirchner
Vice Chairman: Gregory H. Halnon
Member-At-Large: David Petti

The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) is statutorily mandated by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. In accordance with the Sections 29 and 182b of the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 2039, 2232(b)), the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) shall "advise the Commission with regard to the hazards of proposed or existing reactor facilities and the adequacy of proposed safety standards." In addition, the ACRS is implementing Executive Order (EO) 14300, "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," dated May 23, 2025. Section 4.(b) of the EO states, in part, that the functions of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) shall be reduced to the minimum necessary to fulfill ACRS"s statutory obligations and that review by ACRS shall focus on issues that are unique, novel and noteworthy. As shown in this flowchart, the review and reporting on new reactor facilities and proposed safety standards are the minimum statutory functions of the ACRS under Sections 29 and 182b of the Atomic Energy Act. The Commission may refer additional duties to the ACRS in accordance with the Act.

Committee Support Staff

Executive Director: Marissa Bailey

Coordinates technical, management, and administrative support of the statutory Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); provides overall program and management direction for ACRS administrative and technical support and associated resource management; and maintains liaison with the Commission, NRC staff, and others to provide for the conduct of ACRS in a manner responsive to the needs of the Commission.

Program Management, Policy Development and Analysis Branch

Chief: Alesha Bellinger

Coordinates administrative and fiscal services for committee activities, including the administrative actions associated with the appointment of members and consultants, and with processing travel, compensation, and other claims; maintains a document control system for committee members; ensures compliance with Federal Advisory Committee Act record keeping requirements; is responsible for preparation and management of the budget and the implementation of internal controls; manages the PMDA staff; and assures the office is in compliance with agency policies and procedures.

Technical Support Branch

Chief: Lawrence Burkhart

Provides technical and project management guidance relative to the scheduling of subcommittee topics for the ACRS members and staff; provides information, and other staff support activities necessary for the operation of ACRS, including the interface among the technical branches of the major program offices and the ACRS members and staff; manages the activities of the ACRS in support of the mission of the Agency; prepares the technical component of the Office operating plan; maintains current working knowledge of the staff schedules related to safety reviews; works with the Committee in the development of Commission presentations; supervises the Branch staff; and plans and develops reports to Congress and the General Services Administration required by statute to comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Atomic Energy Act.