The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Request List for Nuclear Data

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is revising the formats and working methods of its nuclear data request list project. The objective is to shorten the request list and make this activity more responsive to the needs of data measurers, evaluators, and users. The Working Party for International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) is responsible for leading this effort. An ad hoc group of experts met in October 2003 and May 2004 to discuss the issues and to make recommendations to WPEC at its annual meeting. The following recommendations were submitted: i) two distinct request lists should be maintained: general needs and high priority needs; ii) stringent criteria for inclusion of requests in these lists should keep them shorter; iii) a high priority request would need to be well justified and benefits that would accrue from satisfying the request clearly stated; iv) Subgroup C, consisting of one provider of data and one user of data from each regional evaluation project, should oversee the request lists; v) outside consultants should be recruited as needed to help review requests; vi) all requests should be reviewed periodically; vii) Subgroup C should actively solicit new data requests; and viii) the NEA website should be revised to reflect the new procedures. These recommendations have been accepted by WPEC. This paper discusses the new request list criteria, stewardship procedures, and features of the request list website. An example of a request submitted in the new format is provided.The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is revising the formats and working methods of its nuclear data request list project. The objective is to shorten the request list and make this activity more responsive to the needs of data measurers, evaluators, and users. The Working Party for International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) is responsible for leading this effort. An ad hoc group of experts met in October 2003 and May 2004 to discuss the issues and to make recommendations to WPEC at its annual meeting. The following recommendations were submitted: i) two distinct request lists should be maintained: general needs and high priority needs; ii) stringent criteria for inclusion of requests in these lists should keep them shorter; iii) a high priority request would need to be well justified and benefits that would accrue from satisfying the request clearly stated; iv) Subgroup C, consisting of one provider of data and one user of data from each regional evaluation project, should oversee the request li...