Membership in this organization provides resources and information for: program development and implementation cost reduction, radiation exposure reduction, error reduction, improved component performance, optimization of regulatory compliance and influence, aging workforce knowledge capture for future containment leakage testing program incumbents, a problem-solving and information sharing network provided by this APOG website and a general forum for members to solicit opinions and obtain technical advice and operating experience from your peers and some of the leading industry consultants. 

To join APOG as a full member, you need to be a utility employee responsible for Appendix J activities at your plant. Affiliate  Memberships may be offered to vendors and consultants providing equipment and/or services relating to Appendix J. Please submit membership requests via phone or email to the membership committee for additional information. 

Yes, there are "Annual" dues to be a member of APOG. The standard fee structure is as follows:
Utility Members - The standard fee is is a fixed rate for US Nuclear plants on a per-site basis. Please contact us for details.
Consultants/Vendors/Overseas - If your business supports the Appendix J profession, or if you're a Nuclear plant or company overseas, please contact us for further information and payment.

A significant number of vendors and consultants  are intimately  involved in supporting the conduct of periodic local leak rate  testing  (LLRT) of Appendix J program components as well as the overall  Containment integrated leak rate test (ILRT). Support roles include  supplying  (rental or purchase) leak rate test equipment, air  compressors, air hoses,  temperature, pressure and dew point sensors,  leak rate determination/calculation  computer hardware and software,  engineering services, staff augmentation  personnel such as LLRT and  ILRT technicians and engineers, etc. Other vendors  provide a different  kind of support such as new or replacement model Containment  isolation  valves, Containment penetrations (electrical & mechanical),   Containment airlock parts, accessories and field service, etc. All of  these  support roles are instrumental in enabling each site’s program  owner to maintain  component and overall Containment leakage as low as  reasonably achievable and  within the applicable regulatory mandated  limits.

Therefore, while membership in the Appendix J Program  Owners  Group (APOG) is limited only to utility employees, active vendor and   consultant participation in APOG and it's various sponsored activities is not only desired, it is strongly promoted and encouraged. To that end, the designation of affiliate member has been created to formally allow those parties who are engaged in the conduct of  Appendix J related activities, but not as utility employees, to participate in  APOG.  The qualifications to become an affiliate member are defined in  the APOG  charter. Those seeking to become affiliate members are required to complete an  application and submit it to the APOG Steering  Committee. The APOG Steering  Committee, along with the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will review each  application and present the results (approve or disapprove) of that review to  the applicant. Affiliate  membership runs on an annual basis.