Laying the groundwork for a large-scale spent nuclear fuel transportation system

Matthew Feldman, John Wagner, Kevin Connolly, Steven Maheras, Erica Bickford, Jay Jones, Patrick Schwab

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy established the Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project to lay the groundwork for implementing interim storage of commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF), including associated transportation activities. Efforts include the development of a system for the large-scale transport of SNF that will be necessary in an integrated waste management system. Progress is being made on long lead time, destination-independent aspects of the transportation infrastructure. The large-scale transportation system for spent nuclear fuel is divided into three elements: institutional, operational, and hardware. The institutional element refers to the various forms of stakeholder interaction that must occur for this type of transportation system to be successful. It includes activities like development of a national transportation plan, work on policy development to implement Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, and identification of a preliminary suite of national transportation routes based on regulatory requirements and coordination with a broad cross section of stakeholders. The operational element refers to the activities that must be undertaken to run a large-scale transportation system. This element is currently focused on development of a new SNF transportation routing analysis tool, study of the infrastructure near SNF storage sites that may be de-inventoried first, and development of tools for modeling transportation activities. The hardware element refers to the casks, railcars, and other items necessary to operate the system. This element currently focuses on development of railcars compliant with Association of American Railroads Standard S-2043, as well as studies related to the use of rail casks and their ancillary equipment. The Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project is making significant progress in all three of these areas for a future transportation system to transport SNF from commercial reactors.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015, IHLRWM 2015
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages155-159
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781510808102
StatePublished - 2015
Event15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, IHLRWM 2015 - Charleston, United States
Duration: Apr 12 2015Apr 16 2015

Publication series

Name15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015, IHLRWM 2015

Conference

Conference15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, IHLRWM 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCharleston
Period04/12/1504/16/15

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Laying the groundwork for a large-scale spent nuclear fuel transportation system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this