ML23186A021

Spent Nuclear Fuel Shipments in the Us: Addressing the Myths

ML23186A021
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/08/2023
From:	Edge E, Gerard Jackson, Leshinskie T, Alexander Sapountzis, Bernie White Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, NRC/NMSS/DMSST, State of VT, Dept of Public Service, US Dept of Energy (DOE)
To:
References
Download: ML23186A021 (1)

Text

Spent Nuclear Fuel Shipments in the US:

Addressing the Myths Ellen Edge, US DOE - Environmental Management Tony Leshinskie, Vermont Public Service Department Alex Sapountzis, NRC - NSIR Bernie White, NRC - NMSS Gerry Jackson, US DOE - Nuclear Energy Facilitated by: Ryan Alexander, NRC Region IV RSLO 1

Intent of Panel

• Current state of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) shipments in the United States

• Respond to common questions raised by State stakeholders regarding SNF shipments

• Opportunity for State Liaison Officers to ask additional questions of Federal/State panel of SNF shipment SMEs

• Provide resources for future State questions/concerns 2

When was the last time Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) was shipped in the country?

• Where? What modes of transport?

• How often?

• General routes/endpoints?

• Past accidents/incidents with SNF transport in US?

• Any international events? Lessons Learned?

3

What are the methods of transport allowed?

• Road, Rail, Ship/Vessel, Aircraft?

• Who has oversight?

• Limits?

• Speeds

• Class of Rail Tracks

• Types of Roads Authorized for Use 4

DOE Resources for Transportation Planning https://start.energy.gov/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F 5

SNF Transportation Routes

• Are routes predefined?

• Periodicity of review/revision?

• Is information about routes public information?

• Are state/local governments involved in establishing/revising routes?

• Do routes avoid large population centers?

• What are the current endpoints for routes? Yucca Mountain, CISFs, other?

• How/when will routes be developed for locations not currently served?

• Are rail spurs to each nuclear power plant still active/available?

• Other methods to move SNF from NPPs/ISFSIs to active rail spur?

6

Hypothetical START MAP (VT Yankee to Central US) 7 NOTE - the route noted in the above screenshot was hypothetical &

developed for training purposes only

National Transportation Stakeholders Forum Website

• https://www.ntsf.info/m ain

• For inform ation about the NTSF, contact Ellen Edge, DOE-EM Office of Packaging and Transportation.

• For inform ation about the NTSF Website, contact Mitch Arvidson, CSG Midwest.

• Inform ation on 180(c) Funding available through NTSF website

• https://www.ntsf.info/working-groups/section-180c

• Supports State / Tribal / Local agencies for DOE spent fuel shipm ents 8

Transportation Packages & Transport Vehicles

• Commercial or Federal/DOE designed?

• NRC approval?

• Was large scale accident scenario testing for currently used packages conducted?

• When?

• Accident type simulated?

• Will new designs be required to conduct large scale accident testing?

9

Transportation Packages & Transport Vehicles 10 Navy M-140 SNF cask Navy M-290 SNF Cask Rail Escort Vehicle

RWC-H ready for rail transport 19 VY Decommissioning (RV Internals Cask on Rail)

Requirements for Package Performance Tests 12

• Normal conditions of transport (10 CFR 71.71 & 49 CFR 173.465)

• Hot and cold temperatures

• Reduced and increased external pressure

• Vibration

• Water spray

• Free drop (1 foot)

• Penetration test

• Hypothetical accident conditions (10 CFR 71.73)

• 30-foot drop test

• 40-inch puncture test

• Fire test

• Water immersion test

Requirements for Package Performance Criteria

• Criticality safety

• Single package(10 CFR 71.55)

• Array of packages (10 CFR 71.59)

• Maximum dose rates for normal transport (10 CFR 71.47 & 49 CFR 173.441)

• Additional criteria for Type B packages (10 CFR 71.51)

• Containment for normal conditions of transport and hypothetical accident conditions

• Maximum dose rates after hypothetical accident conditions 13

Security/Emergency Response during Transport?

• Who is responsible?

• What is the level of State/local involvement in escorting?

• Who in States/local governments have need to know?

• What transport-related information is sensitive?

• Do State 24/7 contacts really need to be available 24/7?

• Are all shipments subject to advance notification of shipment rules?

• Can States/locals object to route or timing of transport on a particular route?

• What training is available for State/local responders/escorts?

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15

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Who is responsible for the SNF if transported to a CISF vs proposed repository?

• Does the responsibility change if a commercial Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) vs. a Federal storage facility?

• Who pays for transport to and storage in a CISF?

• How were transportation routes considered in safety/environmental reviews for applications for commercial CISFs?

17

Additional Questions / Topics to Ponder

• What did we miss?

• Other topics/burning questions we did not cover?

• Who are your States advance notification designees?

• Do you have working relationships with them?

• 5 Common Myths about Transporting Spent Nuclear Fuel (DOE-NE)

• NRCs Transportation of SNF webpage 18

Contact Information for Panelists US Department of Energy Ellen Edge TEPP Program Manager / NTSF Planning Committee Lead Office of Environmental Management ellen.edge@em.doe.gov Gerard Gerry Jackson Security Specialist Office of Nuclear Energy Gerard.Jackson@nuclear.energy.gov Vermont Anthony Tony Leshinskie Vermont Public Service Department State Nuclear Engineer & Decommissioning Coordinator Anthony.Leshinskie@vermont.gov US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alexander Alex Sapountzis Sr. Program Manager Office of Nuclear Security & Incident Response Materials Security Branch Alexander.Sapountzis@nrc.gov Bernard Bernie White Sr. Project Manager Office of Nuclear Material Safety & Safeguards Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch Bernard.White@nrc.gov 19

Reference Slides 20

(1) Out of the Reactor Cavity/SFP (2) Down from the Refuel Floor (3) Ready to down-end onto Transport Trailer 11 VY Decommissioning (SNF to Dry Cask)

Moving loaded Transfer Trailer with the Tugger 12 Transfer into the HTS (Storage Vault)

VY Decommissioning (SNF Dry Cask to Vault)

2 VY Decommissioning (Loading Cask to Rail Flat Car)

Loading MP197HB Container onto Flatcar

22 VY Decommissioning (Various LLW Rail Transport)

More waste bound for WCS in Texas 20 VY Decommissioning (Waste Transport Ops)

VY Decommissioning (Adding MP-197 Car to a Consist) 26

VY Decommissioning (HRCQ Shipment Pick-Up on Manifest Train) 27