ML24012A185
| ML24012A185 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/18/2024 |
| From: | Alexander Sapountzis NRC/NSIR/DPCP/MSB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24012A185 (1) | |
Text
NRC Updates Related to SNF Transport Security Alex Sapountzis Office of Nuclear Security & Incident Response Nuclear Regulatory Commission INMM 37th Annual Spent Fuel Conference January 18. 2024 1
Agenda
- Update: NRC CISF Activities
- Update: NRC Readiness Report
- Update: 2015 MOU Activities
- Update: SNF Transport Security Regs
- Questions 2
Update: NRC CISF Activities Interim Storage Partners (ISP)-Andrews County, TX
- Capacity: 500 above ground spent fuel cask (SNF) casks; NRC license issued 9/13/21.
Holtec-Lea County, NM
- Capacity: 500 in ground SNF casks; NRC license issued 5/9/23.
8/25/23: 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found NRC lacked authority to issue license for consolidated interim storage facility (CISF; away-from-reactor storage of SNF).
10/24/23: NRC/DOJ seeks 5th Circuit review of the ruling.
Update: NRC Readiness Report
- 10/22/21: NRC issues readiness report to ascertain its readiness to provide oversight of large scale SNF shipping campaign from NRC licensees to a CISF (See ADAMS No.
- NRC implementation of recommendations from the readiness report is on hold due to awaiting licensee development of a solid construction schedule.
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Update: 2015 MOU Activities
- 2015: NRC, DHS and DOT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing the Parties to coordinate their respective responsibilities and activities related to the secure transportation of radioactive materials (RAM) within the U.S.
or across U.S. borders.
- 2023: MOU Meetings focused on:
- Sharing advance notifications for RAM, SNF and special nuclear material (SNM) shipments with DHS and FBI.
- Sharing NRC approved SNF routes for road and rail shipments with FBI.
- National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF): NRC invited/discussed future SNF shipments possibly to a CISF and security regulations for SNF shipments.
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Update: SNF Transport Security Regs
- SNF Transport security regulations (see Table 1).
- 1/1/24: 4,110 SNF casks stored at ~ 71 NRC licensed sites.
Table 1 - SNF Transport Security Regulations based on SNF Radiation Levels 6
SNF Radiation Levels @ 1 m unshielded SNF Shipment < 1 Gy/hr w/SNM (Pu >2 kg)
SNF Shipment > 1 Gy/hr, > 100 g Applicable SNF Transport Security Regulations
§§ 73.20/25/26/27
§ 73.37 Security Goal Prevent theft/diversion of Pu for IND Prevent radiological sabotage
Update: SNF Transport Security Regs
- Small subset of SNF shipments may be subject to [broader]
transportation security requirements of 10 CFR 73.20/25/26/27.
- If radiation level from SNF in a cask is < 1 Gy/hr @ 1 m from any accessible surface without intervening shielding, no longer considered self-protecting.
- SNF that meets the self-protection threshold is exempt from certain security requirements (10 CFR 73.6(b)).
- NRC staff is working on a Commission paper to address concerns surrounding transport security for small subset of SNF shipments < 100 rad/hr (1 Gy/hr).
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Questions Alex Sapountzis 301-287-3660 Alexander.Sapountzis@nrc.gov 8