This is the approved NE-8 glossary document template......

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring options for developing a large-scale transportation system for the safe transport of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste to future storage or disposal facilities. This complex, large-scale transportation system will involve coordinated, integrated activities. Interfaces with various transportation and non-transportation activities must be defined, and systems must be developed to ensure successful integration when the system becomes operational.

Consent-based siting consortia support DOE's efforts to facilitate inclusive community engagement and elicit public feedback on consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel, and federal consolidated interim storage. The 12 awardees are comprised of various organizations to help reach communities across the country and remove barriers to participate in DOE's consent-based siting process.

Awardees have made significant progress in carrying out community engagement activities and providing direct grants to communities wanting to learn more.

Consent-based siting consortia support DOE's efforts to facilitate inclusive community engagement and elicit public feedback on consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel, and federal consolidated interim storage. The 12 awardees are comprised of various organizations to help reach communities across the country and remove barriers to participate in DOE's consent-based siting process.

Awardees have made significant progress in carrying out community engagement activities and providing direct grants to communities wanting to learn more.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing special railcars for future large-scale DOE transport of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from nuclear power plants. Designs include new buffer railcars, the Atlas railcar (to transport SNF containers), and a new escort railcar for security personnel that was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy. In May 2024, the Atlas Railcar was officially approved under AAR’s S-2043 standard, which is specific to railcars used to transport high level radioactive material such as SNF.

This is a Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice (SSN). The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) is considering options for conducting a Package Performance Demonstration (PPD) to help build public trust and confidence in the safety of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transportation casks and SNF transportation by rail, heavy-haul truck, and barge by demonstrating the ability of a SNF transportation cask to withstand hypothetical accident test conditions set forth in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 71 (10 CFR Part 71).

This is a DOE communications resource developed to facilitate the Consent-based Siting Consortia’s public engagements. It contains information about - and context around – sixty-seven terms that commonly arise in conversations about federal consolidated interim storage and consent-based siting processes. The descriptions of terms are expressed with limited use of technical jargon.

This is the information sheet for Spent Nuclear Fuel Package Performance Demonstration (PPD).

This is the presentation from the Oct 2, 2024 Spent Nuclear Fuel Package Performance Demonstration: RFI Information Session. 

This is the webinar recording.

This is an information poster for PPD stakeholders.

This is a PPD poster with information for Tribes

We recently surveyed stakeholders in siting controversies throughout the United States. They showed a great many concerns. The principles contained in this Facility Siting Credo respond to the issues that they raised.

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking to identify one or more willing host sites to provide consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel from commercial power reactors. But what does a consolidated interim storage facility look like? Many of these questions will be determined along the way through close collaborations and discussions with interested communities. For now, DOE has a reference concept of how a facility may look, and the CURIE-osity Experience demonstrates a few general features that could be present at any given site.

Presentation from the RFI information webinar on August 27, 2024 at 10 am CT (11 am ET). 

The goal of this report is to communicate high-level recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which if adopted, the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) members believe will support the creation of a robust, safe, and effective nuclear waste management capability for the nation, including laying the groundwork for a successful geologic repository.

This report describes specific activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 associated with the Deep Borehole Disposal Concept and Safety Strategy work package funded by the Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) Campaign of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD).

Teaser video linked to the QR code in the mailer box.