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Overview of High-Level Nuclear Waste Materials Transportation: Processes, Regulations, Experience and Outlook in the U.S.
Overview of High-Level Nuclear Waste Materials Transportation: Processes, Regulations, Experience and Outlook in the U.S.
Every year, more than 300 million packages of hazardous material are shipped in the
United States (U.S.). Most of the hazardous material shipped – about 97 percent – is
flammable, explosive, corrosive or poisonous. About 1 percent – three million packages –
of the hazardous materials shipped annually contains radioactive material, most of them
from medical and industrial applications. [DOT 1998b]
Spent nuclear fuel comprises a very small fraction of the hazardous materials packages
Co-Chair Letter to Sec. Chu
Co-Chair Letter to Sec. Chu
Dear Secretary Chu:
At the direction of the President, you charged the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s
Nuclear Future with reviewing policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel
cycle and recommending a new plan. We thank you for choosing us to serve as Co-
Chairmen of the Commission and for selecting the talented and dedicated set of
Commissioners with whom we serve.
We have sought to ensure that our review is comprehensive, open and inclusive. The
Commission and its subcommittees have heard from hundreds of individuals and
CSNF Loading Curve Sensitivity Analysis
CSNF Loading Curve Sensitivity Analysis
The purpose of this scientific analysis report, CSNF Loading Curve Sensitivity Analysis, is to establish the required minimum burnup as a function of initial enrichment for both pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) commercial spent nuclear fuel (CSNF) that would allow permanent disposal of these waste forms in the geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. The relationship between the required minimum burnup and fuel assembly initial enrichment forms a loading curve.
DOE SNF Phase I and II Summary Report
DOE SNF Phase I and II Summary Report
There are more than 250 forms of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)owned spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Due to the variety of the spent nuclear fuel, the National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP) has designated nine representative fuel groups for disposal criticality analyses based on fuel matrix, primary fissile isotope, and enrichment. For each fuel group, a fuel type that represents the characteristics of all fuels in that group has been selected for detailed analysis.
Overview of the Section 180(c) Program: History, Lessons Learned, and Potential Next Steps
Overview of the Section 180(c) Program: History, Lessons Learned, and Potential Next Steps
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) is responsible, under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from point of origin to destination at a federal storage or disposal facility. Section 180(c), written into the Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments of 1987, requires OCRWM to prepare public safety officials along the routes for these shipments.
Going the Distance? The Safe Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste in the United States - Summary
Going the Distance? The Safe Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste in the United States - Summary
This new report from the National Research Council’s Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board (NRSB) and the Transportation Research Board reviews the risks and technical and societal concerns for the transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States. Shipments are expected to increase as the U.S. Department of Energy opens a repository for spent fuel and high-level waste at Yucca Mountain, and the commercial nuclear industry considers constructing a facility in Utah for temporary storage of spent fuel from some of its nuclear waste plants.
BRC Co-Chair Letter to The Honorable Fred Upton, Chairman, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and The Honorable John Shimkus, Chairman, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
BRC Co-Chair Letter to The Honorable Fred Upton, Chairman, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and The Honorable John Shimkus, Chairman, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
Dear Representatives Upton and Shimkus,
At the direction of the President, the Secretary of Energy established the Blue Ribbon
Commission on America’s Nuclear Future and charged it with reviewing policies for
managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. We are serving as the Co-Chairmen of
the Commission and have taken note of your recent comments about the Commission’s
work.
Your comments echo those we have heard from several members of Congress and from
people across the country who believe the United States should not abandon the
ANS Position Statement: Licensing of Yucca Mountain as a Geological Repository for Radioactive Wastes
ANS Position Statement: Licensing of Yucca Mountain as a Geological Repository for Radioactive Wastes
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) supports (1) the development and use of geological
repositories for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes and (2) expeditious processing of the
Yucca Mountain license application in an open, technically sound manner. Geological disposal
means placing the wastes hundreds of feet underground and far from the biosphere. The U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is following a legislatively well-defined regulatory
process to evaluate the safety of the proposed Yucca Mountain Site to meet both the scientific
Key Issues Associated with Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
Key Issues Associated with Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
The issue of interim storage of used (spent)1 fuel is dependent on a number of key factors, some
of which are not known at this time but are the subject of this study. The first is whether or not
the Yucca Mountain Project continues or is cancelled such that it may be able to receive spent
fuel from existing and decommissioned nuclear power stations. The second is whether the United
States will pursue a policy of reprocessing and recycling nuclear fuel. The reprocessing and
Drift-Scale THC Seepage Model
Drift-Scale THC Seepage Model
The purpose of this report is to document the thermal-hydrologic-chemical (THC) seepage model and model simulations. The simulations predict the composition of fracture water that could potentially seep into repository emplacement drifts and the composition of the associated gas phase. The THC seepage model is not used to feed the total system performance assessment (TSPA) for the license application (LA).
THC Sensitivity Study of Heterogeneous Permeability and Capillarity Effects
THC Sensitivity Study of Heterogeneous Permeability and Capillarity Effects
The purpose of this report is to <,locument the sensitivity of the drift-scale thermal-hydrologic- chemical (THC) seepage model (SNL 2007 [DIRS 177404]) to heterogeneities in permeability and capillarity, which could affect predicted fluxes and chemistries of water and gases seeping into the emplacement drifts. This report has been developed following Technical Work Plan for: Revision of Model Reports for Near-Field and In-Drift Water Chemistry (SNL 2007 [DIRS 179287]).
Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Following the proposals for nuclear fuel assurance of International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed El Baradei, former Russian President Vladimir V.
Putin, and U.S. President George W. Bush, joint committees of the Russian Academy of
Sciences (RAS) and the U.S. National Academies (NAS) were formed to address these and other
fuel assurance concepts and their links to nonproliferation goals. The joint committees also
addressed many technology issues relating to the fuel assurance concepts. This report provides
Summary Report of Commercial Reactor Criticality Data for Crystal River Unit 3
Summary Report of Commercial Reactor Criticality Data for Crystal River Unit 3
The "Summary Report of Commercial Reactor Criticality Data for Crystal River Unit 3" contains the detailed information necessary to perform commercial reactor criticality (CRC) analyses for the Crystal River Unit 3 (CR3) reactor.
Review of DOE's Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program - Summary
Review of DOE's Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program - Summary
There has been a substantial resurgence of interest in nuclear power in the United States
over the past few years. One consequence has been a rapid growth in the research
budget of DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). In light of this growth, the Office of
Management and Budget included within the FY2006 budget request a study by the
National Academy of Sciences to review the NE research programs and recommend
priorities among those programs. The programs to be evaluated were: Nuclear Power
February 16, 2011 - Letter from Secretary Chu to the BRC, February 11, 2011
February 16, 2011 - Letter from Secretary Chu to the BRC, February 11, 2011
Dear Co-Chairs Hamilton and Scowcroft:
The Obama Administration believes that nuclear energy has an important role to playas America moves to a clean energy future. One of my goals as Secretary of Energy is to help restart America's nuclear industry, creating thousands of new jobs and new export opportunities for the United States while producing the carbon free energy we need to power America's economy.
Funding Issues
Funding Issues
The purpose of this paper is to allow CoRWM to consider the range of issues concerning funding of a geological disposal facility (GDF) and of safe and secure interim storage, to note current developments and to identify issues that require further consideration or where CORWM should develop advice to Government.
Analysis of the MUA Decision Methodology for HLW Repository Siting: Preclosure Utilities
Analysis of the MUA Decision Methodology for HLW Repository Siting: Preclosure Utilities
Utilities and ranking of the preclosure attributes of the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository are examined, in order to provide insights into the propriety of using this approach for this type of decision and an assessment of the adequacy of the analysis itself. The postclosure utilities obtained in the previous study were greater than 80% for all five sites considered, but showed a greater spread than those in the MUA. The preclosure multiattribute utilities also show a wider spread than in the MUA.
Response to Comments from the U.S. Department of Interior, State of Nevada, and Affected Counties on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Response to Comments from the U.S. Department of Interior, State of Nevada, and Affected Counties on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Comments contained in this document were received by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation (ESSE) of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, (Younker et al., 1992, SAIC 91/8000). Comments were received from the U.S. Department of Interior, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the State of Nevada, and several local affected governments in Nevada. No comments were received from members of the public.
A MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE: A NATION AT RISK REPORT ON IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED YUCCA MOUNTAIN HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE PROGRAM
A MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE: A NATION AT RISK REPORT ON IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED YUCCA MOUNTAIN HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE PROGRAM
Enclosed is the State of Nevada s report on impacts of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository program. This report is being provided pursuant to Section 114(a)(1)(H) and Section 116 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended.
Response to Comments from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Response to Comments from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Comments contained in this document were received by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the Report of Early Site Suitability Evaluation (ESSE) of the Potential Repository Site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, (Younker et al., 1992, SAIC 91/8000). Comments were received from the U.S. Department of Interior, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the State of Nevada, and several local affected governments in Nevada. No comments were received from members of the public.
Final 10 CFR 960: General Guidelines for the Preliminary Screening of Potential Sites for a Nuclear Waste Repository
Final 10 CFR 960: General Guidelines for the Preliminary Screening of Potential Sites for a Nuclear Waste Repository
These guidelines were developed in accordance with the requirements of Section 112(a) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 for use by the Secretary of Energy in evaluating the suitability of sites. The guidelines will be used for suitability evaluations and determinations made pursuant to Section 112(b). The guidelines set forth in this part are intended to complement the requirements set forth in the Act, 10 CFR part 60, and 40 CFR part 191. The DOE recognizes NRC jurisdiction for the resolution of differences between the guidelines and 10 CFR part 60.
End of FY10 Report – Used Fuel Disposition Technical Bases and Lessons Learned Legal and Regulatory Framework for High-Level Waste Disposition in the United States
End of FY10 Report – Used Fuel Disposition Technical Bases and Lessons Learned Legal and Regulatory Framework for High-Level Waste Disposition in the United States
This report examines the current policy, legal, and regulatory framework pertaining to used nuclear fuel and high level waste management in the United States. The goal is to identify potential changes that if made could add flexibility and possibly improve the chances of successfully implementing technical aspects of a nuclear waste policy. Experience suggests that the regulatory framework should be established prior to initiating future repository development.
INITIAL SCREENING FOR SITING A DEEP GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY FOR CANADA'S USED NUCLEAR FUEL - Township of The North Shore
INITIAL SCREENING FOR SITING A DEEP GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY FOR CANADA'S USED NUCLEAR FUEL - Township of The North Shore
On March 21, 2012, the Township of The North Shore expressed interest in learning more about the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) site selection process to find an informed and willing community to host a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel (NWMO, 2010). This report summarizes the findings of an initial screening, conducted by Geofirma Engineering Ltd., to evaluate the potential suitability of the Township of The North Shore against five screening criteria using readily-available information.
Nuclear Waste Policy Act (Section 112), Recommendation by the Secretary of Energy of Candidate Sites for Site Characterization for the First Radioactive Waste Repository
Nuclear Waste Policy Act (Section 112), Recommendation by the Secretary of Energy of Candidate Sites for Site Characterization for the First Radioactive Waste Repository
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (the Act), established a step-by-step process for the siting of the nation's first repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel. The Act gave the Department of<br/>Energy (DOE) the primary responsibility for conducting this siting process.