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This report provides information on the inventory of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in the United States located at Nuclear Power Reactor (NPR) and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) sites, as well as SNF and reprocessing waste located at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites and other research and development (R&D) centers as of the end of calendar year 2024.
The hypothetical facility shown in this animation has not been sited or licensed. It is one concept intended only to demonstrate what a what a potential federal staging facility for used nuclear fuel could look like based on a set of operating assumptions.
This report provides information on the inventory of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in the United States located at Nuclear Power Reactor and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation sites, as well as SNF and reprocessing waste located at U.S. Department of Energy sites and other research and development centers as of the end of calendar year 2021.
| Authors | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Railcar Phase 1 | Areva Federal Services LLC | 10/28/2016 |
| Atlas Railcar Phase 2 | Areva Federal Services LLC | 03/06/2018 |
The purpose of this analysis is to estimate the potential economic and social impacts that would likely arise from the construction and subsequent operation of a new Federal used fuel staging facility in different locations throughout the U.S. This includes estimates that detail the total local economic activity generated by a Federal staging facility over its lifespan along with all associated job and income creation.
As part of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Atlas Railcar Project, the Atlas and Buffer railcars were developed to meet the need for future large-scale rail transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The DOE collaborated with the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) to purchase a rail escort vehicle (REV). MxV Rail, a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), performed certification testing and modeling on these railcars.
Factsheet about DOE High Burnup Research Cask Project (HBURC) dated January 2026
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to ship one container of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from a nuclear power plant to a national laboratory to undergo further research. DOE is coordinating the shipment with Tribal and State governments and offering technical assistance and training.
HBURC Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) trifold brochure detailing the NEST programs and assets.
Symposium 50: Energizing the Future Now will bring together nuclear leaders, policymakers, innovators, finance leaders and decision-makers from the tech and energy user communities to shape the future of the global nuclear industry.
