The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed special railcars for future large-scale DOE transport of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from nuclear power plants. The designs include the Atlas railcar (designed to transport SNF containers), new buffer railcars, and a new escort railcar for security personnel that was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Navy’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) transports classified, high-value U.S. Navy ship components by rail, including naval spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE NE)
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.
The Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) was established by the NEA Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) in 2000 and serves as a platform for understanding stakeholder dialogue and discussing methods to develop shared confidence, informed consent and approval of radioactive waste (RW) management solutions.
Despite being safely transported in the U.S. for more than half a century, many still believe spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is too dangerous to transport. But, in reality, it’s a well-coordinated process with a great track record—and we have the facts to prove it.
This brochure shortly describes the various steps of the nuclear fuel cycle by covering areas from mining and milling to disposal of spent fuel and other radioactive waste.
