Task Force Business Meeting
Edward Wilds Jr., CT, NE Task Force Co-Chair

Meetings since Spring: SRGs, TRANSCOM, NECRHP, TEC
Cort Richardson - Northeast staff attended:

• Western Interstate Energy Board in San Diego
• CSG-Midwest in Carlsbad for WIPP tour
• Spoke before NE Radiological Compact Meeting
• Alternates attended TEC Meeting in Green Bay
• TRANSCOM - handles tracking of shipments

Future Membership:
Organization comprised of 10 Northeastern states.  With turnover, pushed idea of having every state name an alternate (grown from three states to seven states).  Retirement of Jim Boranski (N.Y.)

Report on Rail Routing Committee:
Planning for the methodology for choosing routing as Midwest has already done for their region.

NE Approach:

• Goal - Not choosing routes; winnow down the set of finalists and then present them in an understandable fashion.
• Routes illustrate the efforts of Committee to develop an approach, not routes themselves
• 2004 - Barge shipment for NE considered; study planned
• 2005 - Task force discussions about routing criteria
• 2006 - Committee established – members, meetings
• The Approach
  • Look at NE “realities”
  • Apply basic criteria
    • Avoid eastern metropolitan corridor if possible.
    • Use good track and minimize travel time.
    • Minimize total population affected.
    • Use consolidated track.
  • Describe possible routes using practical considerations
    • Not much choice for the first parts of many routes.
    • Possible to bring CT routes up to Massachusetts.
    • Incorporate “Practical Considerations” such as: run arounds, clearance, dark vs. signalized territory, and use of STRACNET analysis
  • Gather Data about the possible routes using TRAGIS
  • Compare route possibilities
  • Work Done So Far: 1^st Leg Descriptions, 2^nd Leg Descriptions, 3^rd Leg Descriptions – consolidated routes
  • Next Steps
    • Looking at other routes
    • Expanding options
    • Integrate routing with Barge Study results 

Q: What was the technical reasoning for selecting a corridor of this size?
A: Chose the biggest corridor that TRAGIS allows.

Q: Is this what MW used?
A: Used five miles as well.

Possible Task Force Initiatives:
Shipment Fees

• Some NE States already have.
• Expect that states will be looking at this more as the process goes forward.
• We do have a working group (TEC) for addressing the tension between states’ rights and federal prerogative of accomplishing certain transportation objectives.
• 180(c) interpreted very narrowly - only for training.

NECRHP Expansion:
1970s- realized that they wouldn’t be able to individually respond to all emergencies so formed a compact through identical legislation to cooperate among states.

Compact can provide assistance without necessarily going through the governor of a given state.  NE Compact serves as a bridge before federal government arrives.  Mechanism in place between six states to very quickly move resources across state lines.  Doesn’t necessarily need an emergency -> can actually move resources to address issues in areas like personnel.

Conference once per year.  Get together to discuss training, etc.  

States must share a continuous boundary with a compact state to join -> Pennsylvania cannot join unless the state of New York joins beforehand.

Q: Will you continue to reach out to the state of New York?
A: Have been told that they would get back to us in the future.

Review of Task Force Rules Committee Procedures Proposal:
Suggestion: Get task force members appointed by governors so they are aware of the group and its activities.

Review the proposal and vote on the third Wednesday in January over conference call

Roundtable of Northeast State Reports

Connecticut

• Superior Court in CT ruled that Council should not consider radiological issues
• Comprehensive review done (state liaison to NRC)
• Millstone one of the first plant to go through this process - state is putting in a dock at the Millstone site for law enforcement.
• Not in the public domain at this time (revised, secure version is available)
• CT Yankee take down is well underway and should be complete soon -> Will still maintain its Part 50 License

Maine

• Atomic Yankee Suit - ruled in favor of Company
• With NRC, ran security exercise
• Security Inspector is in the process of final walk down of Maine Yankee facility
• Concentrated on what is happening with Washington

New Jersey

• Oyster Creek is still prominent in the press
  • License renewal is the main issue (expiring in 3 years)
  • One state contention – effects of a terrorist attack on the plant should be addressed in the license renewal
• Hook Creek is preparing to ship its third canister this week.
• Transportation - state police will dedicate more personnel to radioactive shipments
• NJ in the process of becoming an Agreement state

New Hampshire

• First Responder Training
  • Looking at incorporating Hazmat Teams into RERP and Homeland Security
  • Developing more detailed radiological course with the NH Fire Academy
  • NH is close to having its own Combine Support Team (CST) trained by the military
• 1-0 Introduction
• New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • HS merged with EM in July to form new division
  • New facility slated to open Jan-Feb 2007
  • Goal is to tie EOPs and ESFs with RERP to make them compliant
  • Support Vermont and Maine with additional radiological equipment maintenance

Vermont

• VT Yankee will be citing white findings for shipments to Susquehanna
• State has gone through a case on its steam dryer
• Will soon start working on re-license for VT Yankee; state legislature has a role in determining whether re-licensing should proceed

Massachusetts

• Successful program exercise in October
• Involved in re-licensing Pilgrim and VY
• Towns are trying to use re-licensing as a tool to get money back from DOE set aside for the repository (would go toward emergency services like policy and fire protection)

Pennsylvania

• Limerick is siting a SNF storage facility
• Four DHS comprehensive reviews this year
• In the process of becoming an Agreement State
• Big push to develop a radioactive detection system - handbook should be published in three to four months
• Redoing incident specific plans
  • Rather large plans for years
  • Now NIMS-compliant
• Have Radioactive Teams in every county
• Special Populations
  • SLJ-101 – National response plan is out, SLJ-101 is out again
  • All Hazardous Planning Initiative

Rhode Island

• MERRTT came up and ran a training for first responders
• Radiological Compact:
  • “Excellent piece of legislation”
  • Trying to emulate the program for different areas and materials

Delaware

• No nuclear plants, probably won’t get any
• No shipments through state in last six months
• Received shipment of Potassium Iodide
• Next plume exercise in May 2008
• Working with Homeland Security

Federal Legislation: Actions, resolutions
Domenici’s Energy and Waster Development Appropriations Act:

• Language of Section 313.
• Continuing Resolution for funding will likely be extended through the balance of the year.
• Bill almost definitely will not pass this session; a new letter should say something along the lines that if something similar should be raised again, the same concerns would apply.

NRC Escort Information Request

• Asking states to send in information related to shipping in a couple of weeks.
• Would like to post the information and make it as accessible as possible.
• Table that Earl is preparing is to send to rule makers when they enter the process (want to limit unintended consequences of the rules they decide upon).

NRC Security Assessment Request

• Midwest asked for terrorism studies.
• NRC has asked for a detailed list of the information they want and the reason that they want it. -> Aimed at starting a dialogue.
• NRC has to establish a need to know before they can provide it.  Having this information from the groups will help establish this need to know.

SRG Updates:
WIEB

• Different structure within the Western region. 
  Seems to be an artificial disconnect between WGA and WIEB.
• Preparing comments on Rail and Yucca Mountain EIS.
• Trying to put together a summary of WIEB routing work. 
  Number of studies on looking at route selection criteria.
• Process of major redesign of website.  Better appearance, more content.
• Trying to make their handbook available for everyone online.

WGA

• Still haven’t replace Bill Mackey.
• Written letters to DOE on TRUPACT III tests requesting full burn tests to be included.
• Letter to Dennis Ashworth regarding incident reporting.  
  Questioned the criteria of reportable accidents.

CSG-MW

• Fall Meeting was in Carlsbad, NM in November.
  Follow up tour of WIPP after tour at Yucca Mountain.
  John Parkin gave update on PFS.
• With November election, 9 new or newly elected governors to reaffirm their appointments.
• Unique among four regions in that they have executive representatives and legislative representatives.
• Elected first co-chair (Bingham; MO)
• Holding next meeting in Jefferson City, MO.
• Working on Earl Easton’s cask information request.
• WI Special Committee took tour of Yucca Mountain yesterday.
           Examining whether to lift the ban on new nuclear plants.

SSEB

• Last meeting was in San Diego in October (WGA and NCSL).
  Found it good to work with NCSL to incorporate more of their legislators.
• Next meeting will be in Las Vegas with a tour of Yucca Mountain as well.
• Routing Topic Group – represented by states of Tennessee and Missouri (share MO with CSG).
• Publications in draft formats
  SF-HLW Handbook
• WIPP – states are gearing up for RH shipments to WIPP.
  Bringing in additional states that will be affected by shipments.
• Turnover currently a key issue with SSEB.
  Proposed to have a “road show” to meet some of their new people that they’re working with and present their information to increase participation.
• Atlanta, Georgia will host next TEC meeting.
• Planned TRANSCOM meeting sometime shortly after TEC meeting.
  Request for training also a result of turnover.

CSG-NE Action Items:

• Next NE Meeting: New York? - expand presence there and could encourage more people to attend.
• Contacting governors about MA appointees.
• Follow up on NRC work.

DOE-OCRWM Update and Discussion
Corrine Macaluso, ONT/OCRWM, NE Liaison & Transportation Specialist

Strategic Objectives:
           High quality docketable LA
           Provide OCRWM with skills and culture needed to operate effectively.
           Address government liability

Status of OCRWM Transportation Activities – FY 07 Priorities:
           Will operate on '06 budget levels the rest of the year.
           Finalize Transportation Business plan on December 15.
           SNF shipments conducted: 
                      3000 shipments in the past 30 years
                      No dangerous spills

NWPA:
           DOE will follow DOT/NRC rules/regulations.
           Provision to use private industry to fullest extent possible.
           Sec. 180 b and c:
                      Type B packaging
                      Requirement to notify governor or designee prior to shipment 
                      Intend to notify each tribe as well.
                      180(c) requires technical training and funds.

Accomplishments:
           April 8, 2004, announced mostly rail selection.
           Dedicated train service:
                      Selected as usual shipping mode
                      “Service dedicated to one commodity”
                      Benefits:
                                 Efficiency
                                 Operator control
                                 Better management of resources
                                 NAS report strongly endorsed it.
           Drafted Sec. 180(c) and grant application package.
           Concept of Operations released.
           Benchmarking study completed.
           Radioactive Material Transportation Practices Manual – hope to issue in Spring of 2007.

Priorities:
           EIS
           Publish proposed 180(c) policy.
           Expand outreach efforts.
           Leverage transportation experience of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

Nevada Rail: 
           Primarily based on limited potential land use conflicts.
           May 2006 – Tribe removed objection to including Mina route in EIS.
           Advantages to Mina:
                      Fewer Mountain ranges
                      Shorter distance than Caliente
                      Less land disturbance
                      Lower construction costs
           Amended NOI for NV Rail EIS
                      Intent to include Mina corridor.
                      Consider Mina at a level commensurate with other corridors.

Approach to Developing Routing Funding Process: population, number of shipments, route miles.

Legislative Proposals:
           S.2589 - Nuclear Fuel Management and Disposal Act
                      Joe Barton introduced companion bill.
                      Intended to streamline the Yucca Mountain process.
                      Key components:
                      Permanently withdraws land.
                      Increase the volume limit (70,000 metric tons) - push back the time at which a second repository will be needed.
                      Facilitate congressional ability to fund the project.
                      Continue cooperation with state/tribal governments.

           S.3962
           HR 5427
                      Appropriations bill (Interim Storage – Sec. 313)

DOE Office of EM – National Activities Update
Ella McNeil, TEPP Chief; OT/OEM

EM world’s largest cleanup project.  Scheduled to complete 5 sites by the end of 2006.

Fernald
           5000 cubic yards of Silo 3 Waste
           Working with Ohio to extend storage license to October 09.

DUF6 - finishing shipments out of Oak Ridge.

Greater than Class C Waste:
           DOE responsible for disposal.
           Working on NOI.

Waste Information Management System:
           System is accessible through the website.
           Finishing first update - done in 2007.
           For some sites, you’ll see a surge in waste around 2010 because of decommissioning.

Update of DOE Manual 460.2-1 - Manual will be coordinated with the tribes, which makes the deadline uncertain.

Transportation Events - in FY 06 there were 27 events.

Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program - comprehensive approach to planning and training for emergency response.

MERRTT Training Continues:
           1528 trained in FY 2006 (approx. 80 classes).
           Refresher training through FEMA Independent Study - IS-302 is being modified to include online practical questions.

Over past year and a half, working with DHS to:
           Assist FEMA in revision of the existing Hospital Training System.
           Working with DHS to identify training overlaps in DHS Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER) Program - HDER Program is being re-written to have a format 
           and appearance similar to MERRTT, modules.

TEPP Coordination with NFPA:
           National Fire Protection Agency Standards
           NFPA 472 Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
           2007 MERRTT Updates:
                      Decontamination Video and Optional Practical Exercise:
                                 What can we do to make the training program better for the responders?
                                 In drills across the country, there have been difficulties in the decontamination process.
                                 Video will show how to eliminate threat of contamination.
                      Streamlining of the two modules
                      Revision of Assessing Practical Exercise
                      TEPP Exercises:
                                 West Valley:
                                            September 19
                                            Involved a needs assessment. 
                                            23 exercise objectives; all were met.
                                            Conducted at night to increase participation.
                                 Kansas - Daytime drill; Kansas Motor Speedway property
                                 2007: 
                                            Indiana - two exercises on February 19, 21.
                                            Schedule pending 2007 budget approval.

Outreach Activities:
           TransCAER Whistle Stop Tour
                      MD, PA, OH
                      5 Stops in 5 days
                      250 responders trained
           New TEPP Display
                      Simplified response
                      Handouts
                                 3,969 student CDs
                                 7,500 flatsheets
                                 4,800 brochures

DOE Carlsbad Field Office Update and Discussion
E. Ralph Smith, Manager, Institutional Affairs; DOE-Carlsbad Field Office

WIPP Report

• Bill Mackie took over on September 17.
• 5,000 shipments completed as of September 11, 2006.
• Remote-Handled Waste (RH) Overview
  • RH and Contact-Handled Waste will both be accepted in new year.
  • RH = more than 200 millirems
  • 72 B package
    • 4 inches of lead; holds three 55 gallon drums
• TRUPACT-III
  • Drop testing
  • Rectangular package that holds boxes and will augment shipping capacity
• Incentivised Small Sites - will take all contact handled waste that can be placed in TRUPACT-IIs.

TRUPACT-III Drop Test – TRANSCOM Update

• TRANSCOM Communication Center Services
  • Does all the real time tracking and monitoring.
  • Central Monitoring room is manned 24 hours a day with technically trained operators.
  • Limits access to customers with a need to know.
• Central Monitoring Room – manage the TRU waste shipments.
  • Communicate with drivers, state organizations, shipping sites.
  • Coordinates transportation activities from dispatch to arrival.
• States Responsibility for Messaging
  • Pertinent to shipments only
  • Prevent nuisance messages
  • Concise and to the point (charged by character in the messages)
  • Not a personal email system
  • Communicate critical information only
• TRUPACT-III
  • Rides on flatbed truck (chained down)
  • Drops were done at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Spent Fuel Transportation Update
Earl P. Easton, Spent Fuel Project Office, Senior Level Advisor – Transportation

Information Digest completed, published, and available.
Package Performance Activities
NAS Recommendations – Cooperation on Security Assessments
State Shipment Escort Policy Survey

Energy Supply/Demand Chart:

• Not a shortage of energy; but resources aren’t in the forms that you need.
• At this point, it’s cheaper to buy foreign oil than to convert the sources you have into the forms you need.

Applications for new reactor licenses - Over next 5 years, expecting about 30 applications for new nuclear power plants.

NRC has streamlined its licensing process into one step.  Standardizing the construction of new reactors by designating approved reactor designs.

Status of ISFSIs

• 42 licensed in 26 states
• 15 announced plans for new ISFSIs
• About 800 loaded dry casks
• No safety problems
• First dry cask placed in service July 1986.

Dresden Dry Cask Storage - vertical cask, robust containers.

Private Fuel Storage

• Would’ve been an interim storage site
• Licensed in Feb. 1996
• Would’ve received about 200 canisters per year
• Ultimately would have held 40,000 MTU (4,000 canisters)
• Status
  • BIA denied approval of the lease
  • BLM denied ROW approval for the rail spur

Current NRC Activities

• Preparing for receipt of the license application in 2008.
• Continue dialogue with DOE in a pre-licensing mode.
• Try to interact with stakeholders - Clark Co., Nye Co., Tribes.

NAS “Going the Distance” Study:

• Released February 9, 2006 - 16 different independent academics
• Found “no technical barriers” to safe transportation.
• Highway and rail poses little risk when conducted effectively within current regulations.
• “Fully-engulfing fires”
  • Concluded that there has not been a dangerous release.
  • Studies can be found on their website.
  • Real World US Rail Accidents:
    • Risk from severe fires is very low.
    • From 1975 through 2005:
      • 21 billion miles of rail traffic
      • Spacing requirements make it unlikely that a severe accident will include multiple cars.
  • A Simple Fix?
    • Dedicated trains
    • No pass rule in tunnels
• Principle Safety Recommendations
  • Use of full-scale testing (endorsed the way the NRC has always done this).
  • “Testing to failure” is not necessary.
  • Sandia Full-Scale Testing (1970s)
  • Drop Tests recently done in Germany (using an unyielding surface) - ten times the 180 ton canisters.
  • Measures should be taken to examine and prevent the effects of a terrorist attack on shipments.  NRC has been looking at since the '70s (people seeing how various forms of weaponry can affect shipping containers).  Commission feels that the necessary security precautions have been taken to address the threats.

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) / US DOT Update & Discussion
Mel Massaro, RAM/HAZMAT Inspector; DOT-FRA

Safety Compliance Oversight Plan (SCOP)

Shortline Study

• Rail Shipments will begin with shortlines.
• Every RR was a shortline at one time or another.
• 27% of all freight in US either originates or finishes on a shortline.
• 27,000 employees in the shortline industry.
• Most shortlines in the US are in the Northeast.
• 17 plants have Rail Access.
• 11 plants have heavy haul potential.
• Collect Information on:
  • Track Structure
    • Class One connection
    • Class of track
    • Rail weight
    • Track ownership
    • Track restrictions
  • Method of Operation
    • Dark or signal
    • Other operations with another RR
  • Have they handled hazmat before?

New Brighton Derailment- recent derailment of a unit Train of Ethanol on a bridge.

Nuclear Industry Update – Federal Legislation
Chandler L. van Orman, Senior Director; Nuclear Energy Institute, External Affairs and Coalitions

Over the past five years, principle interest within the nuclear energy industry has shifted from moving spent fuel to new plants.

If DOE can demonstrate a clear path forward, the utilities see no reason why they cannot progress with building new plants - “Kiss me once and tell me it will be okay.”

New Nuclear Plant status (handout):

• List of individual and consortia of utilities that have announced plans to pursue the development of new plants.
  • First one due 10-07.
  • Applications are expensive and time consuming (run between $20 and $40 million each to prepare).
• There are financial provisions in EPAct 2005 that relate to the production of the first 600 megawatts.
• Industry cannot operate in an atmosphere of uncertainty (NRC reforms have helped this).
• No requirement for a company who files a license and gets approval to build (just means that they can bank the permit).
• The Southeast is attractive because the “evil hand of deregulation” hasn’t gotten there yet - less risky in this region.

Legislation:

• New plants are important.
• Take the fuel and move it (don’t care where).
• Industry is not enamored with Sec. 313.
• DOE needs to keep their licensing process on schedule (“most important thing DOE can do to keep the program on track”).

Q: Could your wish list include the idea of DOE preemption with transportation?
A: DOT has sufficient existing power to preempt what it desires.

C: Encouraging R&D at regional facilities could be a way to get Sen. Reid on board because it will deter waste from Nevada.

TEC Topic Groups Updates

Security

• ·        Decided that once the workplan is complete, they will temporarily sunset the topic group - very soon.

Rail

• Lessons learned is still open.
• New rail routing topic group
• Already talked to individuals that would like to be involved in this group.

Tribal

• Identified 40 possibly affected tribes.
• Trying to work with them on 180(c) funding.

EVENING SESSION

History of Yucca Mountain (YM)

• ·        Congress created a legal obligation to dispose of Nuclear Waste.
  • 1982-NWPA
  • 1987- YM chosen
  • 2002- Secretary of Energy declared that YM was the correct site
• Not just for commercial waste (although primarily commercial)
• Subsurface overview
• “The New Path”
  • A year ago, decided not to have as many surface facilities.
  • Chose TADs (transportation, aging, and disposal) canisters.
• Transportation
  • Primarily rail
  • Dedicated trains
  • Rail routes analyzed in draft EIS (Caliente, Mina).
• In the Northeast:
  • Approximately 14,000 tons of SNF at the moment.
  • In a sense, it’s convenient that the majority of the region’s waste is in NY and PA (more experience/knowledge).
  • Doesn’t have many “main” lines; more shortlines.

Panel Discussion

• What is the one thing you want people to take away from the night?
  • Confident that DOE is ready and capable of moving forward with a repository.
  • An independent body designated to perform a peer review for DOE.
  • Sense that oversight responsibilities are taken very seriously.
  • Confidence that we can and know how to transport waste.
  • Host county looks forward to capitalizing on the opportunity.
  • YM is a bad site that should not be built and is the result of mere politics.
  • We need a new siting process that isn’t controlled by an organization that has a vested interest .
• One good thing/one bad thing about YM?
  • Can’t think of a good thing; can’t contain the waste (it’s porous).
  • Good: excited about new path forward, bad: continuing delays.
  • Bad: level of uncertainty even after years of study, good: talent of people working on the project.
  • Good: nothing that we can’t engineer our way around, bad: political nature of criticism.
  • Bad: geologic setting is bad for containment, good: we’ve had 20 years of a politicized program, and there are lessons to be learned (for geology).
  • Good: the project has benefited from some of the nation’s brightest and most dedicated people.

YM Project Status
Russ Dyer, Director, Office of the Chief Scientist; DOE-OCRWM

Program Steps

• Political actions taken to set policy - approval of site for development.
• Regulatory actions - next step is to submit license application.

Surface conceptual layout - construct handling facilities to repackage and place underground.

Canister Approach:

• Change to TAD was endorsed about a year ago.
• Resurrection of the multi-purpose canister approach to minimize future handling of the material
• Benefits:
  • Standardizes storage and transport
  • Maximize utilities’ experience
  • Simplify DOE operations
  • Reduces complexity and cost at the facility

OCRWM Program Objectives:

• Submit LA
• Supply Skills
• Address growing govt. liability
• Develop comprehensive SF transportation plan taking state and tribal concerns into account whenever possible

LA Requirements:

• Certify licensing support network (LSN) not less than six months prior to submittal
• General Information and a Safety Analysis Report
• EIS must accompany application
• Certification that the application is as complete as possible

LSN:

• Electronic Database to be used by parties to the licensing action to minimize time of discovery.
• About 1 million documents available to the public now.

Supplement to Final Repository EIS:

• Due to dated nature of original EIS
• Gone through scoping meetings.
• Comment period open until December 12.

License Application and Path Forward:

• Entering a very important period
• DOE committed to Yucca Mountain
• Proposed legislation - can provide stability, predictability and clarity to the program

NWTRB Perspectives on the HLW Management System
Karyn Severson; Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board

NWTRB created by Congress to report back to DOE.

Evaluation includes:

• Site characterization
• Waste acceptance
• Transportation
• Surface facility design
• Underground emplacement

Recent TRB Recommendations:

• Quite technical in nature
• DOE should analyze the source term and track the radionuclides most significant to dose.
• Continue study of natural barriers.
• Thermal management strategy will significantly affect both pre and post closure performance.
• DOEs technical basis for eliminating localized corrosion has not been fully developed.

Post-Closure Operations Issues:

• TAD canister has the potential to minimize handling of bare spent fuel and simplify the design of surface facilities, but their success is contingent on many factors (infrastructure of site, condition of spent fuel at reactor, etc.).
• DOE should:
  • Visit waste generating sites to assess infrastructure needs.
  • Facilitate selection of transportation routes and identification of emergency preparedness needs.

Yucca Mountain as a Nuclear Repository: Nevada’s View
Joe Strolin, Planning Division Administrator; Agency for Nuclear Projects

Geologic Disposal and the Yucca Site:

• Concept of deep disposal is fairly straight forward - find a place that has been stable and undisturbed and put waste inside based on past stability (geologic containment).
• At YM, DOE has turned geologic isolation on its head (doesn’t possess any of the characteristics the NAS outlined originally).
• DOE response has been to engineer fixes to these problems (relies on human built components to keep waste isolated).

Exclusive Reliance on Magic Metal Waste Package - heavy reliance on package that must remain intact for the model to work.

Dilution is the Solution - dilution also part of the positive dose rate models.

Renewed Volcanism? - Still very much an issue.  When was the last activity? Can it resume?

Seizmicity of the area in which the mountain is located - since 1920s approx. 620 measurable earthquakes.

Even with all of the engineered fixes, DOE and Congress are still trying to reduce safety standards.

Geologic Isolation is doable, but not at YM - WIPP is a prime example of a facility that can meet standards without man-made barriers.

Nevada has petitioned DOE to discontinue efforts to establish Yucca Mountain three times.

So why are we here? - Political Science

• Deaf Smith County (TX) and Hanford (WA) ruled out since TX and WA had significant political clout, while NV had little.
• Now, tables have turned with Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi with democratic takeover of Congress.
• We can’t rely on politics in making these choices and decisions.

Nevada’s Position

• Repository should be built only if it can be conclusively demonstrated that it will isolate radiation.

Nye County
David Swanson, Interim Director; Nuclear Waste Repository Project Office

Independently review work of DOE.  Objective to ensure that anything done will be safe for its citizens

History and Vision

• Role as host county is unparalleled.
• Nye has been publicly neutral about YM.
• Initially focused on transportation (preference from rail vs. truck) - use rail to stimulate economic development.
  • Would like to help with rail alignment.
  • Concerned about emergency response.
• Most recent resolution passed by Commissioners:
  • Primary emphasis still on safety.
  • Economic opportunities are extremely important.
  • Recognize role in addressing the large issue.
  • If the program goes forward, it must succeed.
• Always supported national security and defense efforts.
• Prepared Community Protection Plan in 1999.  Objectives have remained the same over time: safety and long-term success) - Available at http://www.nyecounty.net/.

Impact Mitigation Planning
Proposed Infrastructure Readiness Projects
ISIP Cooperative Agreement

Clark County Perspective on Yucca Mountain
Irene Navis, Planning Manager; Department of Comprehensive Planning, Nuclear Waste Division

Background

• Manages staff of five people and five consultants.
• County Commissioners have been officially opposed to the project since 1985.

Clark Co.

• Receives an appropriation to study effects of Yucca Mountain.
• 19 of the world’s largest 20 hotels are in Clark Co. 
• Fastest growing county in the U.S.
• 5,000 new residents per month since 1992
• 45 million annual visitors

Clark County’s Oversight Role:

• Commenting on transportation plans
• Public involvement and outreach
• Coordinate efforts with cities and tribes.
• Comment on the scientific and technical aspects of the project.
• Focus:
  • Nellis AFB
  • Number of unanswered questions
  • Quality assurance
  • Transportation (unknown impacts)
• New Concerns
  • GNEP
  • Evolving energy policy
  • “Fix Yucca” plans

Clark County Progress

• Scientific and technical oversight ongoing - water, volcanoes, earthquakes.
• Transportation work ongoing.
• Public outreach expanded - materials have become officially part of Clark Co. public schools.
• Impact assessment and monitoring update at least annually
  • Update a website maintained by one of their consultants.
  • What changes occur over time?
  • Community surveys conducted twice per year.

Public Outreach Challenges

• Budget
• Compliance with federal, state, local regulations
• Population growth and evolving demographics
• Community interest and competing priorities

Results

• Credible, effective program
• Leveraged available resources
• Continually updated information
• Enhanced coordination and cooperation with all stakeholders
• Joint efforts with states, cities, and tribes
• Community recognition

Exelon Nuclear Fuel
Adam Levin, Director; Exelon Generating Company, Spent Fuel and Decommissioning Strategy

Represents about 20% of the nuclear industry.
By end of 2006, four of Exelon’s ten operating sites will be using dry cask storage systems.
By end of 2015 nine of ten will have dry cask storage (all except TMI Unit 1).

Transportation

• Intend to ship all material to the repository by rail.
• Might include some inter-modal shipments
• Want to be prepared to ship when DOE is ready.

Exelon responsibility exists until waste arrives at final destination.

New Path Forward:

• Like the emphasis on private sector.
• Believe it will produce state of the art designs
• Initial review of TAD suggests they should be able to use the TAD systems at their sites.

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
Arjun Makhijani, President; Institute for Energy and Environmental Research

While he does not like nuclear power for technical reasons, the backup of waste that exists makes a repository necessary.

Good Geologic System?

• Geologic Setting and Engineered Barriers
  • Each should meet standards independently
• Should meet existing radiation norms (not decreased standards in the future).

Problem with Repository Program is managerial -> DOE has butchered by choosing Yucca Mountain in the first place.