State-Regional Group Spring, 2006 Meetings:
- SSEB - Joint Meeting of the Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee and the Transuranic Waste Transportation Working Group
Bethesda, MD - April 27, 2006 (NRC tour and TRAGIS training)
- WGA - Western Governors' Association WIPP Transportation Technical Advisory Group
Salt Lake City, UT - May 2 and 3, 2006 (EnergySolutions tour)
- WIEB - High-Level Waste Committee of the Western Interstate Energy Board
Salt Lake City - May 4, 2006
- CSG-ERC - Northeast High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Task Force
Atlantic City, NJ - May 10-11, 2006 (Oyster Creek tour)
- CSG-MW - Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee
Cedar Rapids, IA - June 14-15, 2006 (Duane Arnold tour)
- Summarized Collective Notes -
DOE-Office of Environmental Mgmt. (EM) Briefing Dennis Ashworth, Director; DOE-EM Office of Transportation William Spurgeon; DOE-EM Office of Transportation
Goal - operational excellence
Measures of success - low incident rate, services sought
EM-ONT, 3 areas of focus: - Distribution Risk Reduction and Site Support - Legislative and Regulatory Affairs - EP, Security and Outreach
FY05 - 20,500 shipments. FY06 - 15,700 shipments. 8950 completed through 2nd qtr. Fewer since Rocky Flats closed.
(Mostly responsible for low-level waste - 1.3 million cubic meters total.)
Prospective Shipment Report/Module - Issued every six months to provide guidance to states on planned EM shipments. Explains shipments - where, when and what. Can get from Eric Huang, DOE-EM.
Site Updates:
- Rocky Flats - Done. Moves to DOI in 2-3 years.
- Fernald - Well on its way to closing. Will be done in '06 - a success like Rocky Flats. Some waste will remain interred there though. Comment - Recent incident, site didn't notify states. WGA MOUs with feds require shipment of TRU waste between any sites in TRUPACT, not just to WIPP.
- Oak Ridge - DUF6 shipments to Portsmouth, OH. Old containers - questions of whether to ship in these illegal containers. LLW to NTS and EnergySolutions. Only DOT reportable accident on haul road here. New dedicated haul road built. High flux shipments not happening this year.
- West Valley - New shipper. FY06, 60 shipments of LLW to NTS (19 done).
- SRS - LLW and MLLW to NTS and EnergySolutions.
- Brookhaven - LLW shipments by rail to Energy Solution. Completed for FY06, will resume in FY07.
- Miamisburg - On track to close in '06. Completed TRU shipments to SRS.
- Columbus site - On track to close in '06.
- Paducah - LLW to NTS and EnergySolutions. No shipping problems since '04.
- Portsmouth - LLW to NTS and EnergySolutions.
TEPP - biggest item in EM-ONT budget. Provides training free of cost. TransCAER - EM is an official partner of. MERRTT Commodity Flow Survey
New Commodity Flow Survey, April 12-13 along interstate 20 - Texas/Louisiana border. 495 HazMat vehicles in 24 hours (another couple of weeks before data will be ready). Next Survey to be conducted in TN.
'04 - 23 incidents, 1 DOT reportable '05 - 16 incidents, no DOT reportable '06 - 8 as of 4/15/06. No incidents in last 3 mos. *Then two incidents in last week of April!
- April 27 - Shipment from INL stopped at WA state border. Found to be releasing higher radiation level than when left. 8 when left, 12 enroute, 15 and higher when got to WA. Shipping paper issue too.
- April 28 - Shipment in St. Louis (Fernald Silo 1&2 waste to WCS) rear-ended by tractor trailer. Driver injured.
Idaho incident - Better for casks to come off truck or truck to roll?
What should threshold of damage be for reporting it as an incident. EM-ONT would like suggestions from SRGs. Comments: 1) Hitting deer should be reported if damage to truck requires inspection. 2) Error in procedure of reporting smoking brake to CMR is an incident.
A consideration should be reporting for interest versus for grading performance.
Current Events:
- Foreign Research Reactor Shipment this summer (US origin) - Keeping close track of State Fees for LLW Shipments - UNLVRF LLW Tracking Study - EM Reorganization - His group moved to Safety - EM ONT web site online: web.em.doe.gov/otem
Comment: OR - Charges $70 shipping fees for RW only. No charges for all other hazardous waste, even though it may be more dangerous. RW fees provide for radioactive equipment though.
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DOE-Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Mgmt. (OCRWM) Update Priscilla Bumbaca; DOE-OCRWM Office of Logistics Mgmt. (formerly ONT) Alex Thrower, Senior Policy and Technical Advisor; DOE-OCRWM Office of Logistics Mgmt. (formerly ONT) Jay Jones, Physical Scientist; DOE-OCRWM Office of Logistics Mgmt. (formerly ONT)
FY2006 approp. - $495 million FY 2007 request - $544.5 million Integrated Spent Fuel Recycling Facility - to $0. Funded elsewhere. $20 million to test facilities for domestic recycling (no more than $5 million at any one site).
Focus: Safety, simplicity, and reliability
Priorities: - NRC license application for repository - Developing transportation infrastructure - Improving site infrastructure at Yucca Mtn. - Building a nuclear safety culture
Canister Approach - program redirection - Canister provides simplification in repository design, licensing, construction, and operation - SNF will be delivered to the repository primarily in canisters for spent fuel aging and emplacement underground. - Canister for Transportation, Aging, and Disposal (TAD) minimizes bare fuel handling and limits need for multiple complex surface facilities.
Yucca Mountain key activities: - Continue to revise surface design - Complete preliminary design of TAD - Develop license application based on clean, canister-based approach - Continue upgrades to communication, ER, workplace infrastructure
Transportation activities: - Nevada Rail - Fleet Acquisition - Operations - Institutional
2005 Transportation Highlights: - July, DOE announced decision to use dedicated trains - December, DOI signed Public Land Order granting land withdrawal along Caliente corridor - Initial technical data collection along the Caliente corridor was completed in support of NV Rail Alignment EIS - Draft Federal Register Notice developed for an approach to funding EP through Section 180(c) - Completed modeling of rail car suspension system (trucks) for application to future OCRWM railcars.
2006 Transportation Priorities: - Complete draft Nevada Rail EIS - Develop options for accelerating transportation schedules - Continue working with State-Regional Groups - Coordinate with key stakeholders through Transportation External Coordinating Working Group (TEC) regarding route selection criteria, 180(c) development, and security planning
NV Rail Development: - Review and finalize technical data - Issue draft Rail Alignment EIS in FY 2006 o Hold public hearings to obtain comments on draft - Issue final Rail Alignment EIS in FY 2007 - Issue Record of Decision for rail alignment and secure Right of Way - Complete alignment characterization - Complete procurement processes - Final design and construction
Rolling stock acquisition - no decision yet. Requests for proposals for conceptual design of (truck/cask/etc.) prototypes pending.
Transportation Institutional Activities: - Publish draft Section 180(c) policy and grant application package for comment - Work with SRGs to develop regional suite of routes - Meet with individual Tribes to discuss transportation topics - Update Radioactive Materials Transportation Practices Manual (DOE M 460.2-1) - Open an office in rural NV to provide transportation info products and EIS interactions
Transportation Operational Planning - Develop the Classification Guide for Secure Transportation of Nuclear Waste - Refine transportation logistics/routing models - Conduct operational systems studies
Routing process - work with states and tribes to develop criteria for picking routes. Have selected suites of routes (security, operational, weather). [Kevin - could be part of NAS study]. Will take years to complete.
180(c) - **Funded this year - 2 states per region will conduct a 180(c) pilot program. Draft federal register notice ready to go. Planning grant of $200,000 five years out. Allocation formula used three years out. (Q - Will it be detailed? -> Not sure how detailed) (Q - How is DOE arriving at budget details for 180(c)? -> Approach - planning grants, but 180(c) a line item. But how to decide number without needs assessment? 180(c) topic group and pilot programs to help determine.)
**Notice of program interest put out last week for conceptual design of TAD - deadline May 26.
Transportation Operational Planning: - Support for RADTRAN and TRAGIS - OCRWM and NRC participating in int'l working group to examine sabotage and fuel performance issues - Conducting benchmarking and lessons-learned analysis, and other system studies. Follow WIPP model or FRR. Taking look in standardized fashion at logistics of each. Decompose into elements that they can apply to their shipping planning. - Co-sponsor of PATRAM conference
PROPOSED LEGISLATION, S.2589 - Nuclear Fuel Mgmt. and Disposal Act: Dedicated to collaborative effort - despite SRG feelings toward this legislation.
Purpose: - Enhance the nation's ability to manage and dispose of SNF and HLW. - Provide stability, clarity, and predictability to the OCRWM Program. - Help lay a solid foundation for America's energy security
Fulfills a commitment contained in President Bush's FY2007 budget.
Key components: - Permanently withdraw use of public land at and surrounding repository to meet NRC licensing requirements. - Facilitate Congress's ability to provide adequate funding for the project. - Repealed the 70,000 metric ton (heavy metal) statutory limit on emplacement of RM at Yucca Mountain. - Streamline NRC licensing process. - Allow for initiation of rail line construction to connect Yucca Mountain with national rail network.
Section 7 only for those states who plan to obstruct.
General State Comments: - Section 6 - Regulatory Requirements: o States - Exemptions from RCRA and HMTAA. This could affect regulation of WIPP. DOE - RCRA: just want to avoid duplicative reviews by NRC. HMTAA: just want to clarify.
- Section 7 - Transportation, language says preempt. o DOE - Not meant to replace responsibility to stakeholders. Doesn't denigrate requirements and commitments. Emphasizes mechanism that already exists - just clarifies. States - Believe your commitment today, but statute could be interpreted differently in the future. States' role is clear with WIPP. o States - NWPA manual would work, but if legislation allows shipments under Atomic Energy Act, they wouldn't. DOE - Modifications to NWPA are listed in bill, but 180 a b and c still stand. o States - feel side-blinded by this. Don't understand the lack of consultation on this important piece of legislation when states have worked so well with DOE in the past (e.g. WIPP). Breach of good faith. o DOE - want to continue collaboration with states. Administration put it forward. Now legislation in Congress where states can have a say.
- Section 9 - Waste confidence section is bad. Forces NRC to determine through legislation, not actual confidence. o NEI Position: Principle goal of industry is to move waste off sites. Electricity needed and confidence a hurdle. Domenici and NEI want to eliminate obstacles to new power plants. NRC had made a confidence in the past that was challenged by NV. Get Congress involved - majority want Yucca. But because of politicking, aren't getting it done. Can do it at state level. o Won't happen this year with election (don't want to give boost to either party, lame duck session, what if Houses changes). Congress decides by personal interest, then constituent interest.
- States - nuclear waste at bottom of list for all states. Want waste out, but concerned it steps on states' rights.
(S2099 - Reid bill. NEI thinks it will remain in committee and not get a hearing.)
GNEP: - Yucca still needed. - If recycling technology is proven and developed, GNEP could increase capacity of Yucca Mountain (YM). - GNEP technologies could allow YM to satisfy all the requirements for SNF for this century, ensuring YM is the only site needed for generations. - NRC paper on Regulatory and Resource Implications of a DOE SNF Recycling Program. Involves: Recycling, fuel fabrication, interim storage, new reactors. Asking for resources to prepare for. - NEI not happy with its distraction from Yucca. Supportive though because it comes from a pro-nuclear president. Could be positive in future - but much R&D required, long road ahead. - OCRWM - no distraction from focus on Yucca. - States concerns about taking foreign spent fuel.
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WIPP Transportation Program Ralph Smith, Manager, Institutional Programs; DOE - Carlsbad Field Office Dr. Dave Moody, Manager; DOE - Carlsbad Field Office
WIPP in operation for 7 years. 37,000 cubic meters of waste disposed.
4,503 shipments. 2,000 meters for this year (already at 1,000).
Brand new RH Trailer. - Taking it around the country for show. - No tie-downs like TRUPACT trailers. - Trailer weighs 15,990 pounds. - Cost - $250,000 - Will be ordering more trailers in the future (8 or 9)
WIPPTREX, CVSA training, RAPTOR training, other.
Future small sites: - NTS - ORNL - N.E.
MW, West, and NE - fairly small in terms of number of shipments (excluding West Valley).
Idaho, SRS, Rocky, and Hanford biggest INL - 6000 m3. Completed February, 2006.
INL accident - all three empty TRUPACTs fell off of vehicle. Lessons learned.
2 shipments a week now halted with loss of these 3 TRUPACTs (being checked for damage).
(See incident presentation below)
RH waste to go into walls of panels/rooms at WIPP. As rooms fill up with TRU waste and close, not receiving RH waste yet means losing that space.
3/29/06 - EPA recertifies that WIPP will continue to safely isolate TRU waste from the environment. Does so every 5 year.
13 sites cleaned up of their TRU waste.
DOE proposes WIPP permit changes 1) Remote-handled (RH) TRU waste program 2) New waste analysis plan 3) Increased container storage areas 4) Room-based VOC monitoring 5) WIPP confirmation facility
11/23/05 - NM Environmental Dept. included proposals 1-4 in draft permit
Negotiations with stakeholders reduced issues prior to hearing.
Public hearing starts May 31.
Contractor operational readiness review scheduled for July.
RH shipment to WIPP within 6 months of final permit.
INL, LANL and ANL-E to ship first.
Disposal Status Panel 1 filled Panel 2 filled Panel 3 half Panel 4 being mined 4 additional panels to be mined
Priorities - Safety - repository monitoring instead of head space testing in every drum to protect safety of workers. - Implement RH waste program (need to start storing before begin panel 4) - Sustain shipping momentum (target - 30 per week) - Increase operational efficiencies o Characterization o Transportation o Disposal
The Idaho WIPP Saga Lt. Bill Reese, ISP
December 27, 2005 - Crash January 5, 2006 - Incident January 18, 2006 - Meeting
5:15 am, Pocatello. Driver fatigue (charged with inattentive driving - misdemeanor - and fired). Three empty TRUPACTS fell off truck.
Fort Hall tribal land - their fire and police were the first to respond. Then Blackfoot police, fire, and EMS. Bingham County Sheriff. No one overreacted.
Tri-state crane on-site very quickly. INL engineers helped explain weights, etc.
Communications issues with traffic control. Highway eventually closed for about 4 hours.
Media concerns: Don't want 4 or 5 different people talking to press - wanted DOE to handle it. That wasn't possible, so Reese handled TV news interviews. Press release coordinated with DOE. Luckily much of press was off for holiday.
INL couldn't address the accident issue for the press since ownership was lost to WIPP as soon as it left their facility. Raise issue with Dr. Moody tomorrow.
No radiological hazard. Biggest hazards: diesel fuel and flying cask.
Lessons learned: - Control media - Don't worry about other shipments - Control the video in the tractor - Work closely with transportation officials on traffic control issues - More help is good - Assign investigators to narrowly focused parts of the investigation - If it was loaded, the situation would have been a whole different story
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TEPP Report Kenneth Keaton, Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP) Coordinator; Technical Resources Group Incorporated Tom Clawson, Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP) Contract Coordinator; DOE-TEPP
National Activities: - New look for TEPP website (web.em.doe.gov/otem) o Points of Contact - includes emergency phone numbers by state o TEPP Tools
- Includes list of training and conference schedules around country - can post your own
- National student database as a resource. (PA trains about 800 people per year.)
- Automated needs assessment o Available online. Asks questions, then prints out report specific to your needs. - Planning tool updates o Procedures and Scenarios DHS and NIMS Compliance (working on this) - Flatsheet revision o See laminated sheets. Old sheet - wheel - originally designed for shippers, not responders (although responders were using). So came up with one for emergency responders. (included public comments) o Old flatsheet not going away - now used as a second level sheet with more detail. - Agency cooperation (overlap or contradictions in past) o MERRTT Self-Study (IS 302) - refresher - posted on FEMA website. 1,703 personnel have completed an online course and taken the exam. o Assist FEMA in revision of the G-346 Hospital Training Program o Developing a Radioactive Material Specialist Training Program (handout and see Annex D below) o National Fire Protection Association
- Participate in the review and revision of NFPA Standards 471, 472, 473 and Handbook on Hazardous Materials.
o DHS HDER Training Program Streamlining
- MERRTT and ten new modules (handout)
o FRPCC Training and Exercise Subcommittee
- Mission: Establish policy and ensure national consistency of federally-sponsored radiological and nuclear emergency response training and exercise programs, activities, and materials.
o ANSI N14.27
- Carrier and Shipper Responsibilities and Emergency Response Procedures for Highway Transportation Accidents Involving Truckload Quantities of Radioactive Materials.
o MERRTT 07 considerations - States
- Training needs
- Exercise considerations
- Recommendations for improvement
Regional Activities: - Training and exercise report (West Valley, NY; Crittenden County, AR - see below) - RAP 1 team not doing much in NE right now. Reactor D&D proposal out now. - MW at Argonne - State TEPP implementation recommendations - TransCAER Whistle Stop Tour 9/18-22.
So far 283 students trained in 16 MERRTT sessions (15 were DOE sponsored).
Annex D Competencies for the Technician with a Radioactive Material Specialty - Developing an RM Specialist training program (should be done in 10-12 months.) - Compare MERRTT and FEMA trainings and CDC. FRPCC Training and Exercise Subcommittee to ensure consistency among federally-sponsored training and exercise programs.
Crittenden County, AR exercise video. TEPP and DHS (assault weapon in one car - suspected terrorist). Planned to do one in NM - joint, but tribal side backed out. Next exercise in KS. If interested in hosting a TEPP exercise - let them know.
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Transportation External Coordinating Working Group (TECWG) Updates: Rail Topic Group
6 subtopic groups. 3 very active with conference calls. Not much participation on calls because of uncertain scheduling. (Sometimes DOE needs to take control of organizing.) - Lessons Learned Subgroup - not much participation from SRGs. - Inspections Subgroup - biggest issue (how many, where, schedule): o Coordinate with highway o Crew change route points o Equipment inspections before transport and hazmat - CVSA o NV would require border point of entry inspection (technically and politically necessary) - TRAGIS Subgroup: o Awaiting Paul Johnson updates for rail details not currently in system - e.g. tunnels and bridges. o Determining with factors to emphasize. - Tracking Subgroup: o Technologies - two demonstrations last month o What do states need? Asked in joint survey with Security Topic Group. - Planning Subgroup - very productive. Planning timeline presented at TEC meeting. Feedback before document is finished. - Other Issues: o Conflict between feds and states - and Tribes. UP line through Guapo reservation. What is jurisdictional authority? Proximity versus legal. o Tribal concerns in UT, NV, and CA. Shoshone, Goshute, etc. Spiritual stewardship over land around Yucca. Thinks will see a push of tribal legal sovereignty soon. Have seen since rail spur plans have come out. o Legal weight truck casks on rail cars. DOE unilaterally decided to no longer have a legal weight sub group. Should talk about inter-modalism for sites that don't have rail access. o With rail - contracts are between DOE and railroad, not states. States need to provide list of what they think should be included in those contracts, within reason.
- FRA - First have to get both to agree to do by contract and not tariff.
- Rail inspection criteria and standards (tension between rail industry, regulators, states)
Security Topic Group - Security clearances - DOE decided group would not go into classified information or safeguards, etc. Remain open as formation of group suggested. Secure info could possibly be discussed outside the venue of TEC with people holding clearances. - NAS study. Focus on security portion - group supports independent study. But what is independent? Four thoughts: o Thorough review o Input from Kevin Crowley on recommendation o Should be on next TEC agenda o Form second group within security topic group to look into NAS recommendation on security? Group didn't make decision. Could suggest state representatives with clearances do the study. - Took RAM Transport Practices Manual suggestions. - Waiting on DOE-OCRWM classification guide. Issued in late Sept. Will work on protocol document thereafter. - Security lessons learned on previous shipments. - State survey: o How security will be handled within tribes. o NRC representative said a policy was under development. o Discussed each draft of questionnaire. o Piloted to KS and MI. o Next week all of other states will get it. Web-based survey. Takes a few hours to fill out because of need to get information from others. o Lessons learned didn't cast net far enough - security incidents.
180(c) Topic Group - Waiting for federal register notice. Being reviewed in OCRWM not, then GC. - Still some unresolved issues between states and federal. - FY 2007 budget does include 180(c) funds. - Apply through grants.gov. Training at TEC meeting. Complicated though. - Why go through grant applications now when situation will be totally different by the time three years out of shipments begin decades from now? Should focus more on assessment of needs at this point. - Might need funds early if shipping to interim storage.
Manual Review Topic Group - Extended deadline for comments/resolution matrix from May 1 to May 15. - Want DOE uniform with NRC, DOE claims "equivalent."
Tribal Topic Group - Update on Indian Policy - 40 Tribes along routes - engaging them - 17 Tribes in NV with cultural ties to Yucca o Interested in Caliente rail corridor now - 7 or so gave comments at TEC - not happy with DOE overall. - 180(c) - Corinne M. - Working with Tribes to determine allocation. Formula considered for states probably wouldn't work for Tribes. Corrine writing paper on how to allocate to tribes. Tribes to create own proposal or provide input after Corrine's paper. - Releasing formal meeting minutes soon.
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National Academy of Sciences Study on SNF Transportation Dr. Kevin Crowley, NAS Study Director
"Going the Distance?" - actually two studies - Initiated by NAS - Original task: o Assess risk levels of SNF and HLW transport in US o Identify key technical and societal concerns o Recommend steps to address them - Expanded study tasks by congressional mandate: o Approached by DOT to assess manner in which DOE selects routes for shipment of research reactor SNF b/t its facilities and recommend improvements. - Pre-publication report released in Feb. 2006
Technical and disciplinary (social science) expertise on committee. Chairman - Neal Lane - physicist, formerly under Clinton.
Bottom-Line Messages: - No fundamental technical barriers to the safe transport of SNF and HLW in US. - A number of social and institutional challenges to the successful initial implementation of large-quantity shipping programs (hundreds to thousands of metric tons). - Malevolent acts against SNF/HLW shipments are a major technical and societal concern. - Committee unable to perform an in-depth examination because of information constraints. Security was not the main concern when the study was conceptualized prior to 9/11 (so committee not set up to accept classified info.). - Independent examination of transportation security should be carried out prior to the commencement of large-quantity shipments to a federal repository or interim storage. Now security a societal concern - so NAS recommends independent (credible) study for this reason, not because it saw a specific need.
Chapter 2 - Package Performance/Testing - Current international standards and US regulations are adequate. - May be a very small number of extreme accident conditions involving very-long-duration fires that could compromise containment effectiveness. Only concern. - USNRC should undertake additional analyses of these scenarios that bound expected real world accident conditions, and implement operational controls/restrictions as necessary to reduce the chances that such conditions might be encountered. - Full-scale testing for determining how packages will perform under both regulatory and credible extra-regulatory conditions - Full-scale testing should continue to be used as part of integrated testing programs to validate package performance - Full-scale testing of packages to deliberately cause their destruction should not be required.
Chapter 3 - Transportation Risk (historical analysis of testing, etc.) - The radiological health and safety risks associated with the transport of SNF/HLW are well understood and generally low, with the possible exception of risks from releases in extreme accidents involving very-long duration fires. - Likelihood of such accidents appears to be very small - their occurrence can be further reduced through relatively simple operational controls and restrictions. - Societal risks - 2 - health and safety, and social risks. Social risks for SNF/HLW transport pose important challenges to implementers. Social risks - perceptions of risk that determine where people live (housing values), where they work, where they shop. - Transportation planners can take early and proactive steps to establish formal mechanisms for gathering advice about social risks and their management. - DOE should create a risk advisory group to obtain advice on social risk characterization, communication, and mitigation. - Selected Results on Comparative Risk o Report provides quantitative comparisons of radiological risks for normal and accident conditions of transport.
- Normal - risk ladder comparing estimated exposures for people involved in Yucca Mountain transport relative to other common exposure types. YM worker - 2 mRem (from EIS). People along Yucca Mountain route extremely low exposure - similar to roundtrip short airline flight.
- Accidents - Complementary cumulative distribution functions for accidents involving SNF and other hazardous materials. No hazardous materials fell below SNF in terms of probability of accident.
Chapter 4 - Research Reactor SNF Routing - DOE's procedures for selecting routes within the US for shipments of foreign research reactor SNF appear on the whole to be adequate and reasonable. - DOT routing regulations are a satisfactory means of ensuring safe transportation provided that shippers actively and systematically consult with states and tribes along potential routes and states follow designation procedures prescribed by DOT.
Chapter 5 - Improving SNF/HLW Transportation in US (looking forward) - Most findings/recommendations apply to other large-quantity shipping programs (e.g. PFS). - Committee did not attempt to undertake a detailed programmatic review of the DOE transportation program. - Recent changes in this program are mentioned in the report. - Strongly endorses DOE's decisions to ship SNF/HLW by mostly rail using dedicated trains. - Recommends DOE fully implement these decisions before commencing large-quantity shipments to repository, and also examine the feasibility of further reducing the need for cross-country truck shipments (or all resources may go to trucking, with none left for rail). - DOE should make public its suite of preferred highway and rail routes as soon as practicable to support state, tribal, local planning. - DOE should follow the practices of its research reactor SNF transport program of involving states and tribes in these route selections. - DOE should negotiate with commercial SNF owners to ship older fuel first to a federal repository or federal interim storage. Should these negotiations prove ineffective, Congress should consider legislative remedies. (NEI - industry wants hottest out first). - DOE should initiate transport to the federal repository through a pilot program involving relatively short, logistically simple movements of older fuel from closed reactors (enough fuel at some sites to support shipping campaigns for year or two). - DOE should begin to immediately execute its emergency responder preparedness responsibilities by taking four steps detailed in report. - Federal agencies should promptly complete the job of developing, applying, and disclosing consistent, reasonable, and understandable criteria for protecting sensitive info about SNF/HLW shipments. They should commit to the open sharing of info that does not require such protection and should facilitate timely access to such info. - DOE Secretary and US Congress should examine the following options for changing the organizational structure of DOE's program for transporting SNF/HLW to a federal repository to increase its chances of success: o Quasi-independent DOE office reporting to upper-level management. o Quasi-government corporation o Fully private organization operated by the commercial nuclear industry Current transport program has to compete with the repository program, etc., and not getting enough attention/funding. Recycling, interim storage may require additional transportation needs, so should be broken off from just Yucca repository program. (Different from WIPP and FRR shipments by waste type, quantity of shipments, and origin/destination).
Report Info - Pre-publication version of report can be ordered online at http://www.nap.edu/. - Report can be read online at http://fermat.nap.edu/catalog/11538.html. - Final printed version expected in June 2006
Q&A: - NRC responses? o NAS - Doing exactly as NAS wishes. o NRC - In addition to two tunnel fires and historical accidents, doing what-ifs. Another study - SNF Transportation Package Response to Extra-regulatory Engulfing Fire Scenario (done in mid-summer). Will combine all results into one big report. o NRC - also, went to AAR and followed suggestions of NAS to restrict passing in tunnels, dedicated train. - Report says - Social challenges to initial shipping campaign. Does this mean NAS thinks it will be safe and public will go along thereafter? o Yes, if running well, social risks will diminish significantly. But, if program gets complacent and sloppy with this confidence, potential danger. - Why dedicated trains? o Long-duration fires - removes a source of flammables o Reduces handling o Less time in transit: shorter distances, fewer stops o Easier to have security escorts o More operational control o Preference of industry, FRR, FRA, DOE, etc. - States in choosing routes - sound risk assessments? o Chapter 4. SC alternative routes to DOT accepted routes not based on assessment/analysis, but preferences. - Involve public in decisions of transport? o States and tribes should have a role in planning as they have in the past. Not general public, other than DOE forming a committee or advisory group to handle perceptions. NAS no recommendation of how it should be done. - Three options for increasing success involves changing the OCRWM organizational body? o DOE doing best it can under difficult circumstances, but underlying organizational problems. This program needs more clout within DOE - and could possibly find it with autonomy and its own financing source. - Independent security assessment. Who could do it and what kind of access to what kind of info would be needed? o An independent security assessment was not recommended because the committee saw a problem, but because they heard outside concerns - technical and social. o NAS is an independent body, even if it is funded by the government because:
- Its members are chosen by an outside group
- Work is reviewed by peer groups
- No financial or contractual conflicts of interest since members are not paid
o For sake of credibility, need independent study.
o In last study, did have a subcommittee of five people with clearances who heard a briefing and determined that this study couldn't go forward with it, but that one should. Would produce a classified and public report.
- Implications of the study findings for S.2589? o Depends on how the act is implemented.
- States that DOE Secretary may take steps to change current recommendations/regulations.
- Current system working well when carried out correctly.
- Believe states and tribes should be involved - particularly in routing.
o Social risks
- Loss of trust
- Amplification of risk
o Loaded provision
- Implications of study for Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)? o Could be transport of SNF to other locations than Yucca, possibly in increased quantities. But decades into the future. Now doing feasibility study. Could mean shipping SNF to a pilot UREX+ facility though. o Interim storage would require transport too. o Either situation would require more cross-country transportation.
- Concerns in West with DOT regulations - exhausting 180(c) - fewer routes in West. o Consult with states and tribes on routes o Process DOE went through with foreign research reactor - took states' advice. o Recommend DOE begins 180(c) process immediately - BUT:
- Work with DHS to have radioactive emergency preparedness trainings, etc. work with all other emergency preparedness needs.
- Emergency preparedness should focus on transportation.
- WIPP shipments - dip south to pick up southern route. Hwy route controlled quantity - must choose shortest/quickest route. o Yucca by rail. NAS recommends finishing rail line before large shipments begin. Shipping oldest first - shipping from closed facilities first (have lots stored and ready to go, so shipments would be full).
- How do you balance security with state/tribal wants? o Chapter five of the study is all about communication.
- Comment - NV strongly endorses 95% of the report - but not the part about the Caliente corridor. It is not clear in study what is meant by "full-scale testing." Also have problems with the exposure bounding ladder.
- Testing, but not to failure - outer limits. What about casks that are in use over long periods of time? o There are examinations and maintenance procedures in place.
- Would this study apply to private shippers? o Covered in Chapter 5. Any large-scale shipping of spent fuel, not just DOE. PFS an example.
- Study recommends starting 180(c) funding already? Even though shipments possibly 20 years out? o Four steps - not training now, but identify veteran emergency responders to help establish program and for institutional knowledge. o When this study's report was written, DOE planned to submit license in 2004.
- Has there been much distortion of NAS report by interest groups? o Report called "white wash" by an environmental group. o Most groups spin to meet their needs.
- Extreme fire scenarios. Doing nothing until testing? o No. Charged NRC with determining if operational controls are necessary. o Explicitly recommended looking at routes for potential problems of long-duration fires, like tunnels.
NRC Perspective on NAS Study Earl Easton, Senior Level Advisor; Transportation Spent Fuel Project Office, NRC
Principle findings: - No barriers to safe transport - Low probability of incident - Safety in packaging - NRC already looking at TADs for risk assessment.
Recommendations: - To implement operational controls and restrictions (NRC doesn't have this power, particularly with railroads) - Additional analysis of very-long duration fire scenarios. o Report on case studies coming out in a few months o 1975-2005 - 20,790,000,000 train miles logged on US railways. 1,726 releases of hazardous materials. 10 fires - example:
- Weyauwega Train Derailment. Pressurized propane fire - but buffer car separation helped prevent fully engulfing fires. Don't need on dedicated trains except between engine and cask - and cask and caboose.
- Full-scale testing:
o Agree to do limited. Doing PPS - NRC proposals. o Should wait until TAD design chosen though.
- Security review: o NRC comment on independent security study - supported from start with this committee, but didn't have clearances (put together prior to 9/11). o NAS group did another study on threats to storage casks (Safety and Security of SNF storage). All systems vulnerable, but releases were not significant. Many parallels to transportation casks. Trying to find way to provide info to states or whomever without compromising security. o NAS - NRC probably doing a lot right, but can't talk much about it. Public trust not high in federal government though, which leads to need for credibility with independent group to lower social risk. Prefers when Agency requests study instead of Congress. More buy-in and coordination. o Security not a new issue. NRC has studied since the 1970s, and has conducted additional comprehensive work since 9/11. NRC believes they have done enough and will continue to do so. If a study materializes though, NRC will support. o NAS - Integrated threat analysis.
Simple fixes: - Dedicated trains - since most derailments involve single train. - No pass rules in tunnels.
NRC is a scientific agency, but will help educate to avoid the social risk mentioned.
NRC agrees with 95% of NAS report as well. Have moved on some recommendations already - take this study very seriously.
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NRC HLW Transportation Activities Update Earl Easton, Senior Level Advisor; Transportation Spent Fuel Project Office, NRC
NRC mostly focused on design of shipping cask. 98% of safety dependent on robustness of the cask.
Studies involving severe fires - Tunnel Fires - highway (Baltimore - buffer cars) and rail (Caldicott). Study for public comment. Final version due in June? - Real-world Rail Accidents o 1975-2005 - 20,790,000,000 train miles logged on US railways. 1,726 releases of hazardous materials. 10 fires - example:
- Weyauwega Train Derailment, 1996. Pressurized propane fire, but buffer car separation helped prevent fully engulfing fires. Don't need on dedicated trains except between engine and cask - and cask and caboose.
- Livingston, LA - Derailment of IL Central Freight Train, 1982. BLEVE of propane train car.
- Akron, OH - Derailment of CSX Freight Train, 1989 (?). Butane.
- Cajon Derailment
o Simple fix? Reduce low accident risk even further with:
- Dedicated trains - severe fires result most often from derailment of a single train.
- No pass rule in tunnels - tunnels most likely to cause fully engulfing (oven).
Package Performance Study - Full-scale testing - NRC committed to going forward with PPS. Suggested in NAS study. o Two types:
- Regulatory tests to demonstrate compliance with 30-foot drop test
- Demonstration tests to how might be expected to perform in real accidents
- Policy Issue - Package Performance Study Status Update (handout). New schedule linked to TAD design. Will include tests of side impact with train.
Foreign Package Testing - Germany (BAM) - 10 drop tests showed no need for changes to cask design. - Russian - cask tests: drop - impact limiters came off, but passed test (no leak); puncture - no breach.
The Honorable Jeffrey S. Merrifield, Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner; U.S. NRC
- Merrifield is former Senate staffer in charge of Superfund waste control risk assessment.
- He has visited every commercial reactor in the U.S. (103) and many foreign reactors.
- He is the only commissioner to accompany a spent fuel shipment.
NRC now preparing to receive the DOE application for Yucca Mountain. Statutorily, NRC required to review a DOE application in 3-4 years after receipt, so they are preparing for it now. They have readied their staff. Have an in-house judicial body to review any staff decisions. Have a document review system in Las Vegas.
Merrifield speech on spent fuel shipments available on NRC website. NRC has overseen thousands of shipments as a regulatory body and conducted activities with international counterparts.
Q&A - Happenings with PFS? o NRC agreed to PFS application for storage of 4,000 casks on an interim basis. o Proposal included rail line through Bureau of Land Mgmt. land, which state of Utah changed to a "wilderness area" by legislation in order to deter PFS. May or may not work. A state highway nearby could possibly be used. Utah denies radioactive materials on its highways, but the commerce clause would probably override it. o PFS demonstrates ability of NRC to license off-site storage.
- Customs issue - checking fake license? o Low activity materials brought across border with fake NRC license. o Creating triage system for questioning. o Changing license so less easy to copy. o Developing tracking system with national database of licenses.
Focusing on radiation 1 and 2 - prioritizing Want to broaden communication with states
- Class B & C going where? SC problems. o Members not part of compact will be affected. o Many hope state of SC will change mind. o NWPA doesn't always work very well. o Envirocare takes Class A. Have considered B & C, but state legislation to allow it a few years ago didn't pass. o Permanent facility in question. Utilities in detective mode. Storing on-site. Volume is down due to waste reduction measures. o The SC facility has room though and is a safe place. o No state wants to be the dumping ground for the nation though. Afraid of being considered that.
- Reprocessing? o US first to do it - PUREX o Occurred in West Valley for awhile, stopped in 70s o Reprocessing in Europe and other allied nations o Now?
- Cost is a factor. It will cost more to reprocess the fuel than to put it in the ground (except with all of the Yucca problems). Congress started talking about it again in the last few years because of the problems with Yucca.
- Could be safe environmentally.
- GNEP - complication is that it intends to use UREX+ which has only been tested on bench scale. Wouldn't see large scale usage for 20 some years - which would be very expensive. (NRC would have to regulate.) If switched to PUREX - which separates out plutonium - could be done quicker and cheaper. UREX+ envisioned not to separate out plutonium though because of proliferation concerns.
- NAS safe transport of SNF and HLW study. What do you think about the suggestion of an independent security review? o NRC didn't partner well enough with NAS during this study, so they didn't get to see much secured information. o NRC is proud of its independence as a regulator. o NRC not enthusiastic about another group coming in to pour through their records. Believe they can do (and have done) competent security studies themselves. o Every NAS report says more research is useful because that is their bread and butter. (Comment - states aren't comfortable with "trust us." o Yes, NRC should be a better communicator. Had a historic meeting with all tribes around Yucca mountain and they thought NRC was a part of DOE.
o If Congress decides another study into security is necessary, so be it. NRC doesn't believe it is necessary.
- NRC - no requirement to ship waste through disposal? Makes groups that are small businesses decide to stockpile waste if they can put off the costs. o On-site storage requires proving to NRC that it is safe and secure. NRC reviews. o Backstop with program with counterparts at DOE - environ., safety, security.
- Shipping guidelines not specific for each state. o Getting more involved with transport after 9/11.
o Putting out guidance documents, but states interpret them differently. Maybe NRC can put more teeth into these docs and adopt a common framework.
- NRC perspective on the future of nuclear power? o We are on the precipice of a second great bandwagon effect of building new power plants. o New designs o Three sites up for early site permits. o Ten utilities on tap for 19-20 plants. o New base load capacity will be needed in future. o Industry realizing that nuclear power is cheaper. May be a carbon tax in the future. o Recent legislation promoting nuclear energy through benefits is just the sprinkles on the cake. It would happen with the legislation. o NRC staffing up to accept many new applications. Hiring 350 new people.
- Education down for nuclear industry jobs though? o Nuclear engineering studies were down four years ago, but in last two years there has been a tremendous ramp up. This type of engineer makes the most money. o Health physicists not increasing to the level we will need though. (Comment - States need these people too, but with funding cuts and DOE and NRC taking them, none left.) o NRC is a fee-based agency, watched by Congress. This doesn't allow them to distribute large grants for such things like attaining or training nuclear employees for plants.
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Private Fuel Storage (PFS) Update John Parkyn, CEO; PFS Brian Rude, Director, External Relations; Dairyland Power Cooperative
TIMELINE Dec. 5 - Supreme Court refused to hear Utah's contention that it had properly enacted five state laws that would block PFS.
Dec. 21 - US Senate passes Defense Department Authorization bill which included a Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area in Utah - part of the state's effort to stymie PFS. The wilderness area would include the land proposed for the rail line to the repository, making it impossible to ship the casks via rail. May use trucks however - interstate commerce clause.
February 13 - PFS receives from NRC the first-ever license for commercial, off-site nuclear waste storage.
Next Steps:
- The state's historic preservation representative has not agreed to a proposal federal agencies say would protect historic properties near a possible new rail line for waste transport to the site. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was unable to sign off on the proposed transport route through public land because of a federal moratorium on planning, but is currently taking public comment on the worthiness of such a project. Instead of the NRC waiting on the approval of both parties, they simply left the proposal open for resolution in the license.
- The NRC license requires that PFS acquire - in addition to financial commitments - the approval of the BLM, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Surface Transportation Board before construction of the facility may begin.
Current - Updating final safety analysis report. Uncertain when BLM will decide on allowances after comment period. BIA to sign off first. Courts - Utah political pressure against PFS (suit against NRC licensing).
BACKGROUND: Parkyn worked on the 1982 act as a utility worker. Included reprocessing, repository, and interim storage if the 1998 date was not met. 1987 amendments blocked these recommendations. PFS trying to fulfill one part of the original Act.
Eight shut down sites now waiting to do something with waste. Other on-site storage at working reactors.
Latest date on Yucca given is 2020. PFS has a license now.
Q&A: - Regulatory and legal hurdles? o State has the right to appeal regulatory agency decision at federal level. UT did. Now at DC circuit. May decide to take the case this summer. o Two past appeals did have oral arguments. This may too, then briefings (in following weeks). Could run until fall. Final decision probably over a year.
- Receive fuel in 2008? o Could, but depends on court decision. o Been at process 12 years. o Probably won't happen before that. Probably not even then - three years more likely b/c construction time to receive optimal delivery of spent fuel is 24 months.
- PFS letter in December to Chairs and Ranking members of Senate and House Energy committees. o Just asked them to consider using it. o '82 act amended a thousand times. o Utilities would have to drop damage suits.
- Cost to DOE around $60M per year versus $500M to leave it where it is.
Additional:
- Routing decision. o Working with states not predicated on NRC determinations. o PFS doesn't have a route selection authority - but can nominate. Will take regional suggestions.
- Training along shipping routes? o First responder type training. How to assess radiation levels, etc. How to keep people back. How not to let people run off with components. But not restoration if car falls off track, etc.
- Status of rail car development. o Built, transported to test site in CO. Dummy cask used to demonstrate. Testing and alterations could take 12 months. Procurement of copies of cars - another 12 months.
- Controversy of rail spur. If need to use heavy haul truck, will that take longer? o No. Length of time isn't construction, but quality and demonstration to NRC that can handle. Utilities who do dry storage have had to do this too. o 2, but likely 3 years.
- Status of finding customers? o Talking to groups now, but don't want to mention names for fear of political retribution. o 8 or 9 sites shut down now and only still in existence to store waste. Local people play role for pressuring state governments on moving to interim storage.
- What if waste at PFS is not in containers that will be accepted at Yucca? o Yucca will handle many forms of waste other than TADs. Could be repackage based on Yucca license. Would attempt to take all of NRC certified MPCs.
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Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)/US DOT Jeffrey Moore, HAZMAT Inspector; DOT-FRA Region 2
- Dedicated Train study report. From that - a technical report spawned. FRA working on and should have done soon. Proposed rules in March 07. - SCOP - updates. Final draft by Fall 06. Kevin wants input (info from TEC rail subgroup). A living plan. - Buffalo Derailment - MOU (handout). Human factor cause codes. Conductor gave car counts to engineer although he couldn't see train length. Train shoved. Human error - not resource breakdown. Lessons learned - should be monitored to avoid human error. FRA following up - don't know if any federal action, discipline to conductor. - Short-line rail study. Mel created criteria for it. Weight/speed handling. Long process because so much line to review over entire nation. Three gentlemen handling different regions. SRGs would like to get involved.
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State-Regional Group Projects:
WIEB - Western Interstate Energy Board
- Split responsibilities: WGA - WIPP transport, WIEB - HLW/SNF - Western Gov. meeting June in Sonoma. - Special projects: o Nuclear waste transport primer - huge binder - being updated. Turning into online resource. o Contractor to examine investment planning model designed by Sandia for OCRWM. WIEB will update strategic plan from this. On hold because of funding/security. o Needs assessment project. What corridor/Western states really need to do to prepare for shipments. Scoping exercise to see how to approach this project. Focus on one rural and one urban state in West. - WIEB meeting: o Spoke a lot about S.2589. OR Gov. sent own letter to Secretary of DOE, got response. o GNEP - WIEB submitted comments. o PFS, John Parkyn presentation. Asked WIEB to prepare needs for when PFS begins transport. Utah fighting in court. Wilderness area designated to prevent rail corridor. Truck possible - commerce clause. BLM comment period ended.
WGA - Western Governors' Association - WGA sent letters to chair and ranking of Energy voicing concerns. No response yet. - Lot of time with Lt. Reese on Idaho accident. o Lessons learned summary. Perhaps from Reese and Ralph Smith. o Emphasis on driver responses - shipper ought to push safety over speed. o INL waste removal target for year a factor in rush. - OST - Smoking brake incident - West - six year campaign of active waste shipments.
CSG-MW - Council of State Governments, Midwest - Finished routing process, presented to DOE who had questions which MW responded to. Sarah presented at WM. - Yucca tour. Led WI legislator to consider removing bill to open more reactors when saw that no waste yet at Yucca. Legislators on Yucca tour invited to Cedar Rapids meeting, but didn't attend. Legislators next want to see something "active." Next one at WIPP in fall. - Were going to do a local officials workshop - Indian Point, MN. To discover lessons learned. Didn't get funded. - State fees. MO legislation. - CSG Intergov. Affairs committee resolution supporting removal of Section 7 from S.2589, and sending letter broadly. - MO, IL, WI, IN writing letters too. - Sent comments in about GNEP EIS demonstration sites. Potential for additional wastes and transport needs, regulatory oversight. - NAS study - MW supports independent review. Partnership with NRC - release package vulnerability assessment to appropriate people in states. Letter to NRC soon. - Revising transport planning guide for shippers.
CSG-ERC - Spring meeting in Atlantic City/Oyster Creek Tour. Similar agenda. - Task force - rail routing identification study going on now. - Updating shipping manuals - Enhanced public outreach projects - contact networks, public meetings - Vermont Yankee - applying for storage. - Sponsoring and energy conference next week in Boston. - Barge study will follow rail study. - Northeast has no WIPP shipments
SSEB Regional Update - Update on SSEB spring meeting in Bethesda in April. - Possible letter about federal legislation, S.2589. - Pilot program for 180(c) - will pick two states. Included in current budget request.
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State Reports:
CA: - Nuclear policy and energy booklets, recommendations - Dry cask storage at reactors (one underground) - All out of Lawrence Livermore by 2014 - Plutonium consolidated, NNSA to decide.
CO: - Dry storage facility still there - First responder exercise going on now
CT: - Strontium 90 contamination goat report. Didn't find anything in data. - Exercise next week. - Lawsuit against re-licensing power reactor ongoing, even though they were re-licensed by the NRC.
DE: No shipments since last November. Monitoring Salmon and Hope Creek. Dry cask storage at Hope Creek. KI for citizens - 65% of citizens on board. KI working group. DE-NJ plume exercise. Ingestion exercise scheduled in 2010. Gov. and cabinet member visited Yucca this year.
ID: - GNEP, an eastern Idaho group expressed interest. - DOE and Foster-Wheeler agreed to dissolve contract, now deciding what to do
IL: - Letter to NRC to share security info. - Opposition to Section 7 of S2589 - Peer review under CVSA in June
IN: - Toll road leased to Spanish consortium - Now in the Indiana Supreme Court - 80/90 corridor - will this alter any HLW transport plans? - OH and PA will undoubtedly look into this. PA has already started.
IA: - Fee system handout for transportation of all materials. - Now fees for nuclear materials, not just waste.
KS: - Wolf Creek exercise - 90% of fees going to Wolf Creek, 10% to Cooper - Fee schedule - decided to wait out this election year, but program needs support - dedicated rather than just state funds. - Vulnerability studies into chemical and hazardous substances.
ME: 60 casks ready to go. Maine Yankee completed D&D. Final radiological survey underway. First year of a five year groundwater study. Quarterly meetings with Maine police and emergency responders regarding radiological response - accident or terrorism. State concerned about TAD - want their casks to be grandfathered since they used NRC-approved containers when packaged. Concerns with competence proposal in federal legislation.
MA: Exercise in April. Plume exercise in October. Getting ready to ship low-level waste from Pilgrim to Barnwell in the next few weeks. Getting route from station itself. Nuclear unrest - 10 miles to 20 miles since towns are portioned. Town of Plymouth trying to tap Pilgrim funds to Yucca for local security. Yankee D&D done by end of summer. Three comprehensive reviews this year for Pilgrim, Seabrook, and BY. Utility mergers.
MI: - Two Nordion shipments per week - No fees - inspect sampling, but don't escort - Fermi exercises (ingestion pathway) - Radiation portal monitors for power plants
MN: - Prairie Island dry cask storage. Getting 21st cask - can hold 29. - Monticello - seeking permit for dry cask storage there. - Diablo Canyon example though - must look into possible terrorist threat. - Intense Governor's race this year. - Prairie Island exercise - Looking at HLW transport legislative changes - maybe to fee, inspection, etc. Not much transport now, except out of state. Maybe in 2008. - Increase in tribal jurisdiction for emergency planning. New willingness to participate. - Feb. 2007: Pre-distribution of iodide to people living near nuclear power plants. - Federal guidance and resource available. Pharmacies in 10-mile radius of plant are offering. Fee assessed to plants eventually to keep system going over years. Mass education later this fall. Wisconsin not distributing.
MO: - Fee bill - passed Senate. One more vote needed in the House, but they ran out of time (based on IL and IA fees - waste and product). Will reintroduce next year. - Fernald shipments through their districts. o LLW to be dealt with by trained locals. Anything higher is escorted. o LLW fee to communicate to locals. - Need to work closer with DOE to determine who will pre-notify locals of shipments - Incident: LLW truck rear-ended. State contacts not notified for three hours. Should include timing in guides. What characteristics signify an "incident?" - Fernald didn't notify them that shipments had ended.
NE: - Fort Calhoun license restored. Dry storage there and at another site. - Cobalt a go - Columbus online this year. - Power plant exercises in June and July. Cooper dress rehearsal, another exercise. - Legis. passed bill authorizing charging for calibration of measurements. - State bought kits on calibration equipment.
NV: - Heavily involved in pre-licensing activities. Believe license long way off, if ever. Believe Yucca in very bad shape - much more than DOE admitting. - Have hired staff of lawyers just in case. - Technical contractors on board. - Litigation pending with DOE's model decision and Caliente Corridor. Fully argued in courts last October. Waiting on decision. Could require new documentation. - Looking at Caliente Corridor to respond to EIS when DOE finishes. (Bob) - NAS Study review by Bob. - Contracting work on cask testing. Consensus happening. Update at next meeting.
NJ: New governor dealing with the budget, raising taxes. Merger - public service gas and Excelon. Oyster Creek - license renewal (oldest power plant in country). Up in 2009 - undergoing review. Problems with container liner rusting. Local hearing next year. Spent fuel pad at Oyster Creek - 16 canisters in dry storage. If re-license, will need to expand. Salem - spent fuel pool leak into ground water, but not near drinking water.
NM: - Doing a WIPP exercise with Northern Pueblos. Locals to handle response. Tribal sovereignty. - Tribes have right to kick them off if accident. - Tribe will only back up sound judgement. - Q - Carlsbad and Nie Counties interested in GNEP? NM - Yes. Trying to get any nuclear project money. NV - and maybe even Lincoln. NV earthquake zone though. University research folks - legislature no problem with.
OH: - Viva Valley nuclear in PA joint exercise on June 28-29. o Have had a dry run already - 2 bills (don't believe either will pass this year): o HB 130 - Study commission for SNF/HLW transport through state (third hearing) o HB 131 - Establishes fees for trading and other state activities (one hearing) - Inspecting at facilities relative to transport - KI (iodide?) - Ohio does have a KI policy. Distributes to public within 10 miles of plant. Initial batch paid for by NRC - nothing planned for future. They oppose extending that out to 20 miles, since those people would be long since evacuated in an emergency and they have no training.
OR: - GNEP, alternative likely in draft EIS - test reactor at Hanford, sodium cooled. Look at starting reactor as one of the alternatives. - Cooling tower at Trogan being imploded May 21.
PA: Negotiations with NRC on documentation for Canada company. DHS review of power plant based on security and EMA. Some shortfalls. Will look at other four plants by mid of next year. Exercises - plume tracker (scenario module). Dry cask storage at Susquehanna.
SC, Savannah River Site: - Most shipments are LLW - 3 to 4 shipments to WIPP a week, 60-80 planned - SNF shipments irregular and transported by truck and rail - 10 receipts planned for domestic research reactor program - 2 shipments from foreign research reactor program (from Charleston to SRS) - D&D progressing, but may slow down due to budget - as other programs at SRS are.
TN, Oakridge: - 2005 - over 10,000 shipments (traverses almost every state in SSEB) - 2006 significantly less because of haul road - 2005: o Rail to Envirocare, truck to NTS o LLW shipments out. All legacy waste gone. o K-25 cleanup o Preparations for CH TRU waste shipping, TRU processing project at WPF. o Incoming 1100 M3, Processing started in Dec. 2005. o Safely transported 2,289 cylinders from ETTP cylinder yard to Portsmouth. - Future: o 22 million spent on haul road. o 188 truck shipments of UF6 to Piketon, etc. o RH TRU Debris - start in 2007 possibly.
UT: - Two routes PFS could use - rail and intermodal for truck - BLM 90 day comment period to end Monday. Need to approve lease. A state road that was given to county and taken back by state when PFS came along. State maintains. - EnergySolutions submitted interest in GNEP. Commercials locally say reprocessing not necessary with PFS. They want to be part of reprocessing outside of UT. - PFS court case. Briefing schedule in next two weeks. Ended by end of summer. Will ask for oral arguments. Decision within a year. Hired real lawyers.
VT: Big three for VT Yankee - power upgrade (running at 120%), dry cask on-site storage (got state approval when Entergy assured could financially support through 2082 - asking for third party bond), license renewal (reviewing just now. Legislature created bill for public service board to consider approval. Legislature must also approve.)
WA: - Challenge to WA Cleanup Priority Act. Heard May 23. Judge to rule by maybe end of July. Voters passed in 2004 - can't accept new waste until complies with state and federal regulations. Feds challenging based on commerce clause. - 60 minutes briefed Gov. that would do the piece. Month and a half since they recorded the piece. Certain employees not allowed to be out there at the time. Accurate report. Problems, cost overruns, everyone frustrated, but can't stop.
WI: - State Transportation planning group. Had gone out of service lately. - Now working with emergency planners now to recreate group - has met twice in last six months. CSGMW has attended. - Reactor decommissioning - shipping vessel out June 2007 to Barnwell primarily by rail. Similar to MI one two years ago. - Don't want to assess state fees because don't want responsibility of creating infrastructure of emergency responders and escorting shipments.
WY: No reactors, no spent nuclear fuel.
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Other Transport Incidents:
1) January Incident
Brakes smoking. Fort Hall Tribal Dispatch called to report. When Reese looked on TRANSCOM, saw trucks moving.
Called CMR - not helpful.
Stopped shipment at Inkom Port of Entry and admitted brakes were tight and smoking.
Brake turned out to be ok, and shipment was released.
Tribal officials notified - good relationship with them.
Casey Gadbury called and briefed on the incident.
Issues: - No local notifications were made. - TRANSCOM not used properly - No CMR/TCC notifications were made by phone - Resulted in unnecessary ER from state and tribal
Mentioned incident to Dennis Ashworth who hadn't heard about it - agreed it was significant. DOE decided not to report it - didn't qualify.
Any incident that brings out ER should be reported as an incident.
January meeting issues: - Driver hours - Road conditions - Notification of state police communications - Driver qualifications - January incident - December crash - reflective tape on TRUPACTs. Problems with decontam. Maybe reflective paint. Bring up tomorrow. - Driver shouldn't be penalized for stopping if it's the right thing!
2) Colorado Transportation Minor Incident Captain Allen Turner, Colorado State Patrol
Driver pulled over by Denver police sergeant who asked him for his license and escorted him to Invesco Field to review info. Should have refused to go anywhere and called before left designated route. Driver never called, even after back on road toward Carlsbad
Want to make sure drivers are required to get CMR approval (DOE and state) before goes off route - transportation corridor. Can't fear authority of local police.
Another incident with a bomb in a car nearby a shipment. Nothing about it came up on TRANSCOM. All communications purely done by cell phone.
Comment - so drivers not getting adequate training.
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