Package Performance Study: A Historical Perspective and Planning for a Path Forward

Journal Article · Mon Oct 30 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Nuclear Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2232988· OSTI ID:2458208

Hay, Laura ^[1]; Maheras, Steven ^[1]; Bickford, Erica ^[2]; Feldman, Matthew ^[1]; Ammerman, Douglas ^[3]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States)
3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The topic of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transportation often draws public attention and concerns regarding safety, and with large-scale shipping campaigns expected in the future, public interest is anticipated to substantially increase. In 1999, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) began an initiative called the Package Performance Study (PPS) that initially focused on SNF transportation cask responses to severe transportation accidents. A public participation approach was to be used to help guide the scope and parameters of the study, which was also to consider using full-scale physical testing of a SNF transportation cask, where appropriate. In 2010, the NRC decided not to go forward with physical testing as proposed. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) conducted a study on SNF and high-level radioactive waste transportation in the United States. The NAS study recommended that full-scale cask testing, as well as other accepted methodologies, continue to be used as part of the package performance evaluation. In 2012, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) recommended conducting the PPS with a full-scale rail transportation cask for the purpose of building public trust and confidence in the safety of SNF transport. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) restarted a consent-based siting process, focusing on how to site federal facilities for the interim consolidated storage of SNF using a consent-based approach. Large-scale SNF transportation would be necessary for any such interim storage facility. As the planning activities begin for future large-scale shipping campaigns, the DOE is considering options for conducting a DOE-led PPS to help build public trust and confidence in the transportation of SNF. Therefore, the DOE is gathering information related to the previous NRC-led PPS efforts, as well as applicable international experience with the testing of SNF packages. This paper discusses previous NRC efforts, as well as the current status of a DOE-led PPS, which is in the early planning stages.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition. Office of Integrated Waste Management
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2458208
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA--183002
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 210; ISSN 0029-5450
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PPS
Package performance study
public participation approach
spent nuclear fuel
transportation