High-Level Nuclear WasteTransportation
The Department of Energy released the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DEIS) and the Nevada Rail Transportation Corridor and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Rail Alignment for the Construction and Operation of a Railroad in Nevada to a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0250F-S2D and DOE/EIS-0369D) (Draft Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS and Draft Rail Alignment EIS).
The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS (DOE/EIS-0250F-S2D) analyzes the potential impacts of constructing and operating a railroad to connect the Yucca Mountain repository site to an existing rail line near Wabuska, Nevada (in the Mina rail corridor). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS analyzes the Mina rail corridor at a level of detail commensurate with that of the rail corridors analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0250F). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS also updates relevant information regarding other rail corridors previously analyzed in the Yucca Mountain FEIS (Carlin, Jean, and Valley Modified) to identify any significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns.
The Rail Alignment EIS (DOE/EIS-0369D) analyzes the potential impacts of railroad construction and operation
along common segments and alternative segments within the Caliente (selected in a previous Record of Decision,
69 Federal Register 18557) and Mina rail corridors for the purpose of determining an alignment for the construction
and operation of a railroad for shipments of spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and other materials
from an existing rail line in Nevada to a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. The Rail Alignment EIS also
analyzes the potential impacts of constructing and operating support facilities.
Supplemental Rail Corridor and Rail Alignment Environmental Impact Statements (very large file at 122 MB)
Scoping meetings were held accross the State of Nevada and the Summary of public comments, May 2007 [pdf] can be viewed here (leaving Mineral's website). Click here for the public scoping comments taken at the Hawthorne, Nevada convention center in November, of 2007.
Besides the map at the right, instructions to view the Nevada rail corridors by using Google Earth can be seen by clicking here.
How to use Google Earth® to view the rail corridors
What is 180c?
Under Section 180(c) of the NWPA, DOE shall provide technical and financial assistance for training of local public safety officials to States and Indian Tribes through whose jurisdictions the DOE plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste to a facility authorized under Subtitle A or C of the NWPA (NWPA-authorized facility). The training is to cover both safe routine transportation and emergency response procedures. The Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of revised proposed policy to set forth its revised plans for implementing Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (the NWPA) with a deadline for stakeholders to comment ending in October, 2007.
Prior Public Comments on Section 180c from 1998 (DOE Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste website)
To access the index of Public Comments in Response to the Notice of Revised Proposed Policy and Procedures for Safe Transportation and Emergency Response Training for year 2007 and 2008 please click here.
To access the Mineral County Board of County Commissioners comments to Section 180c please click here.
How the NRC Regulates The NRC regulates spent fuel transportation through a combination of safety and security requirements, certification of transportation casks, inspections, and a system of monitoring to ensure that requirements are being met. For general information, see the page. For details, see the following pages.
Selection of Transportation Route The U.S. Department of Energy has selected the Caliente Rail Corridor as the future rail route for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste traveling within Nevada to reach a repository at Yucca Mountain (see the Record of Decision and the Federal Register notice). If the repository is licensed, shipments could begin as early as 2010. Although the Energy Department had placed the Mina route on the back burner in 1991 when the Walker River Paiute Tribe served notice it would not allow nuclear waste to be moved through its reservation recent communications from the tribe show they have withdrew their long-held objections. This new information has prompted the DOE department lawyers to explore how the route might be re-evaluated for shipping high-level radioactive waste. Transportation experts said early studies indicated a rail line 209 miles from Mina to Yucca Mountain could be much less expensive and faster to build than a 319-mile rail corridor originating in Caliente that DOE is characterizing in an environmental impact study. Department officials want to examine a path along Union Pacific Railroad track south from Winnemucca, crossing east of Fallon, through the Walker River Indian Reservation to Hawthorne....rest of the story. A safe, dependable transportation system is a crucial component in the operation of a permanent geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) requires the U.S. Department of Energy transport the spent fuel from the reactor sites to the repository. As required by the NWPA, the shipping containers used to transport the spent nuclear fuel will be certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. These shipping containers are designed to maintain their integrity under normal transportation and accident conditions and must provide protection against radiological release to the environment. All shipments will be made in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation and NRC regulations. In accordance with the transportation provisions of the NWPA, the DOE will transport under contract the delivery of commercial spent nuclear fuel. Section 180(c) of the NWPA requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance and funds to States for training of public safety officials of appropriate units of local governments and Native American Tribes through whose jurisdictions the Secretary plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste. Related Information State of Nevada and Air Force Correspondence ("Developing Transportation Routes to Yucca Mountain -- Nellis Range Chalk Mountain Route") Map depicting the proposed Chalk Mountain Heavy Haul Route. On line videos of Transportation Cask Tests Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation February 10, 2005 State of Nevada Views on the Proposed Caliente Rail Corridor Presentation to U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Caliente, NV Fact Sheet: Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste to a Repository (Prepared By State of Nevada, Nuclear Waste Project Office) Will Nuclear Waste Travel Through Your State? (Prepared By State of Nevada, Nuclear Waste Project Office) DOE offer's transportation brochures State of Nevada Nuclear Waste Transportation Webpage Highway, Rail and Barge Routes to Yucca Mountain Counties Affected by Truck Transportation to Yucca Mountain Yucca Mountain: Frequently asked questions Which was the first country to test a nuclear weapon? How many warheads does Russia have? Who's part of the elite nuclear club? For answers to these and other questions, check out interactive maps. Provided by CNN.com. National Map of Waste Locations Interactive Maps Waste Acceptance and Transportation activities at the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management concentrate primarily on the acceptance and subsequent transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from commercial and government-owned sites to a proposed geologic repository at the Yucca Mountain Site in Nevada. Waste acceptance is the formal process of taking title to and physical possession of waste from commercial and government-owned sites. The process includes establishing annual acceptance allocations, verification of waste data, and managing contractual and legal issues associated with waste acceptance. Transportation of nuclear waste will be conducted in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Transportation regulations. The waste will be transported in NRC-certified casks along approved transportation routes. Additionally, technical assistance and funding will be provided to States and Indian Tribes for training in safe routine transportation procedures and emergency response, in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation Brochure(OCRWM—DOE) Cut-a-way of a drift with three types of waste packages From the State of Nevada's Nuclear Projectswebsite Statement by Kenny Guinn, Governor of the State of Nevada - Opening statement from Congresswomen Shelly Berkley to the Joint Hearing on Transportation of Spent Rods to the Proposed Yucca Mountain Storage Facility Written Testimony by Dr. Marvin Resnikoff to the Transportation Subcommittees, Testimony from Robert Halstead, Written testimony of Professor James David Ballard before the Transportation Subcommittees. External Regulation and Review The Department of Energy's (DOE) Yucca Mountain Program is regulated and reviewed by experts in the following organizations: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission management system, including the repository and transportation casks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - establishes radiation protection standards for the protection of the public from the activities associated with the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. The U.S. Department of Transportation - regulates the routing of highly radioactive materials, including spent nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board evaluates the technical and scientific validity of site characterization activities and activities relating to the packaging or transportation of high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel. The U.S. General Accounting Officeupon Congressional request, audits and prepares special reports on the U.S. Department of Energy's activities on the Yucca Mountain Project. The State of Nevada and Affected Units of Local Government - provide oversight of Yucca Mountain Project activities. (See links page for each website) Will nuclear waste pass your neighborhood? DOE offers transportation brochures State of Nevada Nuclear Waste Transportation Webpage Highway, Rail and Barge Routes to Yucca Mountain Counties Affected by Truck Transportation to Yucca Mountain Yucca Mountain: Frequently asked questions Interactive Maps Which was the first country to test a nuclear weapon? How many warheads does Russia have? Who's part of the elite nuclear club? For answers to these and other questions, check out interactive maps. Provided by CNN.com. National Map of Waste Locations Waste Acceptance and Transportation activities at the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management concentrate primarily on the acceptance and subsequent transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from commercial and government-owned sites to a proposed geologic repository at the Yucca Mountain Site in Nevada. Waste acceptance is the formal process of taking title to and physical possession of waste from commercial and government-owned sites. The process includes establishing annual acceptance allocations, verification of waste data, and managing contractual and legal issues associated with waste acceptance. Transportation of nuclear waste will be conducted in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Transportation regulations. The waste will be transported in NRC-certified casks along approved transportation routes. Additionally, technical assistance and funding will be provided to States and Indian Tribes for training in safe routine transportation procedures and emergency response, in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation Brochure (OCRWM - DOE) Cut-a-way of a drift with three types of waste packages PDF From the State of Nevadas Nuclear Projects website |
