Two more NTSF web sessions are scheduled for the coming weeks. The first, "What to Inspect When You're Expecting Spent Nuclear Fuel Shipments: Regulations and Technology," will take place on June 9 at 1 PM Central Time. Partly in response to discussions of the NTSF SNF Rail/Routing Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been considering their origin site inspection program for SNF shipments. The first part of this session will explore the NRC's assessment of the current inspection program, and ideas for how it might be updated in the future. The second part of this session will explore technologies currently being developed to help conduct inspections, and mitigate potential damage, of SNF storage casks. These technologies could be useful in conducting pre-transportation inspections of the storage casks. You can register for this web session here. 

The second, "Department of Transportation (DOT) - Grant Funding Opportunities for Tribal, State & Local Governments," is tentatively scheduled for June 29. This session will include a DOT presentation on Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) funding opportunities for Tribes and states. This funding can be used to plan for transportation of radioactive waste, as well as for emergency preparedness in connection to shipments. Registration for this session will be launched soon and announced via the NTSF mailing list. If you are not on the NTSF mailing list and want to be added, please contact Mitch Arvidson. 

In other NTSF news, the location for the 2021 NTSF Annual Meeting was announced during the "Federal Agency Updates" session (described below) on May 19. Anuradha Nair, South Carolina's representative on the Southern States Energy Board's (SSEB) Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee, announced that the 2021 meeting will be held in Charleston, SC, in June. 

Finally, the second NTSF Quarterly Newsletter of the year was published on May 14th. If you haven't read it yet, check it out here! 

It May Not Be Scottsdale, but These NTSF Web Sessions Are Keeping Stakeholders Informed and Engaged 

In March, DOE and the Western Governors' Association (WGA) made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 NTSF Annual Meeting to help protect the health and safety of attendees and their families in light of COVID-19. Some content from the Annual Meeting's agenda has been, and is continuing to be, converted to a series of web sessions. 

The first session, "Federal Agency Updates," took place on May 19. This session featured updates from DOE's Office of Packaging and Transportation (OPT), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), and Carlsbad Field Office/Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (CBFO/WIPP). The DOT's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the NRC also gave updates on their recent activities. According to one attendee, this session was not only "informative," but also a "nice alternative to an in-person meeting and allowed for widespread participation to hear the topics." 

	Carlos Corredor presents during the "Radiation 101" session

The second session, "Radiation 101," took place on May 27. Presented by Carlos Corredor, Health Physicist with the DOE Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security, this session offered a beginner-level overview of several radiation topics. Carlos covered the basics of radiation, radiation protection, radiobiology, and detection. According to one attendee, the "presenter did an excellent job on radiation 101 and his experience in the field showed in his presentation." This session is a perfect starter for newcomers to the NTSF or those without a scientific background. 

The third, and most recent, session, "NRC - Packaging Procedures and Shipping Notifications Overview," took place yesterday, June 3. This session provided an overview of NRC regulations and procedures related to radioactive materials packaging approval, shipping notifications, and route approvals. The speakers (Gerry Jackson, Bernie White, and David Pstrak) discussed Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 71 in relation to NRC certificate holders' and licensees' responsibilities. They also highlighted how NRC regulations interact with corresponding DOT regulations, including those applicable to highway route controlled quantities (HRCQ) of radioactive material. One attendee thought that "having multiple presenters covering different topical aspects of the overall webinar focus is especially beneficial and adds to the value of the information covered. Also appreciate having the session recorded for future use and reference." 

That attendee is absolutely correct. Right now, you can view the recordings of these sessions, as well as the slides and other materials, from the NTSF wiki site:  http://ntsf.wikidot.com/webinars. If you are not a member of the NTSF wiki site, please contact Mitch Arvidson. If you have attended any of these web sessions, the NTSF hopes you enjoyed them, and hope you can join us for the last two. 

A Historic Shipment 

The Nevada DOT faces a very difficult radioactive material shipment, not because of the content's radioactivity, but because of its sheer size. The 770-ton nuclear reactor vessel from the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Southern California currently sits somewhere near Las Vegas. It reached its current location via the 36-axle Schnabel rail car, the world's largest. From there it will be trucked north through eastern Nevada before arriving at Energy Solutions' radioactive material disposal facility in Clive, UT. The reactor vessel could not be shipped via rail to Salt Lake City, then trucked west because rock outcroppings and two tunnels on the Union Pacific line would be too tight for the shipment. 

The reactor vessel shipment crosses the Santa Ana River at Orange, CA, on May 25. (Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Before the truck shipment can occur, the Nevada DOT needs to reinforce culverts and drainage structures along the highway. Energy Solutions is leading the decommissioning of SONGS and hired Emmert International to complete the delivery. When completed, the reactor vessel will go down as the heaviest and biggest object ever moved on Nevada's roads. 

The Las Vegas Review-Journal and The San Diego Union-Tribune have further details. 

Thanks to Erica Bickford for sharing this story! 

Updates From Our Neighbors to the North

Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) will soon begin field studies at one of its proposed SNF repository sites in South Bruce, Ontario. This was announced to the South Bruce Council on May 26. The field studies will include borehole drilling, geophysical studies, environmental monitoring, indigenous cultural verification, etc. Studies will also continue at the proposed Ignace site, in northwestern Ontario. The organization plans to choose a single, preferred site by 2023. NWMO has taken careful steps to involve the South Bruce community, and the local Indigenous population, in its process. 

Despite NWMO's attempts, opposition in the South Bruce area is growing. South Bruce Mayor Bob Buckle has expressed support for the project in the past, especially for its job, revenue, and infrastructure prospects. But, a citizen's group, "Nuclear Tanks, No Thanks," was formed in February and currently has about 1,800 signatures opposing the repository. The group has called for a referendum, but Mayor Buckle says a referendum is impossible at this point because the community is still in a learning phase and more information is needed. He has also noted that if NWMO hasn't made a decision by October 2022, the community's voice will be heard during that month's municipal election. 

World Nuclear News and Owen Sound Sun Times have more coverage. 

New International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Report 

The IAEA recently published a report called "Safety Analysis and Licensing Documentation for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities." According to its description, "This publication gives practical information and examples on safety analysis principles and methods as well as the contents of licensing documentation needed to support application of IAEA safety standards to nuclear fuel cycle facilities." 

You can find the report  here. 

Thank you to Steve Maheras for sharing this report!