Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) was in Illinois to complete site visits at the Morris Operation Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and the Dresden Generating Station. These site visits are done to evaluate site infrastructure and near-site transportation infrastructure for the eventual removal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). DOE-NE is not the only organization that takes part in these visits. The Dresden/Morris site visit team consisted of state participants from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) (like Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee (MRMTC) Co-Chair Rodney Pitchford, pictured above with Dresden's vertical cask transporter) and the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). There were also representatives from other federal agencies like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). 



On day one, attendees toured the Morris Operation, its onsite and near-site rail lines, and the SNF pool. On day two, Dresden's dry storage pads, rail lines, and barge slip were evaluated. Day three consisted of a meeting with the Canadian National (CN) Railway to consider their infrastructure in the area and their capabilities to support future SNF rail shipments. Last but not least, day four was spent meeting with area stakeholders from the Illinois legislature and various Grundy County groups. While we will have to wait for the final Dresden/Morris chapters to be added to the Nuclear Power Plant Infrastructure Evaluations for Removal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, it can safely be said that the onsite and near-site infrastructure for Dresden and Morris are in relatively good shape and could be ready to go with some minor improvements. 

In other MRMTC news, the final agenda for the committee's Spring 2022 Meeting is now available! The June 7 half-day meeting will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Annual Meeting of the National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF) in Philadelphia, PA. Attendees will hear updates from their fellow committee members on activities in their states, various work groups, ad hoc working groups (AHWG), and other meetings attended. We will then receive brief updates regarding the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and the upcoming accident exercise demonstration hosted by the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP). There will also be guest presentations focusing on Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP) activities in the Midwest and the progress made at the DOE Portsmouth Site in southern Ohio. As a reminder, travel expenses for committee members are covered by CSG Midwest's cooperative agreements with DOE. If you have any questions about the meeting or reimbursement, please contact Mitch Arvidson (CSG Midwest). 

Obviously, the most important thing regarding the NTSF is the 2022 Annual Meeting of the NTSF next week! However, instead of previewing the meeting here, we will do so in the Focus this Month section below. Instead, this section will be used to introduce and reintroduce the NTSF AHWGs that will be getting going in earnest at the meeting next week. 

SNF Rail/Routing AHWG

This AHWG is reviewing the FRA's revised "Safety Compliance Oversight Plan (SCOP)". This group is still awaiting a copy of the newest SCOP update. The group is also working on the proposed SNF Railcar Inspection Protocol. This protocol integrates inspections required by the FRA, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and seeks to be a reciprocal protocol conducted by upstream inspectors and shared with downstream inspectors. The Midwest members of the SNF Rail/Routing AHWG are Edward Engle (Iowa), Tom Forbes (Ohio), Kelly Horn (Illinois), Jamie Reyes (Nebraska), Waylon Sanford (Michigan), Brian Vercruysse (Illinois), and Mr. Arvidson. 

Section 180(c) AHWG

This AHWG was established to continue to evaluate DOE's proposed policy for Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended. The group will also identify outstanding issues/activities necessary for successful implementation of the policy including, but not limited to, allocation of funds, allowable activities, development of grant guidance documents and a technical assistance plan. The goal of the AHWG is to help DOE consider issues of importance to state, tribal, and other government entities to effectively conduct planning and training for emergency response in support of a national SNF shipping program, document work done through white papers (aka "issue papers") and make that work available to the NTSF community. The Midwest members of the Section 180(c) AHWG are Greg Gothard (Michigan), Swapan Saha (Kansas), Ryan Seabaugh (Missouri), and Mr. Arvidson. 

TEPP AHWG

The TEPP mission is to ensure that federal, state, tribal, and local responders have access to the plans, training, and technical assistance necessary to safely, efficiently, and effectively respond to transportation accidents involving DOE-owned radioactive materials. The TEPP AHWG is established periodically to solicit input from states and Tribes on revisions to sections of the Modular Emergency Response Radiological Transportation Training (MERRTT). The Midwest members of the TEPP AHWG are Christopher Boswell (Iowa), Mr. Gothard, and Tad Rumas (Ohio). 

Spent Fuel Transportation Materials AHWG (no website yet)

The goal of this AHWG is to help DOE effectively and accurately communicate about planned DOE SNF transportation and associate SNF management activities, including federal interim storage. The AHWG will provide input to DOE-NE on developing messaging, strategies, and products to communicate effectively with Tribes, states, the general public, and other stakeholders on SNF transportation and management activities and issues. The Midwest members of the Spent Fuel Transportation Materials AHWG are Sarah Chaney (Indiana) and Mr. Arvidson. 

2022 Annual Meeting of the NTSF

In just four days, about 180 leaders in the field of radioactive materials transportation will convene at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel for the 2022 Annual Meeting of the NTSF. This is the first in-person meeting of the NTSF since 2019 in Arlington, VA. After a three-year hiatus, this year's meeting will surely be memorable. As with every Annual Meeting of the NTSF, it will focus on DOE's planning and execution efforts for the safe transport of radioactive materials and serve as a collaborative gathering point for representatives from federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, private industry and other entities associated with these important issues. Without further ado, let's dive into a preview of the final agenda. 

Monday, June 6

For most, this will be a travel day. However, members of the Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee (TRMTC) will be gathering for their annual meeting. Additionally, users and future users of TRANSCOM, DOE's transportation tracking and communication system, will be having a meeting and training. 

Tuesday, June 7

This is the day the NTSF AHWGs and state regional groups (SRGs) like the MRMTC shine. The four NTSF AHWGs mentioned above will be meeting in the morning and the four SRGs will be meeting in the afternoon. Don't miss the evening Welcome Reception at the Hard Rock Café! 

Wednesday, June 8

Wednesday is the heart of the NTSF's general sessions. Newcomers to the NTSF are invited to learn more about the forum's structure and mission at the Newcomers Orientation Breakfast. Then, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will welcome attendees to the city during the Opening Plenary featuring Indigenous Spirit Dancers and Ben Harp, Senior Advisor for the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM). Next, attendees will hear updates from WIPP and on DOE-NE's consent-based siting initiative before the State of the Forum Luncheon takes a look at past successes and future challenges for the NTSF. Finally, the afternoon will consist of two rounds of four concurrent breakout sessions. This will allow attendees to see two of the four sessions that interest them most. 

Thursday, June 9

Last but not least, Thursday will open with a Plenary Session on sustaining partnerships for DOE transport of SNF. After this morning's plenary, the Closing Session will feature reports from the AHWGs and an announcement of the 2023 meeting location (hosted by the Midwest). Finally, there will be an optional tour of Holtec International's headquarters in Camden, NJ. 

Because of busy preparations for the MRMTC Spring 2022 Meeting and the 2022 Annual Meeting of the NTSF, this month's nuclear news will not summarize news stories, but just provide links for those interested in reading more. 

Good News or Carlsbad News?

• Ruidoso News: Nuke waste shipments to New Mexico from Idaho to increase after retrieval project completed
• Carlsbad Current-Argus: Why the Department of Energy wants $463 million for nuclear waste facility near Carlsbad
• World Nuclear News: Last of legacy TRU waste from SRS arrives at WIPP 

Oh Hey Ohio!

• Toledo Blade: NRC clears Energy Harbor of wrongdoing
• Statehouse News Bureau: Ohio Democratic Party sues DeWine over FirstEnergy, nuclear bailout law records
• Cleveland.com: Federal judge gives initial approval to FirstEnergy paying $180 million to settle House Bill 6 lawsuit 
• EM Update: Nimble Vehicle Demolishes Dust at Portsmouth Site
• Energy News Network: Ohio bill would open door to subsidize next-generation nuclear power work

DOE-NE 1 Filled

• U.S. DOE: Statement by Secretary Granholm on U.S. Senate Confirmation of Dr. Kathryn Huff

Trouble Ahead for Small Modular Reactors? 

• New Scientist: Mini nuclear power stations may produce more waste than large ones
• Regina Leader-Post: Mini Nuclear Reactors Have an Outsized Waste Problem
• Neutron Bytes: Stanford's Questionable Study on Spent Nuclear Fuel for SMRs

Too Little Too Late

• Reuters: U.S. Energy Secretary unsure if Michigan, California nuclear plants will seek subsidies 
• Power: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Closes After 50 Years of Operation, Employees Leave with Pride

Nuclear Waste Goes Viral

• YouTube: We solved nuclear waste decades ago

Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in southwestern Michigan shut down for good last week