1. Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel By: Matthew R. MacDougall Nuclear Engineer of Oregon State University Sponsored by American Nuclear Society August 1 st, 2012

2. Overview Background Policies to date Applications Recommendations

3. Issue Definition Decrease dependence of fossil fuels 1 fuel pellet equals… Bad part: produces spent nuclear fuel

4. Types of Waste Low level Transuranic (medium) High level

5. Spent Nuclear Fuel Product of the Fission Process Contains 2 main types of isotopes ◦Actinides (Pu-240, U-238, Th-232) ◦Fission Products (Tc-99, I-129, Cs-137)

6. SNF Storage Methods Fuel Flow Chart New Fuel Final Repository Temporary On Site Storage Interim Storage Site Reprocess Reactor

7. Governmental Policies To Date Nuclear Waste Policy Act (1982) Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendment (1987) ◦Both need amending to legally pursue a new storage method Recommendations ◦Blue Ribbon Commission  Appointed by DOE  8 recommendations on SNF management

8. Overseeing Groups 3 Main Agencies Dictated by NWPA ◦Department of Energy (DOE) ◦Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ◦Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

9. Interests And Values At Stake Nuclear Waste Fund Safety Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) Consent from state

10. Policy Alternatives On-Site Storage Dry cask storage Minimal transportation Using reactor security Small space available

11. Policy Alternatives Interim Consolidated Storage One of the recommendations by BRC ‘Staging Area’ Consolidate waste - safer Takes some pressure off DOE Transportation still an issue Needs self security and construction

12. Transporting Issues Biggest convenience of on-site storage (lack of transportation) No spills thus far Tests ◦Fuel Cask TestingFuel Cask Testing Terrorism ◦Blow up casks ◦Stealing  Self-protecting

13. Policy Alternatives Long-Term Storage Very confusing ◦Lots of policies up in the air Closing of YM

14. Waste Isolation Pilot Program Carlsbad, New Mexico Storage of Transuranic Waste Example of successful storage ◦Very different than HLW though Environmental Evaluation Group (EEG) ◦Way of promoting consent

15. Recommendations SNF ◦Increasing issue ◦Can’t keep on putting it off ◦Repository necessary Interim storage ◦Safe, consolidated storage ◦Transportation very safe Long time to construct implement, need to start now!

16. Special Thanks to…. Dr. Alan Levin Nuclear Energy Institute Richiey Hayes and Carrol Berrigan The Washington Internship for Students of Engineering Program American Nuclear Society Erika Wissolik Bill Behn Craig Piercy Mauricio Gutierrez Michael O’Connell