TRANSPORT OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SHIPMENTS OF FOREIGN RESEARCH REACTOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL

As the implementation of the foreign research reactor spent fuel acceptance program approaches its second year and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) receives more shipments, the transport of spent nuclear fuel becomes more routine. However, each shipment always amplifies a new set of issues creating a unique experience for each shipment. Some reactor operators or storage facilities have completed multiple shipments while other reactor operators and facilities are initiating their first shipment. Each reactor operator as well as each country operates by somewhat different requirements and regulations. This paper will review several of the recent shipments to the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina and highlight some of the lessons learned that could be helpful to reactor operators and shippers involved with future shipments.