ASSESSMENT OF ACCIDENT RISK FOR TRANSPORT OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN USING RADTRAN 5.5

The Yucca Mountain Final Environmental Impact Statement (YMEIS) included an analysis of the radiological impacts associated with the transport of spent nuclear fuel for transport under both incidentfree and accident conditions.[1] Using RADTRAN 5.5, this paper examines radiological impacts under accident conditions assuming more realistic assumptions than those used in the YMEIS. While it is important to use conservative assumptions in the evaluation of the environmental impacts, it is equally important that the public and decision makers understand the conservative nature of the results presented in the YMEIS. This paper will provide that perspective regarding the calculation of accident risk and will summarize the results of a more detailed EPRI report on this subject, “Assessment of Accident Risk for Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel to Yucca Mountain Using RADTRAN 5.5.”[2]