Developing a New Generation of Spent Fuel Casks

The Department of Energy (DOE) has been authorized under the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA), and its 1987 amendment to develcp a national program for the disposal of nuclear spent fuel and high level radioactive waste. One of the responsibilities derived from the NWPA is to provide a means of transporting the waste material from reactors to a final disposal site. In addition a temporary disposal facility might be used in the program. The NWPA places a number of significant requirements on DOE. These include use of private industry to the maximum extent possible, development of a transportation system that is not only safe, but efficient as well, and the stipulation that transport of spent fuel be subject to licensing and regulation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Department of Transportation (DOT).