PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE K-BASlN SPENT FUEL

This paper describes the design of the cask/transportation system and the influence of the existing facilities in the development of that design. The designs of the cask, the cask loading system, the cask handling system, and the trailer for transporting the cask will be discussed. Details of radiological evaluations during operation will be presented as will a description of the operations sequence. The development of the design criteria, much of which was dictated by the constraints imposed by the unique characteristics of the existing 50 year old facility, the operating constraints imposed by the large number of high priority shipments and the spent fuel pool environment, and the complex interface requirements with other equipment and facility designs will be highlighted. The bases for the conclusion that the design satisfies the site safety requirements will be discussed. The design of the system was largely dictated by the existing facility constraints and limitations imposed by the shear number of shipments required over a relatively short two year period. As the entire DOE Waste Complex moves away from wet storage of spent fuel, this situation will be encountered at many DOE facilities and the experience with this system may be useful infonnation for others.