STATUS OF NRC’s PACKAGE PERFORMANCE STUDY

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a study to demonstrate the robustness of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transportation casks and enhance public confidence in their design by performing a full-scale test of a SNF transportation cask under realistic conservative accident conditions. This study is known as the Package Performance Study (PPS). The current regulatory requirements, as specified in Title 10, Part 71, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR Part 71)[1], require drop testing of a scale model of a transportation cask or another appropriate method acceptable to the NRC Commission, and do not require full scale testing of a SNF transportation cask under realistic conservative accident conditions. This paper provides a brief history of staff and Commission actions for the PPS. In addition, it will update the international community on the PPS since the discussion at PATRAM 2004. This includes detailed information on test parameters as directed by the Commission and anticipated test schedule. However, the proposed test parameters are not the final word on this issue and the project is subject to additional modifications and Commission direction.