Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

Although used nuclear fuel is a solid material and cannot leak out of its containers, it is highly radioactive and must be completely surrounded by water or layers of steel and other materials to prevent radiation from reaching the environment.

Shipping casks containing used nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste are the safest transportation containers ever built. Each shipping cask must meet rigid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Transportation requirements to ensure the containers are not breached in the event of an accident. And these massive, vault-like containers are designed to withstand the most severe accidents that can ever occur in the United States. For example, used fuel shipping containers must meet the following engineering and safety criteria before the NRC certifies them:

A 30-foot free fall onto an unyielding surface.
A drop from 40 inches onto a 6-inch wide steel spike.
A 30-minute exposure to fire at 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit that engulfs the entire container.
Total submersion of that same container under three feet of water for eight hours. (Containers are also subject to separate testing under 50 feet of water for eight hours.) In addition to the above NRC criteria, extensive full-scale tests (see photos below) were conducted in the 1970's and 80's on used fuel transportation casks, including:
Running a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying a used fuel container into a concrete wall at 84 miles per hour.
Placing a container on a tractor-trailer that was broadsided by a rocket-assisted 120-ton diesel locomotive traveling 65 miles per hour.

The vehicles in these tests were demolished, but the containers retained their integrity demonstrating that they would have kept their radioactive cargo safely inside.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates all shippers of radioactive materials. In addition to highway routing, the DOT regulates packaging, labeling, shipping papers, personnel training, loading and unloading, handling, and transportation vehicle requirements.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the use of radioactive materials, including the licensing and regulation of all shippers and carriers of radioactive material. The NRC also regulates container design and manufacturing to ensure that the shipping containers maintain their integrity under routine transportation conditions and severe accidents. The NRC also examines shipping routes to ensure the security of used fuel shipments

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for transporting, storing and disposing of used fuel from nuclear power plants. Used nuclear fuel can be shipped only along specified rail and highway routes. The DOE selects the routes, but individual states participate in the designation process.

Since 1964, there have been more than 2,900 shipments of used nuclear fuel over U.S. highways and railroads from nuclear power plants, government research facilities, naval submarines, universities and industrial facilities. In total, there have been four accidents involving containers loaded with fuel. No radiation was released in any of these accidents. A proven system of precautions and strict regulations has contributed to the industry's exemplary safety record.



	General Information ownership directions press room links Site Closure Decommissioning building demolition updates large comp removal/ship other decomm projects Fuel Storage federal responsibility fuel transportation License Termination radiation background radiation Community Board members charter meeting minutes Regulatory Reports NRC Other		SAFELY TRANSPORTING USED FUEL Shipping Container Safety Tests Although used nuclear fuel is a solid material and cannot leak out of its containers, it is highly radioactive and must be completely surrounded by water or layers of steel and other materials to prevent radiation from reaching the environment. Shipping casks containing used nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste are the safest transportation containers ever built. Each shipping cask must meet rigid U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Transportation requirements to ensure the containers are not breached in the event of an accident. And these massive, vault-like containers are designed to withstand the most severe accidents that can ever occur in the United States. For example, used fuel shipping containers must meet the following engineering and safety criteria before the NRC certifies them: A 30-foot free fall onto an unyielding surface. A drop from 40 inches onto a 6-inch wide steel spike. A 30-minute exposure to fire at 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit that engulfs the entire container. Total submersion of that same container under three feet of water for eight hours. (Containers are also subject to separate testing under 50 feet of water for eight hours.) In addition to the above NRC criteria, extensive full-scale tests (see photos below) were conducted in the 1970's and 80's on used fuel transportation casks, including: Running a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying a used fuel container into a concrete wall at 84 miles per hour. Placing a container on a tractor-trailer that was broadsided by a rocket-assisted 120-ton diesel locomotive traveling 65 miles per hour. The vehicles in these tests were demolished, but the containers retained their integrity demonstrating that they would have kept their radioactive cargo safely inside. Strict Regulations No other shipments are as regulated or safeguarded as nuclear fuel. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates all shippers of radioactive materials. In addition to highway routing, the DOT regulates packaging, labeling, shipping papers, personnel training, loading and unloading, handling, and transportation vehicle requirements. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the use of radioactive materials, including the licensing and regulation of all shippers and carriers of radioactive material. The NRC also regulates container design and manufacturing to ensure that the shipping containers maintain their integrity under routine transportation conditions and severe accidents. The NRC also examines shipping routes to ensure the security of used fuel shipments The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for transporting, storing and disposing of used fuel from nuclear power plants. Used nuclear fuel can be shipped only along specified rail and highway routes. The DOE selects the routes, but individual states participate in the designation process. Shipping Record Since 1964, there have been more than 2,900 shipments of used nuclear fuel over U.S. highways and railroads from nuclear power plants, government research facilities, naval submarines, universities and industrial facilities. In total, there have been four accidents involving containers loaded with fuel. No radiation was released in any of these accidents. A proven system of precautions and strict regulations has contributed to the industry's exemplary safety record.