NRC undecided on cask tests

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, May 6, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still deciding what type of tests it will perform on casks that are intended to be used to ship nuclear waste to Nevada.

In February, the commission staff asked the commissioners to evaluate four options combining different train and truck cask tests. The staff had combed through 2,300 public comments on the tests and narrowed them down to several categories.

Larry Camper, the commission's deputy director of the spent fuel project office, said the staff is waiting for the commissioners to tell them which tests they prefer so they can start finalizing details on the tests, including who will pay for them. The projected cost of the test options ranges from $32 million to $47 million through 2009.

A decision on the casks is expected in the next few months.

In February 2003, the commission decided to perform new cask tests and offered a report outlining a fire and impact test for casks used to ship nuclear waste via train and truck. The commission felt new tests would demonstrate the strength of the casks, which would be used to hold nuclear waste as it travels from points throughout the country to the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The commission staff accepted public comment for 90 days and conducted four workshops last year to hear about specific suggestions regarding the testing. The staff collected 1,000 pages of transcripts and 250 comment letters, according to the commission.

Michael Mayfield, from NRC's Office of Research, told the National Academy of Sciences Board on Radioactive Waste Management Wednesday that the commission does not believe "testing to failure," that is, finding the cask's breaking point, is needed.

Mayfield also said the tests would not involve the potential effects of acts of terrorism since that could be considered by another program within the commission.

The board has an ongoing study specifically looking at the transportation of radioactive waste.

Camper said once the commissioners decide which option they prefer, the staff will start setting the protocols, working on getting the casks to test, actually doing the tests and analyzing the outcome -- all by 2009.

The Energy Department wants to start shipping waste to Yucca by 2010.