Spent Nuclear Fuel – What Now?• Storing spent nuclear fuel in dry storage began in the...
Transcript of Spent Nuclear Fuel – What Now?• Storing spent nuclear fuel in dry storage began in the...
Spent Nuclear Fuel – What Now?(Yucca Mountain, the Blue Ribbon Commission,
Waste Confidence and more)Waste Confidence and more)
a generation ahead by design
By: Doug WeaverBy: Doug WeaverVice President, Licensing and Regulatory AffairsHoltec International
Holtec International World Headquarters
Jupiter, Florida, U.S.A.
November 27, 2012
Commercial In Confidence
Nuclear Power Division
a generation ahead by design
• Wet spent fuel storage systems Holtec’s NPD is a “Fuel-Centric” p g y
• Wet capacity expansion in fuel pools
• Dry spent fuel storage and transportation systems and services
Organization
• Turnkey dry and wet storage services– Dry storage services include civil/architectural design, site construction, supply of
systems, and fuel loading
H t h d l i t t l l t• Heat exchanger and pressure vessel equipment to nuclear power plants
• Consulting services to nuclear power plant for design and operations
2
Commercial In Confidence
The Nation’s Strategy for Disposing of Spent Nuclear Fuel
a generation ahead by design
• The Past……The Past……
• ……………...The Present………
• ……………………………………The Future
3
Commercial In Confidence
1950’s – No Time to Worry about Spent Fuel
a generation ahead by design
1955 NAVAHO missileU.S. Atomic bomb test –
Bikini Atoll, July 1946
1955 – NAVAHO missile
Soviet military parade
through Red Square,
circa 1953
44
Commercial In Confidence
1st Nuclear Waste Repository – The Sea
a generation ahead by design
The “Gem,” a ship chartered by the UK Atomic Energy Authority dumps barrels
of low and intermediate level waste in the AtlanticAtlantic
The Russian tanker “Amur” dumpingThe Russian tanker Amur” dumping liquid radioactive waste in the Barents
Sea
55
Commercial In Confidence
Fuel Cycle – What it Used to Mean
a generation ahead by design
W hWe can reprocess the spent fuel to re-use the uranium and store the remaining waste in a
t d dpermanent underground repository!
66
Commercial In Confidence
The First U.S. Attempt at a Waste Repository
a generation ahead by design
In 1970, the AEC tentatively selected a nuclear waste repository site in salt deposits near Lyons Kansas
Radwaste cask being lowered down the shaft to a specially designed trailer
near Lyons, Kansas
p y g
The casks were placed in 12 foot deep stainless steel lined holes in the salt
77
stainless steel lined holes in the salt mine floor
Commercial In Confidence
1977 – The End of Reprocessing
a generation ahead by design
• Executive order signed by President Carter on April 7, 1977, banned reprocessing in the U.S.
• Driven by concerns over lif ti t d thproliferation, cost, and the
environment
• Lack of resolution on spent fuelLack of resolution on spent fuel disposal eroded public confidence
88
Commercial In Confidence
1982 – Nuclear Waste Policy Act
a generation ahead by design
• Signed into law by President Reagan on January 7, 1983
• Established a policy for• Established a policy for interim and permanent storage of high-level nuclear
twaste
• Required DOE to propose, and NRC to license aand NRC to license, a repository on each side of the Mississippi River
99
Commercial In Confidence
Not In My Backyard!
a generation ahead by design
DOE’s lack of communication led to a “Not In My Backyard” response in some candidate localitiesy p
USGS scientists conducted
1010
hydraulic and tracer tests to characterize bedrock at New Hampshire candidate sites
Commercial In Confidence
1987 – Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amended
a generation ahead by design
Aerial view of Yucca Mountain
• Congress selected Yucca Mountain for site characterization
• Twenty five years and $11 Billion l t DOE t k diff tlater, DOE takes a different course
1111
Entrance into Yucca Mountain
Commercial In Confidence
Evolution of the Dry Storage Industry
a generation ahead by design
• Storing spent nuclear fuel in dry storage began in the mid-1980’s in the U S d d t l t t f ti d d l tU.S. and underwent a complete transformation a decade later
• The first generation of dry casks were storage-only or transport-only devices. The storage-only casks came in two types - metal and concrete g y yp
• Then came the 1990’s when the U.S. DOE began to realize that storage pads across the country would be loaded with tons of spent nuclear fuel in storage only devicesin storage-only devices
• In 1992, the DOE issued its long planned multi-purpose canister (MPC) specification, setting down requirements on welded canisters to make them suitable for on-site storage, off-site transport, and eventually, permanent disposal in a repository
• At present, virtually all U.S. plants are loading dual-purpose (storage and
12
At present, virtually all U.S. plants are loading dual purpose (storage and transport) canisters
Commercial In Confidence
Typical Horizontal and Vertical Ventilated Modules
a generation ahead by design
13
Horizontal Storage Vertical Storage
Commercial In Confidence
Canister Transfer
a generation ahead by design
14Vertical Module Horizontal Module
Commercial In Confidence
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facilities
a generation ahead by design
• Surry Power Station receivedSurry Power Station received the first ISFSI license in 1986
• ISFSIs were initially licensed for 20 years
• The NRC subsequently authorized 40 year extensionsauthorized 40 year extensions for two ISFSI sites
• Currently, 75 ISFSIs have beenSurry Power Station’s
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation
Currently, 75 ISFSIs have been approved, using 15 different cask designs, 8 of which are certified for transportation
1515
certified for transportation
Commercial In Confidence
Used Nuclear Fuel Storage - The NumbersJune 2012
a generation ahead by design
• Current used fuel inventory y– Approximately 68,600 MTU– Increases 2 - 2.4k MTU annually
• Current ISFSI storage g– Approximately 19,200 MTU– 1,613 casks/canisters loaded– 58 Operating ISFSIs
• Projections for 2020– Estimating 88,000 MTU total– Estimating 31,000 MTU at ISFSI– 3,000 casks/canisters loaded– Fuel from 119 reactors– At 76 ISFSIs (all plant sites plus
Morris and INEL)
16
Morris and INEL)
Commercial In Confidence
Yucca Mountain Timeline
a generation ahead by design1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)
1987 NWPA amended – Site characterization narrowed to Yucca Mountain
2002 Yucca Mountain Development Actcompletes site characterization begins licensing
1998 contractual deadline for DOE waste acceptance
completes site characterization, begins licensing
2004, DOE misses commitment date forLicense Application (LA), initiates changes
June 2008 DOE submits LA
Feb. 2010 NRC staff i A dquestions on LA answered
17
Oct. 2010 Project Terminated
Commercial In Confidence
Yucca Mountain 2010
a generation ahead by design
• February: DOE budget request zeros out funding for the project
• March: DOE files motion with NRC Licensing Board (ASLB) to withdraw License Application (LA)
M h th h J M lti l t k h ld ti t• March through June: Multiple stakeholders oppose motion to withdraw before ASLB and in U.S. Court of Appeals
• June: ASLB rules DOE does not have legal authority to withdraw LAg y
• June - December: NRC Commissioners consider review of ASLB ruling, but have yet to issue a decision while courts await final agency actionaction
• October: DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management “ceases to exist”, all project records turned over to DOE Office of
18
Legacy Management
• October: NRC initiates “orderly closeout” of LA review
Commercial In Confidence
Yucca Mountain 2011 to present
a generation ahead by design
• South Carolina, Washington, and the National Association of R l t Utilit C i i (NARUC) fil itRegulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) file suit.
• July 2011 - Court tosses lawsuit saying it is premature because the NRC has not issued its final ruling. g
• September 2011 - NRC deadlocked on final decision 2-2.
• August 2012 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia g ppCircuit will wait to see what funds Congress appropriates in its latest round of spending bills. But the court signaled that unless Congress specifically says that the project should not be funded, it is likely to rule against the commission.
• September 2012 – Continuing Resolution does not discuss Yucca.
19
• 2013 ??
Commercial In Confidence
Waste Confidence Rule Initiation (10 CFR 51.23)
a generation ahead by design
• Before the early 1980’s the NRC did not look at the back end of the fuel l th t f l di l i h id i E i t lcycle—the spent fuel disposal issue—when considering Environmental
Impact Statements for new reactor license applications,
• That changed as a result of litigation, and the NRC initiated a g g ,rulemaking to assess generically the degree of assurance that radioactive waste can be safely stored and managed, and eventually disposed of, and
• This became known as the waste confidence rulemaking, and it provides generic findings pertinent to environmental analyses related to power reactor licensingreactor licensing
20
Commercial In Confidence
Waste Confidence Rule Assessment
a generation ahead by design
The first waste confidence decision was issued in 1984. In this initial waste confidence assessment, the Commission found:R bl th t f di l f hi h l l t d t• Reasonable assurance that safe disposal of high-level waste and spent fuel in a geologic repository is technically feasible,
• That repository capacity will eventually be available,p y p y y ,
• That high-level waste and spent fuel will be safely managed until repository capacity is available,
• That spent fuel generated in any reactor can be stored safely and without significant environmental impacts for extended periods, and
• That spent fuel storage will be available as needed
21
• That spent fuel storage will be available as needed
Commercial In Confidence
Waste Confidence Rule Revisited
a generation ahead by design
• Reaffirmed by the Commission in 2005Reaffirmed by the Commission in 2005
• Reasonable assurance that a geologic repository is feasible and will be available by 2025and will be available by 2025
• Spent fuel will be managed safely until a repository is available
• Spent fuel can be safely stored onsite without significant environmental impact for an extended periodp p
• Onsite or offsite storage capacity will be available, if necessary
2222
• Decision is valid for both existing and future reactors
Commercial In Confidence
Waste Confidence 2010 - 2012
a generation ahead by design
• Final Waste Confidence decision published in Federal RegisterFinal Waste Confidence decision published in Federal Register December 23, 2010
– Spent fuel can be safely stored up to 60 years beyond licensed life of reactor (including renewals)
– Geologic repository will be available when necessary
• NRC immediately sued by several States challenging the d i idecision.
• On June 8, 2012, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found that the NRC's rules for the temporary storage p y gand permanent disposal of nuclear waste stood in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act.
23
Commercial In Confidence
Waste Confidence Now
a generation ahead by design
• August 2012 - NRC will not issue licences for US nuclear plantsAugust 2012 NRC will not issue licences for US nuclear plants - including those for new construction and life extension - until the NRC addresses a court decision on waste confidence. However, licensing activities will continue as normal.
• The NRC has conservatively assumed that ISFSI license renewals are also impacted – this means the Calvert Cliffs license renewal is held uplicense renewal is held up.
• September 2012 NRC will develop an environmental impact decision and a revised waste confidence rule on the temporary t f tilit t l f l th i i id istorage of utility spent nuclear fuel, the commission said in a
directive it issued to agency staff Thursday.
• The EIS and new rule are to be completed within 24 months.
24
p
Commercial In Confidence
Blue Ribbon Commission
a generation ahead by design
• January 2010 - At the direction of President Obama, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu established the Blue Ribbon Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle and to provide recommendations for de eloping a safe long term sol tion torecommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
• Three subcommittees– Reactor and Fuel Cycle Technology– Transportation and Storage– DisposalDisposal
• Final report issued in January 2012
• DOE implementation plan due July 2012 (not issued)
25
DOE implementation plan due July 2012 (not issued)
Commercial In Confidence
Blue Ribbon Commission Selected Recommendations
a generation ahead by design
• Consent-based approach to siting nuclear waste facilities
• A new organization dedicated solely to implementing the waste management program with the authority & resources to succeed
• Access to the nuclear waste fund
• Prompt efforts to develop geologic disposal facilities
• Prompt efforts to develop one or more consolidated storage facilities
• Prepare for the eventual large-scale transport of spent nuclearPrepare for the eventual large scale transport of spent nuclear fuel to consolidated storage and disposal facilities when such facilities become available
Support for continued U S innovation in nuclear energy
26
• Support for continued U.S. innovation in nuclear energy technology and for workforce development
Commercial In Confidence
Private Fuel Storage Facility
a generation ahead by design
NRC approved a license to build a large ISFSI on the Goshute Indian pp gReservation in Skull Valley, Utah
2727
Commercial In Confidence
Private Fuel Storage Facility
a generation ahead by design
The proposed spent fuel storage facility is designed to store 4,000 spent fuel k f th lif f th 20 40 li til t it icasks for the life of the 20-40 year license, or until a permanent repository is
completed
2828
Commercial In Confidence
Holtec’s Dry Storage & Transport Systems
a generation ahead by design
• HI-STORM UMAX System licensed components:
– HI-STORM
HI‐STAR 190Transport Cask
(Offsite Transport)HI STORM VVM
– MPC-37HI‐TRAC VWTransfer Cask
– HI-TRAC VW*
• HI-STAR 190 Transport Package
(Onsite Transfer/Transport)
MPC‐37 Transport Package*FW – Flood and Wind
*VW – Variable Weight
MPC 37Multi‐Purpose
Canister(Storage/Transport)
HI‐STORM UMAXStorage Cask
(Underground Interim Storage)
2929
Storage)Purpose-specific casks allow for optimized transfer, storage,
and transport of the canisterized spent fuel
Commercial In Confidence
Holtec UMAX (Underground Maximum) Interim Storage Solution
a generation ahead by design
30
Commercial In Confidence
Constituent Parts of the VVM
a generation ahead by design
• Closure Lid
• Cavity Enclosure Container (CEC)
• Divider Shell
31
Commercial In Confidence
MPC BEING LOWERED INTO THE VVM (continued)
a generation ahead by design
32
Commercial In Confidence
The Need for a New Directionin Waste Management
a generation ahead by design
The United States went fromThe United States went from Pearl Harbor to D-Day in 30 months
President Reagan signed the NWPAalmost 30 years ago. What have we
achieved?
3333
Commercial In Confidence
Beyond Fukushima
a generation ahead by design
• Shattered public confidence
• Fear of Beyond Design Basis
• We will never look at a fuel pool the same way again
D t ti• Dry storage scrutiny
• Clean out fuel pools mandate?
N it i th th f ll i ti• Necessity is the mother of all inventions
34
Commercial In Confidence
Holtec Small Modular Reactor
a generation ahead by design
35
Commercial In Confidence
SMR, LLC
a generation ahead by design
• Wholly owned subsidiary of Holtec International
• Small modular reactor (SMR) engineered to provide an inherently safe source of steam or electric energy
• Uses HI-SMUR technology gyby Holtec International
• Inherently Safe; Modular;
36
yUnderground Reactor HI-SMUR 140
Commercial In Confidence
SMR, LLC
a generation ahead by design
• Holtec’s reactor is designed to be safe, secure, and economical.
• The same design approach that provides inherent safety (relying on passive y ( y g pcooling systems) also makes the reactor economicaleconomical.
• Security is built into the design (e g underground)
37
design (e.g., underground)HI-SMUR 140
Commercial In Confidence
Final Thoughts
a generation ahead by design
• The Federal Government has to be part of any spent fuelThe Federal Government has to be part of any spent fuel solution
• Significant change is needed for a successful wasteSignificant change is needed for a successful waste management program
• The Administration needs to commit to a plan and executep
• Holtec is currently licensing technology that could be part of a centralized interim storage solutiong
3838