Nuclear Waste:
From Both Sides Now
Dateline: 04/23/99
The April 8, 1999 feature "Nuclear Waste: Coming Sooner to a Cave Near You?" presented a negative view of plans by the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management to transport high-level nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain, Nevada facility. Several readers have suggested that both sides of the issue should be presented including the extensive safeguards to be used and the safety record of past nuclear waste transport.
Waste Transportation: Pro
Shipments of spent nuclear fuel have been happening safely for the last 25 years. According to the Department
of Energy, over 2500 shipments have already been completed "with no
fatalities, injuries, or environmental damage caused by the radioactive nature of the
cargo." (However, DOE has reported some "incidents.")
The DOE's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) develops systems for transportation and storage of nuclear waste. The OCRWM document, "Safety: The Key to Success" presents an overview of the entire safety program including the design and testing of casks used to transport nuclear waste.
On April 30, 1998, OCRWM issued this "Notice of revised proposed policy and procedures" for "Safe Routine Transportation and Emergency Response Training; Technical Assistance and Funding." Since 1995, OCRWM has been accepting and publishing public comments on transportation and emergency response plans. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view/save comments.)
Many additional methods and safeguards for waste transport have been developed for delivery to the WIPP - Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM. The Waste Transportation Program page gives detailed design and testing information on the "Trupact - II" shipping container, plus safety measures, and routing map.
Safety and security features installed on WIPP transport trucks include:
- A computer keyboard linking the vehicle with a satellite tracking system.
- Continuous tracking by a central monitoring room at the WIPP site.
- Satellite telephones to allow direct two-way communication, with cellular telephones for backup.
Additional safeguards are provided by:
- Replacing tractors at three-year or 300,000-mile intervals.
- Designation of safe parking areas along all routes for use in bad weather.
- Ability to replace or repair tractors, en route, within 8 hours.
WIPP has been receiving waste shipments since March 26, 1999 without incident. By the time the Yucca Mountain, Nevada site opens, it's a good bet that DOE will have refined these, and developed additional shipping safety assurance technology.
No question -- Shipments of nuclear waste are now and will be the best protected loads on road or rail.
Waste Transportation: Con
No question -- They had better be.
At no time in its life cycle will this high-level radioactive material come closer to more people than during transport to the disposal site. Proposed routes take nuclear waste through are near major population centers. While this does facilitate many of the DOE's safeguards like tracking and emergency response, it also brings the loads into potential contact with the greatest numbers of people. During transport, waste loads lay at risk to all sorts of unpredictable mayhem including accident, theft, terrorism and sabotage. (Source - Nuclear Waste Project Office, State of Nevada.)
While DOE boasts 25 years of nuclear waste shipment "with no fatalities, injuries, or environmental damage caused by the radioactive nature of the cargo." these shipments have not been without incident. In "Reported Incidents Involving Spent Nuclear Fuel Shipments 1949 to Present," DOE details 72 incidents including four leading to "...accidental radioactive material contamination beyond the vehicle." (Source - Nuclear Waste Project Office, State of Nevada.)
A Final Word on Nuclear Waste
By 1943, we had taught the atom how to kill us. We have been trying to teach it not to
ever since. Whether used for warfare, electrical generation, or even life-saving medical
procedures, the residue -- the waste -- of nuclear reaction can kill us. But we made it
and for now, at least, we have to keep it. No amount of debate or protest will make it go
away.
Other Related Resources
Los Alamos National
Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories
Tranuranic (TRU) Nuclear Waste -
Sandia Labs
High-Level Radioactive Material-
Sandia Labs
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
WIPP Project Homepage
Yucca Mountain Site Homepage
Yucca Mountain Fact Sheet -
DOE
State of Nevada, Nuclear Waste Project
Office
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
