Spent Nuclear Fuel: Options Exist to Further Enhance Security
Highlights
Spent nuclear fuel, the used fuel periodically removed from nuclear power reactors, is one of the most hazardous materials made by man. Nuclear power companies currently store 50,000 tons of spent fuel at 72 sites in 33 states. That amount will increase through 2010, when the Department of Energy (DOE) expects to open a permanent repository for this fuel at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Concerns have been raised since September 11, 2001, that terrorists might target spent fuel. GAO was asked to (1) review federally sponsored studies that assessed the potential health effects of a terrorist attack or a severe accident on spent fuel, either in transit or in storage, and (2) identify options for DOE to further enhance the security of spent fuel during shipping to Yucca Mountain.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | To ensure that all reasonable options to further enhance the security and safety of spent fuel in storage at nuclear power plants and in transit are explored, the Secretary of Energy should assess the potential benefits and costs of minimizing the total number of shipments of spent fuel by consolidating shipments where possible. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE's August 16, 2004 report, "Consolidating Shipments of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel to Yucca Mountain: An Evaluation of System-Wide Costs and Benefits" assessed the potential costs and benefits associated with the consolidation of shipments--this report was responsive to our recommendation.
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| Department of Energy | To ensure that all reasonable options to further enhance the security and safety of spent fuel in storage at nuclear power plants and in transit are explored, the Secretary of Energy should assess the potential benefits and costs of shipping spent fuel in an order that further minimizes risk. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE's August 16, 2004 report, "Costs and Benefits of Various Orders in Which Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Could Be Selected For Shipment to Yucca Mountain" assessed the order in which shipments could be selected for shipment--this report was responsive to our recommendation.
|
| Department of Energy | To ensure that all reasonable options to further enhance the security and safety of spent fuel in storage at nuclear power plants and in transit are explored, the Secretary of Energy should assess the potential benefits and costs of emphasizing the use of trains dedicated to hauling spent fuel. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE issued a notice on July 18, 2005 adopting a policy to use dedicated trains for its usual shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to the Yucca Mountain repository site--this action was responsive to our recommendation.
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