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Housekeeping

This webinar is being recorded. The recording and presentation slides will be available later this week on the NTSF website at

www.ntsf.info

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please mute your audio

during the presentations

Click on “raise hand”

Type questions �using the chat feature

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Speaker Introduction

Dr. Bickford is the Director for the Office of Storage & Transportation within the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s Office of Spent Fuel & High-Level Waste Disposition. She is responsible for planning and implementation of a Federal consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, including associated large-scale spent nuclear fuel transportation, as well as spent nuclear fuel storage and transportation R&D. Dr. Bickford has a PhD and MS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and a BS from the University of Maine.

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Webinar Overview

Today, nuclear fuel is being kept in nuclear power reactors longer to produce more electricity. This type of fuel is known as “high burnup.” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the nuclear power industry, is researching how high burnup spent nuclear fuel (SNF) behaves in long-term storage to ensure that it can be stored safely for many years before being transported to a future Federal disposal facility. This research project centers around one container of SNF known as the “High Burnup Research Cask” (HBURC). The next stage of the project requires DOE to open the HBURC and examine the fuel rods inside, which can only be done safely in a specialized science facility like those available at DOE’s national laboratories. This NTSF webinar will share information about the HBURC project, as well as DOE’s preparations to transport the cask, coordinating shipment plans with Federal, Tribal, and State government partners, and offering technical assistance and emergency response training along the potential transportation routes.
Q&A will follow the presentation.

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NTSF Webinar Ready to Move: HBURC Shipment Project

Dr. Erica Bickford

Director, Office of Storage & Transportation

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy

June 18, 2025

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Webinar Outline

What is the National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF)?
Overview of DOE High Burnup Research Cask (HBURC) Shipment

Background
Shipment Basics
Major Activities
Schedule

HBURC Shipment Ad Hoc Working Group
Discussion and Questions

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What is the National Transportation Stakeholders Forum?

National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF) is a mechanism for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to communicate with Tribes and States about DOE shipments of radioactive materials
Brings transparency, openness, and accountability to DOE's offsite transportation activities through collaboration with State and Tribal governments and other Federal partners
Ideal mechanism for communicating about the High Burnup Research Cask (HBURC) Project
More information at www.ntsf.info

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What is DOE’s High Burnup Research Cask (HBURC) Project?

Research project started in 2013 as a collaboration between DOE and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
High burnup SNF stays in reactors longer to produce electricity
Monitoring characteristics of high burnup SNF in one dry cask at the North Anna Power Station near Mineral, Virginia
Project will provide data to support safe storage of SNF for DOE’s future Federal consolidated storage facility(s), and for the majority of currently operating U.S. nuclear power plants

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Spent Nuclear Fuel Characteristics

32 pressurized water reactor high burnup SNF assemblies
SNF assemblies in the cask have four different cladding types

Zircaloy-4, low-tin Zircaloy-4, Zirlo®, M5®

At the time of shipment, the SNF will have been in dry storage, collecting data for about 10 years

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Cask Characteristics

The cask is a TN-32B model cask certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for storage and transportation of SNF.
Made of steel and lead and provides containment and shielding to protect the public.
Specialized lid allows temperature measurements with thermocouples.
TN-32B and hardware for shipment (its “shipping weight”) is 361,855 pounds (181 tons).

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Transporting the High Burnup Research Cask

Why?

SNF will remain in dry storage systems in the

U.S. for many decades before final disposal.

DOE will continue to collect data on SNF inside the HBURC, including opening the cask to remove fuel rods for examination.
Specialized science facilities are needed to open the cask and examine fuel rods; nuclear power plants do not have these specialized facilities. DOE’s national laboratories do.

Benefits?

Demonstrating ability to safely ship SNF
Building public trust and confidence
Demonstrating the safety and security of the new Atlas rail consist
Providing valuable data needed for licensing activities for current and future storage of commercial SNF
Opportunity to build capacity for future DOE shipments of SNF to a Federal storage facility or repository, when available

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Announcement of Destination Site (April 2025)

DOE's Atlas railcar, designed and tested to transport spent nuclear fuel.

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Transporting the High Burnup Research Cask

The size and weight of the cask – more than 180 tons – means that freight rail is the best mode to transport the cask from Virginia to INL in Southeastern Idaho
DOE has designed, tested, and obtained approval for specialty railcars (Atlas) for transporting SNF by rail
Armed escorts will travel on the train in a rail escort vehicle (REV)

When

Spring 2027 – “Dry-run” rail shipments with an empty TN- 32B cask from Virginia to INL and back to test procedures, conduct public outreach, and inform emergency responders (provide opportunities to view train consist)
Fall 2027 – SNF shipment

How?

DOE’s Atlas railcar

Rail Escort Vehicle

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Shipment Basics: What Will the Train Look Like?

Conceptual Illustration of Mounting Configuration Courtesy of Orano

Locomotives

Buffer Car Atlas Railcar

Conceptual Illustration of Atlas Rail Consist

Buffer Car

Rail Escort Vehicle

Conceptual Illustration of a Cask on Atlas Railcar

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Map of Potential Rail Routes

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Shipment Basics: Who will be Involved?

DOE, national labs, contractors

Transportation parties (shipment logistics, railroad route planners and operators, etc.)

Federal, Tribal, and State authorities at origin and destination sites and along route

Emergency response personnel at origin and destination sites and along route

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Coordination with Tribal, State, and Federal Partners

www.ntsf.info

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Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP)

Component of an overall comprehensive emergency management system and required component of coordination in DOE Order 460.2B, “Departmental Materials Transportation Management.”
TEPP training offered for HBURC shipment; coordination between DOE-NE and DOE-EM.
Mission is to “ensure that Federal, State, Tribal, and local responders have access to the plans, training, and technical assistance necessary to safely, efficiently, and effectively respond to transportation accidents involving DOE-owned radioactive materials.”
Includes multiple tools to help communities understand their current response capacity and develop additional emergency response capabilities.
Learn more at www.teppinfo.com

Photo credit: TEPP/DOE

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Notable Points about HBURC Shipment

DOE has begun offering training to jurisdictions along the potential route
Not a Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) shipment subject to NWPA Section 180(c)

Single cask shipment under Atomic Energy Act and DOE Order 460.2B – Departmental Materials Transportation Management
NWPA 5-year lead time accounts for notification of utilities, extensive training, and preparation needed along multiple routes; multi-train shipping campaign over long periods of time
HBURC can incorporate elements of NWPA as practicable and develop lessons learned

Photo credit: TEPP/DOE

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Notable Points about HBURC Shipment

Not a Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Shipment

Rail shipment vs. road shipments – less route flexibility, some different requirements
Planning to utilize similar training modules and preparedness plans
Will follow successful model of DOE’s Chalk River shipments to Savannah River Site

A WIPP Truck Shipment

Source: WIPP/DOE

Trains carrying West Valley spent fuel. Source: DOE

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Major Shipment Preparation Activities for 2024 - 2027

Logistics planning and equipment fabrication

Consultation and coordination (Tribal, State, Federal, local)

Procedures and preparation for couriers

Emergency responder training

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation

Site evaluations at origin and destination sites

Dry run with empty cask

Outreach and engagement, including planned “whistle stop” tour

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Emphasizing and Demonstrating Safety and Security

The HBURC shipment is centered on safety and security.
Features include:

NRC-certified cask
Certified Atlas railcar consist
Real-time monitoring with Integrated Safety and Security Monitoring System (ISSMS)
REV with armed escorts
Extensive operations planning

Emergency planning, coordination, technical assistance along route
Rail carrier/FRA/State safety inspections
Coordination and communication among shipment-critical parties
A recovery plan in the unlikely event of a transportation incident

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Planned Schedule: HBURC Shipment Timeline

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NTSF HBURC Shipment Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG)

Purpose

Facilitate a dialogue between Federal staff from DOE (Offices of Nuclear Energy and Environmental Management), Tribal and State governments along the transportation route, FRA, and other Federal agencies, as applicable;
Coordinate training plans, technical assistance needs, transportation plans, and public communication resources for the shipment
Build capacity, gather lessons learned in real time, and develop a common understanding of how future DOE rail shipments of SNF could operate (including piloting the Rail Consist Safety Inspection Protocol)
To review lessons learned post-shipment and/or questions to resolve in advance of commencing future DOE shipping campaigns.
An additional goal of the AHWG is to identify key topics and activities relating to the HBURC shipment from the NTSF community, address these topics and document work done through white papers and make that work available to the NTSF community

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HBURC Shipment AHWG Priority Issues

Complete and pilot Rail Consist Safety Inspection Protocol
Coordinate on emergency response training through DOE Environmental Management (DOE- EM)/Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP)
Identify technical assistance needs for Tribes/States along HBURC rail route
Identify differences between the HBURC shipment and future DOE NWPA shipments
Share DOE’s HBURC transportation plan and other activities consistent with DOE Order 460.2B

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AHWG and HBURC Shipment Key Activities

HBURC Shipment Activities

Fall 2025 – Spring 2027: Emergency management training
Fall 2025 – Shipment: Coordination and planning with States and Tribes along route
Spring 2027: Shipment Dry Run
Summer 2027: Whistle Stop Tour
Fall 2027: HBURC Shipment
Winter 2027-Spring 2028: Post-shipment summary and lessons learned

Near Term Activities

June 2025: Finalize AHWG membership
Starting June 2025: Hold monthly update meetings (virtually); bi-annual in-person meetings if practicable
June – July 2025: Finalize a work plan for the group
Fall 2025: Begin training along route
February 2026: Complete final round of revisions to carry forward and finalize the NTSF Rail/Routing AHWG’s work on the Rail Consist Safety Inspection Protocol