GERMANTOWN, Md. - The Spent Nuclear Fuel Working Group (SNFWG) held its fifth meeting on January 24 and 25. This senior-level coordinating group, chaired by the Office of Environmental Management’s Office of Nuclear Materials and the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Office of Nuclear Facilities Management, and including representatives from Department of Energy programs and field offices that manage spent nuclear fuel (SNF), has been meeting about twice a year at various locations in the complex since 2014.
The Working Group tackles policy and cross-cutting issues impacting the handling, storage, and disposition of the Department’s SNF.
At the January meeting, the Working Group approved the SNFWG charter. They also reviewed ongoing initiatives, including a study to evaluate different alternatives for disposition of existing and expected inventory of SNF at SRS and disposition of aluminum-clad SNF at ID. This study is evaluating these approaches using economic considerations as well as more programmatic considerations. Another ongoing initiative is the Aluminum-clad SNF subgroup study which is evaluating the environmental, safety and long-term programmatic risks associated with DOE SNF extended dry storage configurations. An INL fuel storage optimization study is also evaluating possible approaches for fuel storage at Idaho to support the continued operation of the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Advanced Test Reactor.
Another presentation provided a perspective on specific initiatives the commercial nuclear industry is pursuing regarding aging management of SNF.
Of the number of new initiatives identified at the meeting, the Working Group agreed that the top priority should be preparation of a DOE SNF Strategic Plan.
EM’s Office of Nuclear Materials showed a DVD of a 1981 film that was produced for the DOE commercial spent fuel program at the time. The Working Group was interested to see what had changed, and not changed so much, in the last 35 years.
The next SNFWG meeting will be held in Idaho in July.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
