Radioactive Materials Transportation
Current U.S. Program

The Northeast Nuclear Waste Information Conference
Montpelier, Vermont
Revised January 1999

Through the year 2010, the United States Federal government already has committed, or planned, to make 3,819 shipments, an average of 382 shipments per year, of non-commercial used nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive material.

The same type of material is accumulating at more than 70 commercial nuclear power plant sites across the country. For interim storage of commercial used fuel, the shipment rate and routes are not substantially different than for the radioactive material the government is already shipping. 

Committed DOE Shipments of High-Level Radioactive Material 
are Already Moving in Almost All Parts of the Country

Highway and Rail Routes for Committed and Planned DOE Shipments

The Nevada Test Site Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility

In 1997 DOE sent 412,754 cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste to Nevada in 424 truck shipments. On average a truckload of DOE radioactive material already travels through Las Vegas every day of the year en route to the Nevada Test Site.

Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel

There are 12,000 to 15,000 projected shipments of commercial spent fuel. At the shipment rate established by proposed interim storage legislation, the initial years would see 140 shipments per year. This would increase up to 350 shipments per year by 2006. These shipments would move through the same areas where DOE high-level radioactive shipments are already moving. 

Observations:

• Many radioactive material shipments are already moving.

• Over the past 35 years, there have been an average of 68 spent fuel shipments per year, all accomplished safely.

• During the next 10 years, DOE commitments and plans result in an average of 382 highly radioactive shipments per year.

• Commercial spent fuel shipments will amount to 140 shipments per year initially and will build to 350 per year.

• Highly radioactive material already travels through many states.

• The routes which DOE is already using for highly radioactive material include most of the states and areas where commercial used fuel will travel.

• On average a truckload of DOE radioactive material already travels through Las Vegas every day en route to the Nevada Test Site low-level radioactive waste facility.

The Northeast Nuclear Waste Information Conference

The Northeast Nuclear Waste Information Conference (NNWIC) emerged from the shared efforts of the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont to consider state and regional interests regarding interim storage and disposal of used nuclear fuel. NNWIC is governed by the Council of State Governments – Eastern Regional Conference.

This information on current Radioactive Material Transportation has been prepared by:

Bill Sherman, NNWIC Co-Chair
Vermont Department of Public Service
112 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05620
(802) 828-3349

Summary of DOE Committed High-Level Radioactive Shipments
(not including commercial reactor shipments)

There are 3819 committed or planned highly radioactive shipments through 2010, an average of 382 per year (not including commercial fuel.)