Key Issues
Experience, Testing Confirm Transportation of Used Nuclear Fuel Is Safe, Reliable
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Continuing to Move Fuel Safely
The nuclear energy industry has completed more than 3,000 shipments of used nuclear fuel with no injuries, fatalities or environmental damage resulting from the radioactivity of the cargo, according to figures compiled by the NRC and its predecessor organization. Given this experience over 40 years, the industry has demonstrated that it can safely transport used nuclear fuel.
Used nuclear fuel is a solid, ceramic material. There is no liquid that can drain out of the shipping container. Used nuclear fuel cannot explode.
The containers that transport the used nuclear fuel are extremely robust. These are massive, vault-like containers that use multiple layers of steel, lead and other materials to confine radiation from the used fuel. These specially designed containers weigh between 25 and 40 tons for truck transport and between 75 and 125 tons for rail shipments, including the weight of the used fuel. Typically, for every ton of used fuel, there are about 4 tons of protective shielding.
In the United States, shippers occasionally transport radioactive materials via barge, using the same rugged transportation containers used for rail or truck shipments. Internationally, transporting used fuel on specially-designed ships is routine.
Scientists and engineers know that accidents can happen, so they designed the containers to be the safest on the road, on the rails and on the water, and to protect the public against even the most unlikely accidents. The containers can withstand high-speed crashes, long-lasting fires and submersion in water, all without breaking open.
Established Record of Safe Transportation
Since 1964, the U.S. nuclear energy industry has safely transported more than 10,000 used nuclear fuel assemblies over 1.7 million miles. During this period, nine accidents involving used nuclear fuel containers have occurred—four on highways, five during rail transport and none involving barges. Half of these accidents involved empty containers, and none of these accidents resulted in a breach of the container or any release of its radioactive cargo.
In 1971, for example, a tractor-trailer carrying a 25-ton shipping container holding used nuclear fuel swerved on a Tennessee road to avoid a head-on collision and overturned. The trailer, with the container still attached, separated from the tractor and skidded into a rain-filled ditch. The container suffered minor external damage but—as designed—prevented the release of radioactive material. This accident was the most severe of the nine involving used fuel containers.
Continuing to Move Fuel Safely
The nuclear energy industry has completed more than 3,000 shipments of used nuclear fuel with no injuries, fatalities or environmental damage resulting from the radioactivity of the cargo, according to figures compiled by the NRC and its predecessor organization. Given this experience over 40 years, the industry has demonstrated that it can safely transport used nuclear fuel.
Used nuclear fuel is a solid, ceramic material. There is no liquid that can drain out of the shipping container. Used nuclear fuel cannot explode.
The containers that transport the used nuclear fuel are extremely robust. These are massive, vault-like containers that use multiple layers of steel, lead and other materials to confine radiation from the used fuel. These specially designed containers weigh between 25 and 40 tons for truck transport and between 75 and 125 tons for rail shipments, including the weight of the used fuel. Typically, for every ton of used fuel, there are about 4 tons of protective shielding.
In the United States, shippers occasionally transport radioactive materials via barge, using the same rugged transportation containers used for rail or truck shipments. Internationally, transporting used fuel on specially-designed ships is routine.
Scientists and engineers know that accidents can happen, so they designed the containers to be the safest on the road, on the rails and on the water, and to protect the public against even the most unlikely accidents. The containers can withstand high-speed crashes, long-lasting fires and submersion in water, all without breaking open.
Established Record of Safe Transportation
Since 1964, the U.S. nuclear energy industry has safely transported more than 10,000 used nuclear fuel assemblies over 1.7 million miles. During this period, nine accidents involving used nuclear fuel containers have occurred—four on highways, five during rail transport and none involving barges. Half of these accidents involved empty containers, and none of these accidents resulted in a breach of the container or any release of its radioactive cargo.
In 1971, for example, a tractor-trailer carrying a 25-ton shipping container holding used nuclear fuel swerved on a Tennessee road to avoid a head-on collision and overturned. The trailer, with the container still attached, separated from the tractor and skidded into a rain-filled ditch. The container suffered minor external damage but—as designed—prevented the release of radioactive material. This accident was the most severe of the nine involving used fuel containers.
