Idaho Crews Improve Safeguards for Spent Nuclear Fuel in Storage

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management crews at the Idaho National Laboratory Site prepare to move Peach Bottom Atomic Station fuel from a transfer cask to a second-generation storage vault.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - The cleanup contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site recently met its fiscal year 2024 milestone of transferring 10 spent nuclear fuel baskets from first-generation vaults to second-generation storage vaults ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline.

The fuel had been shipped to the INL Site for storage from the former Peach Bottom Atomic Station, Unit 1 reactor, in Delta, Pennsylvania, after the station closed in 1974.

Corrosion concerns led EM to initiate transfers of the fuel storage baskets from first-generation vaults to second-generation vaults, which provide a more controlled storage environment.

The second-generation vaults are of superior construction. They allow for the removal of water using the vault sump and have been reinforced with a support plate and rod. The transfers by Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) place the fuel in a configuration where it can be stored safely for years to come.

Jay Schnelle, IEC spent nuclear fuel shift operations senior manager, attributes the success of the project to the spent nuclear fuel workforce at the INL Site's Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center. That team has reduced the amount of time it takes to complete each transfer from as many as eight shifts down to five, while maintaining strict safety standards.

"Our workforce has the training and skillset to do this work safely and effectively," Schnelle said. "Their experience has not only improved processes but has allowed us to get the work done ahead of schedule."

The fuel transfers began in fiscal year 2022, and IEC expects to complete 40 transfers by the end of fiscal year 2025. To date, 30 transfers, or 75% of the total transfers, have been completed.

After that work is finished, the Peach Bottom fuel will remain in dry storage until it is packaged and shipped from Idaho for permanent disposal.

-Contributor: Carter Harrison