Solving the Nuclear Waste Storage Dilemma

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1 Solving the Nuclear Waste Storage Dilemma Thursday, September 3, 2015 National Conference of State Legislatures For audio, 1 (415) ; access code

2 Presenters Everett L. Redmond II Joy Russell Betsy Madru

3 Presenter Everett L. Redmond II Senior Director, Fuel Cycle and Technology Policy, Nuclear Energy Institute

4 Used Fuel Management Where are we and how did we get here? Everett L Redmond II, Ph.D. Nuclear Energy Institute September 3,

5 NEI Mission To foster the beneficial uses of nuclear technology before Congress, the White House and executive branch agencies, federal regulators, and state policy forums; proactively communicating accurate and timely information; and provide a unified industry voice on the global importance of nuclear energy and nuclear technology 5

6 NEI Membership Over 350 Members in 17 Countries All U.S. nuclear utilities International nuclear utilities NSSS and major component vendors Architect/engineering firms Radiopharmaceutical manufacturers Fuel suppliers Universities Labor unions Law firms 6

7 What Will We Do with Nuclear Waste? Decisions to build new nuclear plants will turn on electricity generation fundamentals, not whether a particular used fuel facility is successful. We must, however, have a plausible, durable policy and plan to manage used fuel responsibly including storage and disposal in a deep geologic repository 7

8 Deep Geologic Repository Yucca Mountain: Nye County, NV Waste Isolation Pilot Plant: Carlsbad, NM 8

less than 180 casks per year ISFSI* storage -

9 Used Nuclear Fuel in Storage in the U.S. December 2014 Used fuel inventory - 74,258 MTU (pools and casks) - Increases ~2000 MTU annually or less than 180 casks per year ISFSI* storage - 22,233 MTU (casks) casks/modules loaded - 65 Operating ISFSIs *ISFSI = Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation 9

10 Dry Storage Systems Vertical Storage Cask Horizontal Storage Module 10

11 11

Shutdown Sites Without An Operating Reactor California - Humboldt Bay* -

Vrain Connecticut - Connecticut Yankee* Florida - Crystal River Illinois -

- Yankee Rowe* Michigan - Big Rock Point* Oregon - Trojan* Vermont -

12 Shutdown Sites Without An Operating Reactor California - Humboldt Bay* - Rancho Seco* - San Onofre Colorado - Ft. St. Vrain Connecticut - Connecticut Yankee* Florida - Crystal River Illinois - Zion* Maine - Maine Yankee* Humboldt Bay Rancho Seco Trojan Massachusetts - Yankee Rowe* Michigan - Big Rock Point* Oregon - Trojan* Vermont - Vermont Yankee Wisconsin - LaCrosse* - Kewaunee * total of 248 used fuel casks and 11 GTCC casks at these sites 12

13 Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) Yucca Mountain Timeline NWPA amended Site study narrowed to Yucca Mountain contractual deadline for DOE waste acceptance Yucca Mountain Development Act licensing begins DOE misses License Application (LA) commitment, initiates changes 2008 November - DOE submits LA 2010 February - NRC staff questions on LA answered 2010 August - NRC issues Vol. 1 of Safety Evaluation (SER) 2011 Sept. - NRC suspends licensing process 2013 Aug. - Court orders license restart 2015 Jan. NRC completes SER October - DOE Terminates Project 13

14 Impact of Lack of Federal Program Challenges to NRC regulations Used fuel continues to accumulate at reactor sites safely and securely managed Lack of confidence in federal government U.S. has lost leadership in international community 14

15 Who Pays? Rate payers - one mill/kwh - one tenth of a cent/kwh - adjustable - $750 million per year prior to Nuclear Waste Fund more than $35 billion investment income more than $1 billion per year All taxpayers - Payments from taxpayer funded Judgment Fund for lawsuits resulting from failure to accept used fuel beginning in

16 Taxpayers Paying Billions For Federal Government s Failure to Accept Used Nuclear Fuel $4.5 Billion paid from taxpayer-funded Judgment Fund as of September 2014 for damages incurred because DOE did not begin accepting used nuclear fuel in 1998 Liabilities will continue to grow after DOE begins accepting used fuel until backlog eliminated (decades) DOE estimates the total taxpayer liability at $27.1 Billion if it begins accepting used fuel in 2021 Every year of delay in opening a facility will cost the taxpayer an additional $500 million (estimated) Taxpayer liabilities not paid from Nuclear Waste Fund 16

17 Key Used Fuel Events Yucca Mountain project suspended 2010 Blue Ribbon Commission on America s Nuclear Future recommendations January 2012 DOE Strategy January 2013 Court ordered NRC to restart review 2013 Nuclear Waste Fee suspended by Court order, May 2014 NRC Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report issued January

18 De-Comingling Defense and Civilian Radioactive Waste March Secretary of Energy recommended, and the President authorized, pursuing a Defense HLW Repository for some defense waste DOE s view: - Yucca Mountain is not workable. - A defense high-level waste repository could be selected, licensed, and built sooner than a common NWPA repository. - In parallel, DOE will move forward to address storage and disposal of commercial spent fuel. Consolidated interim storage. 18

19 Industry Strategy New management entity board and CEO Access to the waste fund and fees Completion of the Yucca Mountain licensing process Consolidated interim storage for commercial used fuel and DOE high-level waste Research, development and demonstration on advanced fuel cycles 19

20 Legislation Introduced 111 th Congress - Voinovich and Upton on Fedcorp 112 th Congress - Senator Murkowski used fuel storage - Senators Feinstein, Alexander, Bingaman, and Murkowski used fuel storage in appropriations - Senator Bingaman Nuclear Waste Administration Act th Congress - Senators Wyden, Murkowski, Feinstein, and Alexander Nuclear Waste Administration Act th Congress - Senators Murkowski, Cantwell, Alexander and Feinstein Nuclear Waste Administration Act Senate appropriations used fuel storage 20

21 The Political Landscape Legislation will be considered in both Houses of Congress Senate no deal that does not eliminate Yucca Mountain as an option House no deal that does not include Yucca Mountain 21

22 Possible Timelines for Yucca Mountain Repository 2014: $4.5 Billion* in damages already paid from Judgment Fund 2021: $27.1* Estimate of total damage awards that will eventually be paid from taxpayer-funded Judgment Fund if acceptance of used fuel begins on this date (billions) 2028: $ : $ : $ : Yucca Mountain licensing resumes 2028: Yucca Mountain opens - assumes annual average funding of $1.4 billion** Funding Options 2038: Yucca Mountain opens assumes a max of $750 million/year funding*** * Taken from 2014 DOE Audit Report of Nuclear Waste Fund OAS-FS out years estimated assuming $500 million per year increase based on Blue Ribbon Commission Final Report **These dates assume that the land and water rights have been obtained by the time NRC completes its review. Construction will not be permitted to begin until land and water rights are secured. *** Historical maximum appropriation was $576 million 2042: Yucca Mountain opens assumes a max of $600 million/year funding*** 22

23 Artist Rendition of a Transport Cask Nuclear fuel is transported in strong vault-like containers - Truck containers weigh 25 to 40 tons - Rail containers weigh 75 to 125 tons Multiple barriers provide defense in depth protection 23

24 Transportation Safety Record Four decades of safety. Over 3,000 shipments in US. - 78% by truck and 22% by rail. - Transported over 1.7 million miles Over 24,000 shipments internationally. - More than 73,000 MTHM SNF/HLW transported No injuries, fatalities or environmental damage as a result of the radioactive nature of the cargo 24

25 Questions? Everett Redmond Nuclear Energy Institute

26 Presenter Joy Russell Vice President Corporate Business Development, Holtec International

27 C.I.S. A Partnership of Holtec and ELEA for Consolidated Interim Storage Holtec & ELEA, LLC s Vision for a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility a generation ahead by design By: Joy Russell VP Corporate Business Development

28 Contents a generation ahead by design Why Consolidated Storage? Holtec Overview ELEA Overview Holtec s Proposed Technical Solution Timeline Conclusion 28

29 Why Consolidated Interim Storage? a generation ahead by design Some Storage Is In The Most Densely Populated Areas of U.S. D&D Plant Sites Want to Turn Them Back To Green Fields Transportation of SNF & HLW is Proven Safe Thousands of Tons Radioactivity Decreases Rapidly with Time. Gamma & Heat Decay Breach of Contracts - DOE Required To Take SNF In 1998 Settlement Fund Will Pay Out $20 Billion by 2020 From Treasury After 2020 Will Pay $500 Million Per Year Until CIS or Repository Dispels Arguments There Are No Solutions For SNF 29

Holtec International Company Overview Established in

generation ahead by design Headquarters Jupiter, FL

0 Billion USD Over 1000 employees No history of

Power Generation Technologies 61 Patents plus 29

30 Holtec International Company Overview Established in USA since 1986 Annual Revenues: Over $500 Million USD a generation ahead by design Headquarters Jupiter, FL Backlog: 6.0 Billion USD Over 1000 employees No history of long-term debt Self financed company growth D&B (5A2) Power Generation Technologies 61 Patents plus 29 Pending Corporate Technology Center Marlton, NJ Orrvilon, OH 1,000,000 Square Feet of Manufacturing-USA Turtle Creek, PA 30

31 A Global Leader in Power Generation Technologies a generation ahead by design Heat Transfer Equipment Spent Fuel and Non-Fuel Waste Dry Storage and Transport Casks In-pool Spent Fuel Storage Racks Dry Spent Fuel Loading Equipment Vertical Air Cooled Condensers Technical and Consulting Services 31

32 Holtec s Worldwide Dry Storage and Transport Experience a generation ahead by design 101 nuclear plants worldwide rely on Holtec s dry storage technology for their storage and transport needs; 59 domestic, 42 international 32

33 Holtec s Dry Storage &Transport Expertise Holtec offers a complete line of equipment for dry fuel storage and transportation 101 plants worldwide (59 in the U.S.) are under contract for use of Holtec s dry storage systems Over 770 Holtec canisters have been successfully loaded This number grows by canisters per year a generation ahead by design Holtec s experience includes PFS & Ukraine s Central Storage 33

34 Who is the EDDY-LEA Alliance? Alliance of the Cities of Carlsbad & Hobbs and the Counties of Eddy & Lea Formed Under the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) for Economic Development Purposes in 2006 & to Respond to Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Proposal from DOE ELEA purchased 1,000 acres of land approximately halfway between Carlsbad and Hobbs, N.M. for potential use a generation ahead by design 34

35 Why the ELEA Site? a generation ahead by design Land studied extensively during Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) process Remote location Geologic stability Dry area Infrastructure present, including rail Preexisting robust scientific and nuclear operations workforce STRONG CONSENT FROM AREA 35

36 a generation ahead by design 36

Holtec s Proposed Technical Solution a generation ahead by design HI-STORM UMAX (Holtec International STORage Module Universal MAXimum security) Complete physical protection by storing the fuel below

37 Holtec s Proposed Technical Solution a generation ahead by design HI-STORM UMAX (Holtec International STORage Module Universal MAXimum security) Complete physical protection by storing the fuel below grade in reinforced vertical silos Reinforced Concrete Top Pad Corrosion-Resistant Stainless Steel Spent Fuel Canister Reinforced Concrete Base Mat Steel/Concrete Lid Steel Liner R E T R I E V A B L E 37

HI-STORM UMAX = Safe & Secure Safety: Utilizes the sub grade during storage for superior radiation protection to workers and public and to the stored contents from dangers presented by earthquakes

38 HI-STORM UMAX = Safe & Secure Safety: Utilizes the sub grade during storage for superior radiation protection to workers and public and to the stored contents from dangers presented by earthquakes and other extreme environmental phenomena such as hurricanes, tornado borne missiles, earthquakes, tsunamis Security: The above ground height of the HI-STORM UMAX is below waist height making the facility visibly inconspicuous & provides a clear, unobstructed view of the entire facility from any location a generation ahead by design 38

the Decommissioned San Onofre NPP HI-STORM UMAX was selected because it is robust, can withstand the enhanced earthquake conditions,

39 HI-STORM UMAX = Economical & Proven a generation ahead by design HI-STORM UMAX has already been constructed at Ameren Missouri's Callaway Nuclear Plant In December 2014, Southern California Edison selected the HI- STORM UMAX for storing the used nuclear fuel from the Decommissioned San Onofre NPP HI-STORM UMAX was selected because it is robust, can withstand the enhanced earthquake conditions, low sight line, and was flexible in layout design Completed HI-STORM UMAX ISFSI at Callaway ISFSI HI-STORM UMAX ISFSI Location at San Onofre Site

40 Approach to Establish the CIS a generation ahead by design Phase 1 includes design, licensing, construction and operation of the storage facility as a pilot site to store: the entire complement of Holtec canisters currently deployed at Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI) around the country, a prospective client, Wolf Creek, which can avail itself of the ELEA CIS facility without having to establish an onsite ISFSI, and all canisters from shutdown plants and near term shutdown plants (Connecticut Yankee, Humboldt Bay, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Maine Yankee, Millstone Unit 1, Oyster Creek, Rancho Seco, SONGS, Trojan, Yankee Rowe, and Zion). Phase 1 includes design, licensing, construction and operation of the storage facility as a pilot site to store: Phase 2 includes further expansion of cask contents in HI-STORM UMAX to include all other canisters deployed at presently operating ISFSIs in the U.S. 40

41 Approach to Licensing a generation ahead by design Submit an amendment to the HI-STORM UMAX docket # that will expand the allowable contents Submit a site-specific license application for the CIS on the ELEA site The ELEA site specific licensing application will invoke the HI- STORM UMAX FSAR by reference 41

42 Preliminary Licensing & Construction Schedule a generation ahead by design Letter of Intent Submitted to NRC.Aug 3, 2015 Pre-Application Meeting with NRC...Dec 1, 2015 Application Submittal to NRC.Jun 1, 2016 Safety Evaluation Report.Oct 30, 2018 License Issued Jan 30, 2019 Construction Phase I Begins..Apr 1, 2019 Operations Begin...Apr 1,

43 Conclusions a generation ahead by design CIS is a viable short-term solution for SNF The ELEA NM Site can be made available in Five years There are no technical impediments Holtec UMAX System is Certified by the NRC Benefits to NM are measured in Revenues and Jobs 43

44 Presenter Betsy Madru Vice President of Government Affairs, Waste Control Specialists

45 Update on WCS Plans for Consolidated Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel

46 WCS current facilities Treatment Facilities LSA Pad Byproduct Facility Hazardous Waste Landfill Byproduct Facility Federal Facility Federal Facility Hazardous Waste Landfill Compact Facility Compact Facility Administration Buildings and Treatment Facility 46

47 Clive Facility (Previous Industry Standard for Class A) 47

48 Barnwell Facility (Previous Industry Standard for Class B/C) 48

49 WCS Compact Facility (New Industry Standard) 49

50 Compact Waste Facility

51 Location of ISFSI 51

52 Project Scope Environmental impacts will be analyzed with storage of 40,000 MTHM for 40 years. 8 separate phases; storage of up to 5,000 MTHM in each phase. License includes three NUHOMS storage systems, which cover three decommissioned and seven operating sites. Discussions underway to include other systems for other sites Storage of used fuel from up to 10 decommissioned nuclear power plants (9 locations) will fit in Phase 1. License for 40 years with renewals of up to 20 years. Licensing with NRC has already started. Discussions with DOE have started on how this could impact the DOE strategy for used nuclear fuel. 52

53 Timeline February 2015 filed the notice of intent Currently meetings with interested parties, legislative members, NRC pre-application meetings April 2016 file license application June 2019 NRC issues license application Assumes a three year review period September 2019 Construction begins December 2020 Operations could begin 53

54 License Application WCS has the lead role in preparing the license application, with support from AREVA. First public pre-application meeting is in June. License application for Private Fuel Storage that was approved by the NRC provides a template. Safety Analysis Report will be prepared for AREVA S NUHOMS system. Additional systems to be added as license amendments. 54

55 Community Support WCS initiated discussions with Andrews County, Texas for support to site a Centralized Interim Storage Facility in the County. WCS underscored we were proceeding with the project only with the support of the local community. Andrews County resolution passed unanimously on January 20,

56 No Impact on Yucca The WCS facility has no real impact on the debate about a permanent repository. - Industry has generated 71,780 mtu/date and at a rate of 2,000-3,000 mtu/year, there is still need a permanent solution Allows transportation system to be developed and tested. 56

57 WCS is Budget Friendly No up-front federal expenditures for site selection, characterization and licensing. Consolidation of multiple sites into one will save licensing and security costs. Federal expenditures for transportation and storage will result in progress instead of studies. Opportunity to reduce payments from the unappropriated Judgment fund. Federal government estimates their liability to be almost $13 billion by

58 What Does WCS Need? WCS is willing to start the process with no federal funding, but needs to be able to be paid for storage along with DOE taking title to the waste for consolidated interim storage. Legislation or policy clarification Industry support for using the waste fund to pay for interim storage. DOE to make significant progress in transportation of used fuel so we have something to store in December

59 Questions? 59

60 Archived Webinar Slides and a recording of today's event will be made available within 5 business days at Register for additional webinars at the address above. Questions or Comments? Contact Gretchenn DuBois, NCSL Gretchenn.dubois@ncsl.org,

Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel. The Nuclear Energy Institute

Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel January 2008 The Nuclear Energy Institute NEI is the organization responsible for establishing unified nuclear industry policy on matters affecting the nuclear energy