Welcome to the CSG Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee Update. Below are links and summaries of several important happenings from the last few weeks. Please don't hesitate to contact Lisa (920/458-5910) or Sarah (630/925-1922) with any questions or concerns about any of these issues.

Ten Year Itch

In the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, Congress gave DOE until 1998 to begin accepting commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at a federal repository. January 31st marked the 10-year anniversary of the passing of that deadline. To date, nothing has been sent to Yucca Mountain and a fence stands across the opening of the mountain's tunnel. Click here to read the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee press release on the subject.

Perhaps in response to the anniversary, last week Sen. James Inhofe (OK) introduced S2551, known as the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2008. In the bill, Sen. Inhofe proposes to change the repository licensing procedure so that DOE would only have to prove the repository could safely operate for 300 years. During that time, the license would be reviewed and revised at least every 50 years, and ongoing scientific and technological experiments would monitor and possibly improve the site. The waste would be retrievable during this time, and when DOE eventually closes the site they would have to apply for another license that proves the site's compliance with the EPA's radiation standard. The EPA is currently revising the standard to cover a one million year time period. In his floor statement, Sen. Inhofe said that he believes technology will evolve over the next 300 years, and therefore the repository should evolve. The bill does not include any provisions that would affect transportation.

Click here to read the bill.
Click here to read a section-by-section analysis.
Click here to read Sen. Inhofe's floor statement on the bill.

In related news, Missouri Sen. Scott Rupp recently introduced Senate Bill 919, which would establish fees for the transportation of radioactive waste within the state. The fee schedule in the bill is similar to Iowa's existing system, where shippers would be charged $1,800 per truck shipment and $25 per mile over 200 miles. Rail shipments would cost $1,300 for the first cask and $125 for each additional cask. Funds would be used for training, inspections, escorts, or any additional activities directly related to radioactive waste transportation.

Click here to see a copy of the bill.

Indy, Indiana, Indy, Indiana, Indy, Indiana...

Not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York, or Rome.... Yes, Indianapolis, Indiana will be the "home sweet home" of the next RMT committee meeting. We'll meet for the full day on June 18th and a half day on the 19th at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel. Watch for the official meeting announcement, with registration information and a preliminary agenda, in early March.

Click here for the hotel website
Click here for Indianapolis visitor information

Reciprocal Force

Last week, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released it's Level VI 2006 Annual Report. CVSA is a non-profit organization that sets inspection standards for commercial motor vehicle safety and security, and encourages reciprocity of inspections between states. The Level VI program includes the standards for radioactive materials transportation. The report includes a review of 2,174 inspection forms from across the nation. State police, law enforcement or other entities conducted the inspections primarily on WIPP shipments, though some other radioactive waste shipments were also inspected. The report analyzes all defects and the incident rate for putting vehicles out of service. Unfortunately none of the inspection reports are from Midwestern states, but the report is still quite informative and valuable.

Click here for a copy of the report.

Thanks for reading! Look for our next update in your inbox in two weeks.

Sincerely,
Lisa Janairo and Sarah Wochos
Committee Staff