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Shipment Planning Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Priority Issues for the Midwestern States Transportation Plan OCRWM has much to gain and little to lose by developing a transportation operations plan in the very near term. A well-crafted plan will be adaptable to changes in shipping sites, destinations, and modes. Such a plan would demonstrate OCRWM’s ability to conduct shipments in a safe and timely manner to both Yucca Mountain and temporary storage facilities.   Transportation Implications of Storage Solutions With the opening date of Yucca Mountain far in the future, interim storage solutions are starting to surface. For any federal solutions, OCRWM must consider the impacts of transportation when selecting storage locations. NRC Regulation of Transportation The Midwestern states recommend that OCRWM’s shipments of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste follow the same safeguards and security criteria (e.g. regulations, orders, and additional security measures) as NRC-regulated shipments. Pre-emption of State Laws In 2006 and 2007, DOE supported legislation that, if passed, would have preempted state transportation laws for shipments to the national repository. The states in the Midwest joined their colleagues in the other regions in unanimously opposing these legislative proposals. OCRWM should recognize that supporting the preemption of state laws will significantly harm the cooperative relationships the program has spent much of the last two decades cultivating. Rail Shipments OCRWM has selected rail as the preferred mode for shipping spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste to the national repository at Yucca Mountain. There is no reciprocal inspection program for rail shipments comparable to what the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has in place for truck shipments. Because such a reciprocal program would enhance safety and reduce the incidence of states stopping rail shipments for inspection, OCRWM should work with the states to establish such a program. Routing The Midwestern states recommend that OCRWM identify, as soon as possible, the shipping routes in order for the Midwestern states to assess their training and financial assistance needs. Other Open Issues Section 180(c) The Midwestern states recommend that OCRWM proceed with reviewing and finalizing the draft policy and procedures on Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act as soon as possible. Regional Planning Process The Midwestern states recommend that OCRWM follow the regional planning process established by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the Foreign Research Reactor (FRR) Spent Fuel Acceptance Program. Winter Shipments The Midwestern states recommend that OCRWM address the implications of seasonal weather conditions in transportation planning. Closed Issues   Barge Shipments The Midwestern states recommend that no barge shipments take place on the Great Lakes. Mode Selection The Midwestern states believe OCRWM should issue its Record of Decision on the shipment mode so that the states can begin to examine the possible impacts of shipments. For more information, contact: Lisa Janairo last updated: September 02, 2008

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