Used Fuel Storage Security

With the policy decision not to pursue the Yucca Mountain Repository for final disposal of used light water reactor fuel, the tactical strategy is to store used fuel at the utility sites in either pool or dry cask storage systems. This strategy has been affirmed by the National Academies of Sciences as a safe and secure management option for used fuel. Current storage system operations are proven, and the regulatory framework is stable. In addition, this storage provides flexibility to readily adapt to decisions regarding reprocessing or direct disposal. This strategy also implies that the used fuel will be stored for a very long and indeterminate time. Although no time threshold has been defined, current guidance suggests that planning for long term storage needs to be considered for up to 300 years. This presents possible regulatory and technical issues with regard to both storage safety and security. This paper discusses work in progress to address security for very long term storage (VLTS) of used fuel. Security requirements from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy are reviewed and will be evaluated for impacts over the longer timeframe. Two of the issues associated with maintaining security for VLTS are discussed. Specifically, the applicability of self-protection is addressed and differences between NRC and DOE requirements are summarized. This work is part of a larger effort to provide options to address research and development needs, security issues, and concepts for investigating the technical and regulatory aspects of VLTS of used fuel and the used fuel storage system.