Not an afterthought

摘要

The transportation and storage subcommittee of US president Obama's Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future published draft recommendations in May 2011. Its report makes the important point that nuclear sites need to start planning of nuclear waste transport long before the material is due to be moved. Recommendation 6 of the report observes that the current system of standards and regulations governing the transport of spent fuel and other nuclear materials appears to be functioning well, and the safety record for past shipments of these types of materials is excellent. However, planning and coordination for the transport of spent fuel and high-level waste is complex and should commence at the very start of a project to develop consolidated storage capacity.