Impacts of Nuclear Waste Transportation

Accidents are inevitable and widespread contamination possible, the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects conclude in their report, Potential Transportation Impacts of S.104 and H.R. 1270 [In the 106 Congress, the bill is H.R. 45]. The risks of highly irradiated nuclear waste transportation are calculated using both the Department of Energy and independent consultant analysis. The report demonstrates the importance of examining nuclear waste transportation impacts in the debate over H.R. 45. Although the nuclear industry has claimed that transportation is safe and not an issue, the reality is that shipping highly irradiated nuclear waste across the county through 43 states, within a half mile of 50 million Americans, is a dangerous undertaking. The industry falsely claims that the small number of shipments which have been transported safely is proof that highly irradiated nuclear waste transportation is feasible. Yet, H.R. 45 will require in the next 30 years over 100,000 shipments, a 4350% increase in number of shipments to date.

Because accidents are inevitable, a public debate is necessary for determining if the benefits outweigh the risks. By using DOE accident rates which employ general truck and rail accident records and considering the total miles nuclear waste will be transported, we can calculate the number of accidents likely to occur. An astonishing 210 to 354 accidents would result from the 30 year shipping enterprise mandated by H.R. 45.

The nuclear industry has also argued that the transportation casks are fully tested and safe. Their lobbyists have shown a video to Congressional staff showing tractor trailers slamming into brick walls with no radiation releases. However, the video was made in the 1970's and today's transport casks are not full scale, physically tested. Because we can be sure that accidents will happen, it is essential that all impacts are considered before concluding that shipping highly irradiated waste is safe.

The characteristics of highly irradiated nuclear waste must be fully understood. First, it is important to understand the dangerous nature of nuclear waste. Public Citizen uses the term "highly irradiated" to describe this type of waste because it is deadly. A person standing one yard away from an unshielded, 10 year old fuel assembly, would receive a lethal dose of radiation (500 rem) in less than three minutes. A thirty-second exposure (100 rem) at the same distance, would significantly increase the risk of cancer or genetic damage.

Second, we should consider that over time transportation will likely become safer with improvements in technology. Although we do not advocate leaving this waste at reactors permanently, we do believe that in 30-50 years there may be acceptable reasons to transport this waste. At the same time, waiting allows for the natural decay of elements to lower the radiation and thermal heat content of the waste and inherently make future transportation safer.

The final and most telling consequence is described in an analysis by the DOE on the repercussions of a rural transportation accident. The study, part of the 1986 Environmental Assessment for the Yucca Mountain repository site, warns that a scenario involving a high speed impact, long duration fire, and fuel oxidation would contaminate a 42 square mile area, require 462 days to clean up, and cost $620 million. With the massive increase in transportation mandated by H.R. 45, the probability of this type of accident will increase greatly. Are these consequences worth the risk just to bailout an industry?

In examining a comparable situation such as hazardous materials transportation accidents, the future for needless highly irradiated nuclear waste shipments does not look bright. Data from the Department of Transportation reveals that in the last 10 years, just under 100,000 accidents released some form of hazardous materials in the U.S. and its territories. These releases caused over $300 million in damages, over 4000 minor injuries, over 350 major injuries, and over a staggering 100 deaths. These statistics are unacceptable. The following two pages show individual state data from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Information System. These tables show the damage inflicted over a 10 year period of hazardous material releases from transportation accidents.

If the risks of highly irradiated nuclear waste transportation are so significant, then their must be compelling reasons to ship it out. Unfortunately, the real reasons for moving waste are to bailout the struggling nuclear industry and give nuclear power a "facelift" in the public's eye. Please, for the 50 million Americans exposed to the risk of transportation, oppose H.R. 45.

* Incidents can be defined as transportation related accidents that have resulted in the release of a hazardous material.

For more information contact:

Amy Shollenberger
(202)546-4996
215 Penn. Ave. SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
ashollen@citizen.org