Office of IntegratedWaste Management(IWM) Overview
Tran Le, PhD (Social Scientist)
On behalf of Erica Bickford, PhD (Director)
Office of Integrated Waste Management
US Department of Energy

CINR and University Program Webinar
May 31st, 2023
VirtualOffice ofIntegrated Waste
Management

MissionTo implement Federal interimstorage for commercial spent
nuclear fuel following a consentbased siting process.

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FY23 Appropriations• IWM Funded at $53 million• Note funding in FY21 and FY22 was split between two pots offunds (for Interim Storage and IWMS) and in FY23 they werecombined at DOE’s request. The net increase in funding is $15million.
• Explanatory statement for Integrated Waste Management
Systems:• The Department is directed to move forward under existing
authority to identify a site for a federal interim storage facility. TheDepartment is further directed to use a consent-based approach
when undertaking these activities.
• The Department is directed to continue site preparation activities
at stranded sites, to evaluate the re-initiation of regional transport,
and to undertake transportation coordination efforts.

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IWM Staff

Consent-Based Siting

The Consent-Based Siting Process• Prioritizes people and communities• Centers equity and environmental justice• Collaborative, phased, and adaptive

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Process Stages

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Funding Opportunity Announcement•$16 million$26 million; 6-16 awards; performance period is 18-24 months.

•Eligible awardees include:••

Higher-education institutions (colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning)•

Tribal, State, and local governments (municipalities, towns, cities, and counties)•Community foundations•

Non-governmental organizations (trade associations, 501(c)(3) organizations, and other public groups)

Geographically and institutionally diverse awardees••

Across the continental United States

Builds capacity for future engagement•

Establishes a community of practice•Strengthens involvement and mutual learning aimed at building trust•

Special focus on environmental justice• Awardees expected to be announced in late spring 2023
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Cross-Cutting Initiatives

Transportation Project
Atlas Railcar with Light Mock-up Load, October 2019

Railcar Development• Atlas (12-axle) railcar: continuing multiple
railcar testing– expected to be completed in2023• Buffer railcar: developed in conjunction withthe Atlas railcar and will be part of multiplerailcar testing along with Rail Escort Vehicle(REV)• Fortis (8-axle) railcar: contract signed anddesign and fabrication kick-off events (Sept2022)• Continue developing integrated security &safety monitoring system (ISSMS) for railcars

10Transportation ProjectEngagement with Tribes andStates• IWM funds 5 cooperative agreements with State Regional Groups
and the Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee• Supports regional and Tribal committee operations and staff support• Supports mid-year meetings• Supports participation in DOE’s National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF)
Annual Meeting and other DOE-hosted meetings• Supports travel to relevant trainings and technical meetings• Activities• IWM federal staff lead three NTSF ad hoc working groups• Section 180(c) ad hoc working group• SNF Rail/Routing ad hoc working group• SNF Management communications and outreach ad hoc working group• IWM leads a Transportation Core Group• Comprised of chairs/co-chairs/executive committees of State Regional Groups and Tribal
Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee11

Storage Facilities & Equipment• Project management for a federal
consolidated interim storage facility• DOE critical decision process under Order413.3B• Mission Validation Independent Review(kick-off April 2023)

SHIELDED TRANSFER CART

• Storage Facility Design• Functions and requirements• Reference design concepts• Canister inspection and remediationconcepts

DRY STORAGE CANISTERVERTICAL TRANSPORTATION CASKUNLOADING CELLVERTICAL STORAGE CASKLOADING CELLVERTICAL STORAGE CASKTRANSPORTATION CASK• Helium leak testing12