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# Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

## What We Regulate

Spent nuclear fuel refers to uranium-bearing fuel elements that have been used at commercial nuclear reactors and that are no longer producing enough energy to sustain a nuclear reaction. Once the spent fuel is removed from the reactor the fission process has stopped, but the spent fuel assemblies still generate significant amounts of radiation and heat. Because of the residual hazard, spent fuel must be shipped in containers or casks that shield and contain the radioactivity and dissipate the heat.

Over the last 40 years, thousands of shipments of commercially generated spent nuclear fuel have been made throughout the United States without causing any radiological releases to the environment or harm to the public.

Most of these shipments occur between different reactors owned by the same utility to share storage space for spent fuel, or they may be shipped to a research facility to perform tests on the spent fuel itself. In the near future, because of a potential high-level waste repository being built, the number of these shipments by road and rail is expected to increase.

## How We Regulate

The NRC regulates spent fuel transportation through a combination of safety and security requirements, certification of transportation casks, inspections, and a system of monitoring to ensure that requirements are being met. For general information, see the How We Regulate page. For details, see the following pages under Nuclear Materials Transportation:
            - Regulations, Guidance, and Communications
            - Package Certification
            - Shipping Requirements
            - Oversight

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, May 16, 2023

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#### Related Information

            - Flyer – Security of Irradiated Reactor Fuel in Transit
            - Division of Fuel Management Licensing Process Expectations
            - Division of Spent Fuel Management Regulatory Conference
            - Transportation Frequently Asked Questions
            - Diagram and Description of a Typical Spent Fuel Transportation Cask
            - Spent Fuel Transportation Assessment (NUREG-2125)
            - Safety of Spent Fuel Transportation (NUREG/BR-0292)
            - Backgrounder on Transportation of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Materials
            - Materials Transportation
            - Resource estimates for common licensing and oversight activities in Storage and Transportation
            - New Fuels Infographic

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, May 16, 2023