Nuclear waste shipping resumes

The Department of Energy has lifted its moratorium on nuclear-waste shipments imposed after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The routes no longer include plans for moving the shipments by rail through downtown Washington.

“The moratorium is lifted,” Energy Department spokesman Joe Davis said.

The nuclear waste is being shipped from nuclear power plants and Defense Department installations to federal storage sites.

Virginia officials confirmed this week that nuclear-waste shipments have resumed through their state.

“Yes, we have been notified of at least one instance I’m aware of,” said Kevin Hall, spokesman for Virginia Gov. Mark Warner. “But for obvious national security reasons, I would decline to provide any details.”

Most nuclear waste produced by power plants at Calvert Cliffs in Maryland and North Anna in Virginia is stored on site.

In the United States, nearly all high-level nuclear waste consists of fuel rods used to control the amount of energy generated by nuclear power plants. When the rods become saturated with radiation, they must be discarded. However, they can remain dangerously radioactive for centuries.

The 103 nuclear reactors in 31 states produce 20 percent of the nation’s electricity. Most of the waste not stored on site is shipped to federal storage facilities near Barnwell, S.C.; Hanford, Wash.; and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

A smaller amount of high-level radioactive waste is produced by the Defense Department during uranium processing for nuclear weapons.

The long-term solution will be underground storage at Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert. However, the Yucca Mountain facility is not scheduled to open until 2010.

The issue of safety arose this month when residents in upstate New York complained about nuclear-waste shipments from a former Defense Department facility in West Valley, N.Y. The shipment of 125 spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies moved by rail this week to the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

Energy Department officials said the moratorium on shipments was lifted sometime before the nuclear waste was shipped this week. However, they would not disclose details of when nuclear waste is shipped or the routes used, except with local authorities who participate in security arrangements.

“Shipments are monitored 24 hours a day and escorted 24 hours a day,” Mr. Davis said.

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