3 Local NWMO Transportation Exhibits Well Received
The NWMO Mobile Transportation Exhibit. Photo NWMO
The NWMO Transport Exhibit is will attended in Schreiber. Photo SchreiberTwp
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO – The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) held local transportation exhibits last month (July) in Wawa, Schreiber and Hornepayne, Northwestern Ontario communities involved in the “Learn More” process. The mobile transportation exhibit originally made its debut at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association’s conference in April. All 3 exhibits were very well attended with 5O people visiting at each of the Wawa and Hornepayne exhibits and approximately 110 visitors in Schreiber.
The exhibit provides a hands-on opportunity to learn more about plans for the safe and secure transportation of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. Among the information included in the exhibit are details regarding safety which says the NWMO “is built into every element of the transportation system, beginning with the transport container”. Visitors learned how containers are designed to protect the public by withstanding severe accident conditions. Made of a solid stainless steel box with walls nearly 30 centimetres thick, a lid attached by 32 bolts, and an impact limiter, when loaded with 192 used CANDU fuel bundles, the containers are said to weighs almost 35 tonnes.
“The transport package is incredibly robust,” explained Chris Hatton, the NWMO’s Director of Repository Design Development. “Only after it has been shown to withstand fire, immersion, a freedrop, and puncturing will the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission certify it for transporting used nuclear fuel.”
The transportation of used nuclear fuel is a stringently regulated activity involving both Transport Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The transportation package is designed to meet a series of challenging performance requirements specified by the CNSC and based on international standards developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It must undergo a series of severe tests to ensure its radioactive contents are not released.
The exhibit provides details regarding how trailers to haul used nuclear fuel containers are specially designed for the purpose, and include secure tie downs and anti-sway and anti-roll features. The tractor pulling the unit has numerous safety features, including a digital survey meter to detect any leaks, a shutdown switch, and sophisticated communications and tracking equipment to keep in constant contact with a control centre. Visitors also learned about how drivers must have an excellent safe driving record and will be highly trained. Emergency response and security plans are an important part of the overall transportation plan.
As part of Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term care of used nuclear fuel, shipments of used fuel from interim storage sites to a repository would not begin until 2035 at the earliest.If you would like to learn more about transportation of used nuclear fuel, go to Safe and Secure Transportation of Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel at www.nwmo.ca/brochures.
