Transportation

High Level Radioactive Waste

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared three analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) associated with the proposed disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in a geologic repository at the Yucca Mountain Site in Nye County, Nevada. The first analysis:

The second and third analyses are set forth in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada:

Nevada Rail Transportation Corridor (DOE/EIS-0250F-S2) (Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS) , and the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Rail Alignment for the Construction and Operation of a Railroad in Nevada to a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0369) (Rail Alignment EIS). These analyses evaluate the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a railroad for shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from an existing rail line in Nevada to the repository at Yucca Mountain, in order to help the Department decide whether to construct and operate a railroad, and if so, within which corridor and along which alignment. Because both the Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS and the Rail Alignment EIS address potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction and operation of a railroad, they are bound together in one document for the convenience of the reader.

The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS (DOE/EIS-0250F-S2) analyzes the potential impacts of constructing and operating a railroad to connect the Yucca Mountain repository site to an existing rail line near Wabuska, Nevada (in the Mina rail corridor). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS analyzes the Mina rail corridor at a level of detail commensurate with that of the rail corridors analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0250F). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS also updates relevant information regarding other rail corridors previously analyzed in the Yucca Mountain FEIS (Carlin, Jean, and Valley Modified) to identify any significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns.

The Rail Alignment EIS (DOE/EIS-0369) analyzes the potential impacts of railroad construction and operation along common segments and alternative segments within the Caliente (selected in a previous Record of Decision, 69 Federal Register 18557) and Mina rail corridors for the purpose of determining an alignment for the construction and operation of a railroad for shipments of spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and materials from an existing rail line in Nevada to a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. The Rail Alignment EIS also analyzes the potential impacts of constructing and operating support facilities.

More Information:

View Video: Safe Passage: An Overview of Plans for the Railroad to Yucca Mountain

(Broadband 8MB)

(56K Modem 1MB)

Nevada Potential Corridors:

The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS analyzes the potential impacts of constructing and operating a railroad to connect the Yucca Mountain repository site to an existing rail line near Wabuska, Nevada (in the Mina rail corridor). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS analyzes the Mina rail corridor at a level of detail commensurate with that of the rail corridors analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0250F). The Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS also updates relevant information regarding other rail corridors previously analyzed in the Yucca Mountain FEIS (Carlin, Jean, and Valley Modified) to identify any significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns.

The Mineral County Assessment of current capabilities and resources of Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot's (HWAD) fire and emergency services anaylizes and assesses these services particularly as they relate to the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository and any potential shipments of high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel through Mineral County and provides current (2004) emergency readiness for response to a transportation incident involving radioactive materials.

Currently the Caliente Corridor is the DOE's preferred route.

If DOE sele cted the Caliente Route this map shows the representative rail and truck transportation routes.

If DOE selected the Mina Route this map shows the representative rail and truck transportation routes.

Caleinte Rail Corridor - Since the 1996 release by DOE of its first environmental assessment of the Yucca Mountain project, the mainline Union Pacific (UP) rail line through Lincoln County and the City of Caliente has been viewed by the federal government as a likely corridor along which shipments of nuclear waste would move through Nevada to the Nevada test site.  (see the Record of Decision and the Federal Register notice). If the repository is licensed, shipments could begin as early as 2010. More recently, DOE's Transportation Study 2, identifies the UP mainline, a rail to truck cask transfer facility at Caliente, and a heavy-haul truck route across Lincoln County. Interactive Google Caliente Route Map

The Department of Energy has set $3.155 billion as the latest price tag to run rail about 319 miles from Caliente in Eastern Nevada to the Yucca site in Nye County. A previous cost estimate, disclosed in December 2005, was $2 billion. Yucca rail estimated at more than $3b

The numbers underscore the growing cost of the proposed Nevada nuclear waste complex, and the likely challenges facing the Energy Department to secure funding from Congress for the undertaking.

Below are links to the two DOE maps that are referenced in the Notice of Intent for the Caliente Rail Line EIS.  To expand the maps, put your cursor on the lower right-hand corner of the map and click on the square icon that comes up:

Land Use Map:   

Corridor Map: 

A safe, dependable transportation system is a crucial component in the operation of a permanent geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982(NWPA) requires the U.S. Department of Energy transport the spent fuel from the reactor sites to the repository.

In accordance with the transportation provisions of the NWPA, the DOE will transport under contract the delivery of commercial spent nuclear fuel.

Supplemental Rail Corridor and Rail Alignment Environmental Impact Statements (very large file at 122 MB)

Scoping meetings were held across the State of Nevada and the Summary of public comments, May 2007 [pdf] can be viewed here (leaving Mineral's web site). Click here for the public scoping comments taken at the Hawthorne, Nevada convention center in November, of 2007.

Besides the map at the right, instructions to view the Nevada rail corridors by using Google Earth can be seen by clicking here.

How to use Google Earth® to view the rail corridors

What is Section 180c and how might it affect you?

Section 180(c) of the NWPA requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance and funds to States for training of public safety officials of appropriate units of local governments and Native American Tribes through whose jurisdictions the Secretary plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste.

Under Section 180(c) of the NWPA, DOE shall provide technical and financial assistance for training of local public safety officials to States and Indian Tribes through whose jurisdictions the DOE plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste to a facility authorized under Subtitle A or C of the NWPA (NWPA-authorized facility). The training is to cover both safe routine transportation and emergency response procedures. The DOE published a notice of revised proposed policy to set forth its revised plans for implementing Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (the NWPA) with a deadline for stakeholders to comment ending in October, 2007. Prior Public Comments on Section 180c from 1998 (DOE Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste web site)

To access the index of Public Comments in Response to the revised DOE plans to implement 180(c) Notice of Revised Proposed Policy and Procedures for Safe Transportation and Emergency Response Training for year 2007 and 2008 please click here.

To access the Mineral County Board of County Commissioners comments to Section 180c please click here.

Radioactive Waste Casks

The schematic on the right shows an example of a radioactive waste cask mounted on a frame for transporting. Click here for a diagram of a typical spent fuel tranportation cask (pdf).

This DOE document provides specifications for selected system components of the Transportation, Aging and Disposal (TAD) canister-based system. Transportation, Aging and Disposal Canister System Performance
Specification (large PDF file 13.8 MB)

Transportation Information

Surface Transportation Board

The STB is an economic regulatory agency that Congress charged with the fundamental missions of resolving railroad rate and service disputes and reviewing proposed railroad mergers. The STB is decisionally independent, although it is administratively affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was created in the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 and is the successor agency to the Interstate Commerce Commission.

The agency has jurisdiction over railroad rate and service issues and rail restructuring transactions (mergers, line sales, line construction, and line abandonments); certain trucking company, moving van, and non-contiguous ocean shipping company rate matters; certain intercity passenger bus company structure, financial, and operational matters; and rates and services of certain pipelines not regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Surface Transportation Board rejects denies request to reject DOE's Application to build 300-mile rail line in Nevada

Surface Transpotation Boards home website -

On March 17, 2008 the U.S. Department of Energy filed an application for authority to build and operate an approximately 300-mile railroad line in Nevada. In connection with this proposed transaction, the STB has developed a fact sheet explaining the STB’s procedures for evaluating the proposal, and providing jurisdictional and other background information. To see the STB’s fact sheet, click here.

Surface Transporation Boards official filing in denial of State of Nevada's motion to reject DOE's Application to build 300-mile rail line in Nevada

Transporation External Coordination Working Group - This link will take you to The Rail Topic Group section of the TEC website. They have the responsibility to identify and discuss current issues and concerns regarding rail transportation of radioactive materials by the Department of Energy (DOE). The group’s current task is to examine different aspects of rail transportation including inspections, tracking and radiation monitoring, planning and process, and review of lessons learned. Ultimately, the main goal for members will be to assist in the identification of potential rail routes for shipments to Yucca Mountain, in a manner that will contribute to a safe, dynamic, and flexible transportation system. The identification of potential routes from reactor sites and DOE facilities will serve as an important first step in transportation planning, examining alternative routes, and getting feedback from stakeholders

Transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to Yucca Mountain

Transporation External Coordination Working Group - This link will take you to The Rail Topic Group section of the TEC website. They have the responsibility to identify and discuss current issues and concerns regarding rail transportation of radioactive materials by the Department of Energy (DOE). The group’s current task is to examine different aspects of rail transportation including inspections, tracking and radiation monitoring, planning and process, and review of lessons learned. Ultimately, the main goal for members will be to assist in the identification of potential rail routes for shipments to Yucca Mountain, in a manner that will contribute to a safe, dynamic, and flexible transportation system. The identification of potential routes from reactor sites and DOE facilities will serve as an important first step in transportation planning, examining alternative routes, and getting feedback from stakeholders

The following brochures and fact sheets are published by the DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Office. they also offer this video interactive: The safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel to describe their plan of action in transporting high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel to the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository.

• Brochure: Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation [pdf]
• Fact Sheet: Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation
• Brochure: Transportation Strategic Plan [pdf]
• Brochure: Transporting Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Nuclear

The Department of Energy prefers the Caliente Corridor because it is remote, has few land use conflicts, and can avoid Air Force land. The railroad, when it’s complete, will occupy a strip of land about 200 feet wide. The mile-wide corridor set aside by the Bureau of Land Management allows them to finalize the “exact” route of the railroad within that corridor. The land “not” used will return to its previous status. Existing rail lines can carry shipments as far as Caliente.

One DOE option brings shipments through Goldfield. Two others bypass the town. From there, shipments would travel generally west, winding through passes and valleys. The closest town is Rachel, in Lincoln County, about 20 miles south. From there it’s northwest, skirting mountains and the northern edge of the Air Force Test and Training Range, to Warm Springs Summit. The line would be visible from Nevada Route 6 as it crosses the 62-hundred foot summit. The line would continue west to a point about 15 miles north of Goldfield, where it turns south. The line would then pass about 3 miles east of Goldfield—not through the town itself.

Click on image to watch video about nuclear waste and DOE's rail transporation plans. Nevada map showing proposed rail corridors