Orano USA’s new transport cask is being put to use for shipment of low-level radioactive-waste generated by decommissioning of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.
The first shipment of reactor internals from the plant within a MP197HB transport cask arrived recently at the Waste Control Specialists radioactive waste disposal facility in Andrews County, Texas, according to an Orano press release.
This is not the first shipment of parts from the reactor vessel – two-thirds was previously cut up, packaged, and sent to Texas. But this was the first transport involving use of the NUHOMS radioactive-waste canister held within the MP197HB cask.
“The precision work to dismantle and remove the reactor vessel and its internal components continues to progress ahead of schedule,” the release says. “Orano is deploying state-of-the-art underwater cutting technology in a highly controlled environment to safely remove the activated parts, and package and transport them to Waste Control Specialists in Texas for disposal.”
Then-owner Entergy retired Vermont Yankee’s single boiling-water reactor in December 2014, after more than 42 years of service. New York City-based demolition specialist NorthStar Group Services bought the plant in January 2019, assuming all responsibility for decommissioning, site restoration, and spent fuel management. It is supported by Orano and Waste Control Specialists.
Orano and NorthStar also formed Accelerated Decommissioning Partners to acquire and decommission other nuclear power plants. It is finalizing a deal to decommission the Crystal River nuclear power plant, though that is effectively a work-for-hire job under a $540 contract with Duke Energy, which retains ownership of the facility.
Decommissioning of Vermont Yankee is planned to be complete no later than 2030, and potentially as early as 2026.
