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Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Related Information
- Division of Spent Fuel Management Regulatory Conference
- Locations of Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations
- Dry Spent Fuel Storage Designs: NRC Approved for General Use
- Schedule for Rulemakings to Amend Part 72.214 for Dry Storage Casks
- Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel
- Materials Safeguards and Threat Assessment
- Proposed Security Rulemaking for Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations
- Spent Fuel Storage in Pools and Dry Casks Key Points and Questions & Answers
- Resource estimates for common licensing and oversight activities in Storage and Transportation
What We Regulate
There are two acceptable storage methods for spent fuel after it is removed from the reactor core:
- Spent Fuel Pools - Currently, most spent nuclear fuel is safely stored in specially designed pools at individual reactor sites around the country.
- Dry Cask Storage – Licensees may also store spent nuclear fuel in dry cask storage systems at independent spent fuel storage facilities (ISFSIs) at the following sites:
- At Reactor – Licensees may use dry storage systems when approaching their pool capacity limit.
- Away-From-Reactor – Licensees may use dry storage systems at one of the following locations:
- Decommissioned Reactor Sites – After terminating reactor operations and removing structures used in reactor operations, the licensee stores spent fuel on-site pending off-site transport to either a site-specific ISFSI that is authorized to receive the spent fuel, or a permanent geologic repository licensed for disposal.
- Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) – Dry cask storage at an away-from-reactor site pending disposal at a permanent disposal facility
For additional information, see our Spent Fuel Storage in Pools and Dry Casks, Key Points and Questions & Answers page.
How We Regulate
The NRC regulates spent fuel through a combination of regulatory requirements, licensing; safety and security oversight, including inspection, assessment of performance; and enforcement; operational experience evaluation; and regulatory support activities. For general information, see the How We Regulate page. For details, see the following:
- Regulations, Guidance, and Communications
- Licensing
- Oversight
- Public Involvement
- Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, September 22, 2017