After nearly two years of talks with Nevada official regarding disposal of a batch of uranium-233 from Oak Ridge at the Nevada National Security Site, the Department of Energy is moving ahead with the shipments by conducting a trial run this week. DOE had originally hoped to complete in 2013 the first shipments of the 403 canisters of Consolidated Edison Uranium Solidification Project, but opposition within the state led high-level DOE and Nevada officials to form a working group to discuss concerns. “After productive discussions with the State of Nevada, resulting in numerous accommodations related to transportation, disposal, and stakeholder engagement, the Department of Energy is moving forward with the shipments of the Consolidated Edison Uranium Solidification Program materials from the Oak Ridge site to the Nevada National Security Site,” DOE Chief of Staff Kevin Knobloch said in a statement yesterday.
The Department is conducting a test shipment this week that will not involve nuclear material, instead sending empty canisters from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to NNSS. DOE declined to provide details on the timeframe for shipments of the actual CEUSP material, citing security concerns. Last December, DOE and Nevada formalized the working group and signed a memorandum of understanding on NNSS, paving the way for the start of shipments. “This decision follows discussions by the leadership of both the State of Nevada and the Department of Energy to strengthen our working relationship and to address the concerns of the State over the past 18 months of focused dialogue,” Knobloch said. “The Nevada National Security Site is an important location for the Department of Energy, the State of Nevada, and our Nation, and we look forward to continuing this productive and mutually beneficial relationship.”
The state of Nevada does not have "consent authority" under the MOU and cannot say yes or no to the shipments, Michon Martin, chief counsel for Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R), said in a statement yesterday. “The NNSS Working Group, for the first time, gives Nevada a seat at the table,” Martin said. “Although we still do not have consent authority under the MOU, it does ensure that Nevada will always be informed of unique missions at the NNSS that warrant additional scrutiny. We look forward to continuing these productive and promising discussions with DOE and working towards better policies and procedures surrounding the use of the NNSS.” Martin added: “Nevada’s environmental, technical, public safety, legal and administrative experts have determined that the CEUSP materials meet the criteria for disposal at the NNSS.”
