Tools to Support Informed Participation in Consent-Based Siting of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste - 23276

Management of the nation's commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This includes finding one or more sites to store and dispose of these materials. DOE is committed to a consent-based approach to siting and to a waste management system that enables broad participation and recognizes equity and environmental justice. Communities have an opportunity to participate in the consent-based process by interacting with DOE through a series of phases that offer general direction and guidance, and help determine whether and how hosting a facility is aligned with community goals. Potential outcomes from the consent-based siting process could include either a negotiated consent agreement or a determination that, after exploring the option in good faith, the community is not interested in serving as a host. Either outcome would be considered a success due to the information exchanged and increased communication. Beginning with early engagement and outreach (Phase 1), communities may learn more about consenting to host a federal consolidated interim storage facility (CISF). Fundamental to this process is DOE's commitment to informed participation, transparency, and stepwise and collaborative decision-making that is objective and science-based. Consistent with this commitment, DOE's Office of Integrated Waste Management (IWM) is developing the Stakeholder Tool for Assessing Radioactive Transportation (START). START is a geospatial, web-based tool developed to provide visualization and initial evaluation of transportation options associated with future SNF and HLW shipment planning and operations. This includes characterization of safety, economic and environmental conditions on and in proximity to shipment origins, along prospective transportation routes, and at prospective receipt facilities. Information is available within START in map, graphic, and tabular form, and which can be easily exported to other software tools. This paper describes some of the anticipated information needs of communities interested in consent-based siting and demonstrates how START can be used to advance the learning process in a participatory, transparent, and collaborative manner. (authors)