Overview of the U.S. DOE's Office of Spent Fuel & Waste Disposition Activities

In the United States, nuclear energy is essential to tackle climate change. It currently provides 20 percent of the U.S. electricity and half of the U.S. clean, emission-free energy. As the U.S. continues to deploy nuclear energy as a solution for decarbonization, further progress needs to be made on the management of spent nuclear fuel. Final management of the Nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste is the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) responsibility. The DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is responsible for ongoing research and development (R&D) related to long-term disposition of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, which are managed by the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD). SFWD has two offices that cover different aspects of this oversight: the Office of Spent Fuel & Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) and the Office of Integrated Waste Management (IWM). The SFWST office has developed and is executing an R&D programme that will address critical scientific and technical issues associated with the long-term management of spent nuclear fuel. The IWM office supports evaluations, planning, and preparations for transport and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste and the possibility of interim storage for spent nuclear fuel. Activities include conducting system analyses to evaluate the integrated approach for transport, storage, and disposal; identifying potential functional and operational requirements; examining interim storage design configurations; planning for transportation of radioactive materials with appropriate stakeholder interactions (including states and tribes); prototype railcar development and testing; and routing analysis tool development.