MANY ROADS TO TRAVEL: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO ROUTE SELECTION FOR YUCCA MOUNTATION SHIPMENTS

This paper examines the routing implications of the potential shipment of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The authors describe the shipment volumes, campaign duration, and route options likely to be used to transport spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste nationally and in Nevada. The authors describe several alternate routing strategies, using a variety of decision-criteria and varying levels of stakeholder involvement. The authors emphasize the importance of building on the success of past efforts to achieve consensus on route selection and the associated administrative controls that regulate use of specific routes. The authors note that route selection decisions may become effectively permanent designations inducing significant social and economic impacts. The authors conclude that routing decisions will require great care and thought to ensure the transportation of materials is performed safely, with the minimum impact on affected communities and individuals.