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Q: Why doesn't the facility plan include a hot cell (a shielded area in which exposed fuel can be handled safely)? A: The NRC does not require a hot cell at a dry cask storage facility such as that proposed by PFS because there is no need for one for facility operations, nor for decontaminating casks or canisters, nor for handling or maintaining canisters. This facility is intended for temporary storage, not for handling or reprocessing spent fuel rods. If unshielded fuel rods were to be handled, the NRC would require a "hot cell," an enclosed space where radiation and contaminated materials could be contained. Q: The state asserts that a hot cell is required for an "MRS" facility; how is the PFS facility different? A: An MRS - Monitored Retrievable Storage facility - is the DOE facility designed to handle high-level waste in addition to spent fuel rods, and to handle and repackage these materials. The PFS facility, on the other hand, would never open a canister or handle the exposed spent fuel. The canisters would remain sealed at all times and would simply be transferred from transportation casks to concrete storage casks, without the necessity of handling, or exposing, the fuel rods. Q: What if a canister were damaged and found to be leaking radiation or contaminated materials? How would you fix the problem without a hot cell? A: The potential for canister damage is extremely remote due to the robust design of the steel canisters and concrete storage casks. These storage systems must also be licensed by the NRC to assure their safety. But in the very unlikely event of damage to the canister, it would be placed in a transportation cask, which is also licensed by the NRC, and which would contain any harmful levels of radioactivity. The canister would then be shipped back to the originating power plant. It is important to note that the shipping cask shielding provides adequate protection to meet NRC standards regardless of the condition of the internal canister. Q: What would PFS do if it found leaks or contamination resulting from mishandling at the originating utility company? A: Each utility company is licensed and inspected by the NRC and must follow all NRC regulations and quality assurance procedures. Loading of the canister at the utility is performed using a method that prevents contamination of the canister's exterior. Furthermore, each canister is tested for contamination at the originating utility prior to shipment, and the canister is tested again upon arrival at the PFS facility. If PFS detects contamination exceeding PFS standards, which are more stringent than NRC regulations, the canister will be returned to the utility for decontamination. The transportation cask, into which the canister is placed during transit, protects workers and the environment from contact with contaminated surfaces. Under NRC regulations, the shipping cask must adequately shield radiation regardless of the condition of the canister inside.
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