LINE Full Report

7/29/2019 LINE Full Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/line-full-report 1/60

FULL REPORT | JANUARY 2013





TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................................................2

TheLINECommission............................................................................... 3

IdahoandNuclearEnergy................................................................................ 5

IdahoNationalLaboratory...........................................................................5

INLResearchMission.............................................................................. 5

INLCleanup.........................................................................................8

RemainingChallengesforINLCleanup......................................................12

OtherPublicSafetyandSecurityConsiderationsforINLSite...............................16

PrivateNuclear-EnergyCompanies............................................................18

UniversityPrograms..................................................................................18

IdahoStateUniversity.............................................................................19

BoiseStateUniversity.............................................................................19

UniversityofIdaho............................................................................... 20

ALookAhead–OpportunitiesforIdaho........................................................... 22

NuclearEnergyOutlookintheU.S.............................................................. 23

OpportunitiesforIdaho............................................................................ 25

INL.................................................................................................. 25

IdahoUniversities................................................................................. 25

CommercialNuclearFirms..................................................................... 27

CommissionRecommendations.......................................................................31

ContinuetoWorkCooperativelywiththeU.S.DepartmentofEnergyandOther ImpactedStatestoAddressRemainingEnvironmentalRisksattheINLSite............. 32

ExerciseLeadershipastheU.S.FormulatesFederalEnergyandNuclearWaste ManagementPolicies................................................................................ 35

CapitalizeonIdaho’sNuclearTechnologyCompetenciesbySupportingtheGrowthof ExistingNuclearBusinesses,theCorrespondingInfrastructure,andtheAttractionof NewNuclearBusinesses............................................................................. 36

InvestinInfrastructuretoEnableINLandIdahoUniversitiestoSuccessfullyCompete forU.S.andGlobalResearchOpportunities................................................... 37

DevelopandPromotetheCenterforAdvancedEnergyStudiesasaRegional,National andGlobalResourceforNuclearEnergyResearch............................................ 39

StrengthenandExpandNuclearEducationandWorkforceTrainingOfferings......... 39

SummaryofRecommendedActions.............................................................. 40

APPENDIXI:CommissionCharterandRoster................................................... 42

APPENDIXII:SubcommitteeScope................................................................ 44

OrganizationoftheLINECommission’sSubcommittees................................... 44

SafetyandEnvironment............................................................................ 44

Technology:Current&Future.................................................................... 44

EducationandWorkforce........................................................................... 45

Infrastructure......................................................................................... 45

NationalandGlobalLandscape................................................................... 46

APPENDIXIII:LINECommissionMeetingScheduleandAgendas.......................... 47



America’snuclearenterprisehasdeeprootsintheStateofIdaho.

Theserootsstretchbacktothelate1940swhen,intheaftermathofWorldWarII,the

U.S.AtomicEnergyCommissionbegansearchingforasitetohostaNationalReactor

TestingStation(NRTS).TheNRTSwastoserveasatest-bedfortheemergingconceptof

nuclear-generatedelectricity.In1949theAECselectedaformernavalgunneryrangeand

adjoiningpropertywestofIdahoFalls–about890squaremilesinall–toserveasthesitefortheNRTS.Bylate1951,Experimental

BreederReactor-1attheNRTSbecame

therstpowerplanttoproduceelectricity

usingatomicenergyandin1955,nearby

Arco,Idahobecametherstcommunity

litbynuclearpower.

Overtheyears,morethan50experimentalnuclearreactors,anuclearfuelreprocessing

plant,scoresofresearchfacilities,andseveralnuclearwastemanagementanddisposalfacilities

werebuiltonthesiteofwhatisnowknownastheIdahoNationalLaboratory(INL).Mostof

thereactorsandtheoriginalreprocessing

planthavelongbeenshutdown–andare

beingcleanedup–butINLisstillhostto

someofthemostcapablenuclearenergy

research,developmentanddemonstration

infrastructureintheworld,includingthree

operatingresearchreactorsandseveral

facilitiesforthehandling,examinationand

processingofradioactivematerials.

In 1955, the city of Arco, Idaho

became the rst community

lit by nuclear power.

INTRODUCTION

Aerial view of EBR-I faci

The Hot Fuel Examination Facility at MFC



3

Today,INLalsoremainsimportantasamajordriver

oflocalandstatewideeconomicactivity.Accordingtoa

studyconductedbyBoiseStateUniversityin2010,INL

isresponsiblefor24,000directandindirectjobsin

Idaho—or3.5percentofthestate’soverallemployment.1

ThesamestudyestimatedthatINL’stotalcontribution

totheIdahoeconomyexceeds$3.5billiononanannual

basis.INL’spresencehaspromptedseveralleadingprivate

companiesinvolvedinnucleartechnologyandservicesto

locateoperationsinthestate;inaddition,Idaho’smajor

universitieshavewell-respectedprogramsinnuclear

engineeringandrelatedelds.

Despitethislonghistory,andtheconsiderableinstitutional,

educational,andinfrastructureassetsthatexisttosupport

thenuclearenergyindustryinIdaho,thefutureofINL

andofthebroadernuclearenterprise—inIdahoandelsewhere—isuncertain.Anumberoffactorsaccountfor

thisuncertainty:

• Increasingpressureonfederalbudgets.

• Reducedinterestinbuildingnewnuclearplantsinthe

UnitedStatesasaresultoflownaturalgaspricesandpost-

Fukushimasafetyconcerns.

• Effortsbyotherstatestoestablishcompetenciesthatwill

competewithINL.

• ThedecisiontowithdrawtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy’s

licenseapplicationforageologicrepositoryatYucca

MountaininNevada,whichleavesspentnuclearfueland

high-levelwasteattheINLsitewithnoplacetogofor

permanentdisposal.

THE LINE COMMISSION:

A GOERNOR’S FORESIGHT

RecognizingthatIdahohasamajorstrategicandeconomic

interestinmaintainingINL’sleadershiproleandinhelping

thenuclearenergyindustrysuccessfullymeetthesebroader

challenges,IdahogovernorC.L.“Butch”OtterestablishedtheLeadershipinNuclearEnergyor“LINE”Commissionin

February2012.

TheGovernorrecognizedthatrecentnationaldevelopments

inthenuclearenergysectorwillcausetheStateofIdahoto

faceimportantchoicesinthefutureandthatheneededto

understandthebestoptionsavailable.

1http://cobe.boisestate.edu/les/2010/12/Impacts_Brochure-Web1.pdf

Inside view of Yucca Mountain

http://cobe.boisestate.edu/files/2010/12/Impacts_Brochure-Web1.pdf

http://cobe.boisestate.edu/files/2010/12/Impacts_Brochure-Web1.pdf



4

ConsistentwiththedirectionoutlinedinGovernorOtter’s

executiveorder[seeAppendixI],theCommissionfocused

onthreeissuesofimmediateimportancetothefutureofthe

nuclearenergyindustriessectorinIdaho:

• EnsuringthattheuniqueresearchcapabilitiesofINLcontinuetoplayanimportantroleinsupportingIdaho’seconomic

growthandthenation’senergysecuritygoingforward.

• ProtectingtheenvironmentofIdahoandthehealthofits

citizensbycompletingacomprehensivecleanupoftheINL

siteandworkingforthesafemanagementandpermanent

dispositionofallnuclearlegacymaterialsandwastes

currentlyinIdaho.

• Buildingthetechnological,infrastructure,andworkforce

assetsneededtopositionIdahoasamajorplayerinfuture

domesticandglobalmarketsforreliable,carbon-free

nuclearenergy.

Tothoroughlyexploretheseissuesanddevelop

recommendationsforthefullgrouptoconsider,the

Commissionestablishedsubcommitteeson:(1)safetyand

theenvironment,(2)currentandfuturetechnology,(3)

educationandworkforceneeds,(4)infrastructure,and(5)

thenationalandgloballandscapefornuclearenergymore

broadly.Thesubcommitteesaddedadditionalsubjectmatter

expertstothecommitteesandwereaskedtoanswerand

researchstrategicquestions.Thespecicquestionsposedto

eachsubcommitteearediscussedindetailinAppendixIIofthisreport.

TheLINECommissionsoughttogatherasmuchinformationas

possibleinthemostbalanced,transparent,andfocusedmanner

possible.TheCommissionwasoftheviewthatthisapproachwas

mostlikelytodojusticetothecomplex,yetsignicant,relevance

ofthenuclearindustrytotheStateofIdaho.

SpecicstepsintheCommission’sdeliberativeprocessare

outlinedbelow:

• Nationalandlocalexpertsweresought,whenpossible,on

everytopicaddressedbytheCommission.TheCommission

wasveryfortunatetoreceivesupportandexperttestimony

fromsomeofthemostknowledgeableofcialsandindustry

expertsinthenation.

• Meetingswereheldaroundthestate(inBoise,IdahoFalls,

TwinFalls,andMoscow)toensurethattheCommission

heardfromcitizensacrossallregions.

• Publicinputwascriticaltotheprocess.Timewasextendedin

eachmeetingforpubliccomment,andaLINECommission

websitewasestablishedtoencourageadditionalcommentand

toserveasarepositoryforallofthekeydocumentsassociated withtheLINECommission’swork.

• Meetingswereheldinapublicsettingand,wherepossible,

werebroadcastliveviawebstreamingormadeavailable

usingvideo-conferencingtechnologytoensuretheprocess

wasopenandtransparent.

• AProgressReportontheworkoftheCommissionandits

subcommitteeswasissuedforpublicreviewandcomment

inearlyDecember2012.TheCommissionreceived

hundredsofcommentsbytheJanuary4thcommentdate

andconsideredthoseinthepreparationofitsnalreport.Thisreportsetsforththenalrecommendationsfromthe

CommissiontotheGovernor.Readersshouldnotethatthis

reporttotheGovernorisstrictlyadvisoryinnature.The

CommissionisnotauthorizedtosetpolicyforthestateofIdaho.



AsnotedintheIntroduction,thenuclearindustriessector–andINLinparticular–havealong-standingandextremelyimportantpresenceinIdaho’seconomy.MuchoftheLINECommission’s

workhasthereforefocusedonstrategiesforpreservingandbuildingonthislegacyatatime

ofrapidchangeanddifcultchallengesforfederally-fundedresearch,thefederalnuclear

IDAHO AND NUCLEAR ENERGY

wastemanagementprogramandforcommercialnucleardevelopmentalike.Thissection

reviewsthethreemaintypesofnuclear-relatedactivitiesandassetsthatcurrentlyexistinthestate:INL,privatecompanies,anduniversityandcollegeprograms.

IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY:

THE NATION’S LEAD NUCLEAR ENERGY LABORATORY

IdahoNationalLaboratoryisthenation’sagship

researchfacilityfornuclearenergy.Inoperation

since1949,thefacilitywasdeclaredanational

laboratoryinthe1970s.Overtimeitcametohost

theworld’slargestconcentrationofnuclearresearch

reactors,aswellastheresearchteamsthatdevelopedtheworld’srstnuclear-poweredsubmarinereactorandtrainingprogramsforthousands

ofsailorsservingonnuclear-poweredvesselsintheU.S.Navy.

Sinceitsreorganizationin2005,IdahoNationalLaboratoryhasbeenthenation’s

leadingfacilityfornuclearenergyresearch,development,anddemonstration.Today,

INLisoneoftenmulti-programnationallaboratories

ownedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy(DOE).The

INLsiteisalsohosttoamulti-billiondollar,decades-

longefforttoaddressenvironmentalcontaminationand

otherlegacyissuesatthesite.

INL RESEARCH MISSION

Day-to-daymanagementandoperationofINListhe

responsibilityofBattelleEnergyAlliance(BEA),which

consistsofBattelle,Babcock&Wilcox,URSCorporation,the

ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,andauniversityconsortium

whichincludesthethreeIdahoresearchuniversities.

INL cyber security teams a

considered among the bes

the nation.

Aerial view of Advanced

Test Reactor Complex



6

• Effortstoadvancenuclearoperations,includingallaspects

ofthemanagementandrecyclingofspentnuclearfuel;

• Thedevelopmentandvalidationofadvancedfuelsand

materialsperformance,computermodelsandsimulations;and

•Thedevelopmentofnewfuels,

materialsandreactortechnologies.

Althoughnuclearenergyremains

itsprimaryresearchfocus,INLalso

conductsworkonrenewableenergy

systemsanddevelopsinnovative

technologiesintheareasofnationalandhomelandsecurity.

Examplesincludeworkon“hybrid”energysystemsthatintegrate

Asnotedintheintroduction,three

researchreactorsarecurrentlystill

operatingatINL.Foremostisthe

AdvancedTestReactor(ATR),

whichhasbeennamedaDOE

NationalScienticUserFacilityand

isgloballyrecognizedforitsunique

capabilitiesandabilitytoperform

advancedfuelstudies.

Afourthreactor—theTransient

ReactorTestFacilityor“TREAT”—

isunderconsiderationforrestart.Consistentwithitsmission

todevelopadvancednucleartechnologiesthatcanprovide

clean,abundant,affordableandreliableenergytotheUnited

Statesandtheworld,INL’songoingnuclear-relatedactivities

includethefollowing:

• Extensiveworkonnuclearsafety;

• Closecollaborationwithindustry

andtheU.S.NuclearRegulatory

Commission;

• Advancedanalysisofradiation

effectsonmaterialsforcommercialandgovernmentusers

intheU.S.andabroad;

INL teams helped develop the

nuclear power system powering

the Curiosity rover on Mars.

Researchers explore using nuclear-

generated heat to produce hydrogen

Idaho

INL

Advanced TestReactor Complex

Research andEducation Campus

Materials andFuels Complex

13-50031-01

FIGURE 1 - Map of INL



Advanced Test Reactor, TREAT, and Supporting Facilities

One of INL’s foremost research facilities is the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), which is globally recognized for its unique capabilities and ability to perform advanced fuel studies. As a DOE

National Scientic User Facility, the ATR attracts researchers from leading universities, industrial rms and research institutions all around the world who use ATR and supporting facilities

– particularly the Hot Fuel Examination Facility and other post-irradiation examination facilities. In addition, DOE is considering whether to restart the TREAT reactor, which is designed

to test the safety and performance of advanced nuclear fuels. The TREAT reactor has been maintained in standby mode since the 1990s; researchers believe it could be used to accelerate

progress toward safer and more efcient fuels for nuclear power generation.

Idaho Cleanup Project

This project is focused on removing and safely containing the early nuclear waste generated by DOE activities and World War II-era conventional weapons

testing. The 10-year, $4 billion cleanup project, funded through the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management, focuses on reducing risks to the public and the

environment. One of its key priorities is to protect the Snake River Plain Aquifer, which is the sole source of drinking water for more than 300,000 residents of

eastern and southern Idaho.

When the Idaho Cleanup Project contract was signed in 2005, t he scope of work was extremely broad, and included tasks such as the demolition of old research

facilities, the movement of spent fuel from pools into dry storage, and the exhumation of certain buried wastes. Today, some challenges remain (discussed later

in report), but the vast majority of these t asks have been successfully completed — in most cases on schedule and under budget. Hence the Cleanup Project is

generally viewed as a resounding success.

The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP)

This project is focused on the retrieval, characterization, treatment, and repackaging of transuranic waste currently stored at the INL site. (Note that transuranic waste in

this context consists of the gloves, tools, clothing and other, primarily plutonium contaminated items, generated in U.S. nuclear facilities during the Cold War.) The vast

majority of the waste processed at AMWTP was shipped to Idaho for storage in the 1970s and early 1980s and resulted from the manufacture of nuclear components at

Colorado’s Rocky Flats Plant. Cleanup efforts have been very successful and are expected to be complete in 2015. The AMWTP facility is a unique national asset and could

potentially be deployed as a strategic resource — for example, to sort, characterize, and repackage similar mixed waste at other DOE sites.

The Naval Reactors Facility

The Naval Reactors Facility examines and stores naval spent nuclear fuel and irradiated test specimens. Data derived from these examinations are used to develop

new technology and improve the cost-effectiveness of existing designs, making it possible to dramatically increase the lifetime of naval reactor fuel cores. The

Naval Reactors Facility supports the joint DOE/Department of Defense Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

MAjOR NUCLEAR FACILITIES AND PROjECTS AT INL

nuclearenergywithbio-andfossil-energysystems,aswellas

electric-vehiclebatteries,advancedbiomass,andtechnologies

forhydrogenproduction.INLeffortsintheareaofnational

andhomelandsecurityhaveincludedthemanufactureof

heavyarmorformilitarycombatvehicles,thedevelopment

andtestingofdevicesfordetectingnuclearmaterials,

wirelesscommunications,gridreliabilityandsecurity,and

thedevelopmentofsoftwareandhardwaretoprotectcritical

nationalinfrastructurefromcyberattack(infact,INL’scyber-

securityteamsareinternationallyrecognizedandconsidered

amongthebestinthenation).Inaddition,INLtrainsrst

respondersinthehandlingofradiologicalincidents.

Withmorethan3,900scientists,engineersandsupport

personnelandanannualbudgetinexcessof$800millionper

year,INLisoneofthelargestemployersinIdahoandamajor



8

INL CLEANUP

Thelast20yearshaveseensignicantimprovementsinthe

safetyandperformanceofnuclearenergysystems,including

improvementsinthetechnologiesandmethodsavailable

forsafelymanaginganddisposingofnuclearmaterialsand

wastes.Fromthe1950sthroughtheearly1980s,however,

theenvironmentalimpactsofnuclearoperationsandwastedisposalpracticesatINLandatotherDOEsitesdidnotreceive

muchattention,asidefromtheoccasionalheadline-grabbing

storylikethetragicSL-1reactoraccidentin1961which

claimedthelivesofthreereactoroperators.

Thisbegantochangeinthe1990s,when

concernsaroseovertheSnakeRiverPlain

Aquifer,whichliesdirectlybelowINLand

isanimportantwatersourceforeasternand

southcentralIdaho.Pastpracticessuchastheuseofaformer

watersupplywellasaninjectionwelltodisposeofsolventsand

otherwastes,aswellaspipesandvalvesthatleakedradioactiveliquidandcontaminatedmaterialfromRockyFlats,Colorado

thathadbeenburiedattheINLsite,wereallseenaspotential

sourcesofcontaminationthatcouldaffecttheaquifer.

ConcernedaboutthreatstotheSnakeRiverPlainAquiferand

otherenvironmentalimpacts,IdahoGovernorCecilAndrus

beganaggressivelyadvocatingforcleanupoftheINLsite,

rstwiththeAtomicEnergyCommissionandlaterwiththe

U.S.DepartmentofEnergy.Hisleadership,andthatofhis

successor,GovernorPhilBatt,ledtoalandmarkagreement —reachedinOctober1995—betweentheStateofIdaho,

theU.S.Navy,andtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergytosettle

alawsuitthathadbeenledbythestatetopreventfurther

shipmentsofspentnuclearfueltoINLforstorage. 4The

lawsuitstemmedfromdecadesoffrustrationoverthefederal

government’sfailuretomakeandkeepcommitmentstothe

peopleofIdahoforthecleanupofwhatisnowtheINLsite.

Keyprovisionsoftheagreement,whichisoftencalledtheBatt

AgreementortheSettlementAgreement,includethefollowing:

• TheStateofIdahowillallowatotalof1,135shipmentsofspent

fueltocometoINLforinterimstorageovera40-yearperiod.

Ofthoseshipments,575willcomefromtheU.S.Navy.

TherestwillcomefromotherDOEsites,foreignresearch

reactors,universityreactorsandaspeciedamountfrom

privatecompaniesdirectlysupportingDOER&Dactivities.

• DOEwillremoveallspentnuclearfuelfromIdahonolater

than2035.

• DOEwilltreatallhigh-levelwasteattheINL(including

calcinewaste),inpreparationfornaldisposalelsewhere,

byatargetdateof2035.

• DOEwilltreattransuranicandalpha-contaminatedmixed

wastenowlocatedatINL.Alltransuranicwastewillbe

removedfromIdahonolaterthanDecember31,2018.

• Allspentfuelinwetstoragewillbeplacedindrystorageby

December31,2023anddrystoragefacilitieswillbeplaced,

totheextenttechnicallyfeasible,atapointnotabovetheSnakeRiverPlainAquifer.

• INLwillbecometheleadlaboratoryforDOE’sspentfuel

managementprogramandDOE’sIdahoOfcewillbe

Leadership from Governor Andrus and Governor Batt

created the Settlement Agreement. Signed in 1995.

2BEAProcurement–AssetSuitereportingsystem

3 Accordingtothe2010BoiseStateUniversitystudynotedintheintroduction,INLgenerateswagesandsalariestotaling$419millionandaccountsformorethan6percentofallIdahotaxrevenues.Forsource,seefootnote

4IdahoDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality,http://www.deq.idaho.gov/inl-oversight/oversight-agreements/1995-settlement-agreement.aspx

driveroflocalandstatewideeconomicactivity.Since2005,the

laboratoryhasawardedsubcontractsthroughoutIdahoworth

$886million,including$535millionineasternIdaho,$162

millionintheTreasureValleyand$52millioninnorthern

Idaho.2Duringthesameperiod,otherDOEcontractors

workingattheINLsitehaveissuedsubcontractsworthhundredsofmillionsofdollarsmore. 3Figure1showsthelocationand

mainfacilitiesofINL;someofitsmostimportant,current

nuclear-relatedactivitiesaresummarizedinthetextbox.

Early-day defense waste disposal

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/inl-oversight/oversight-agreements/1995-settlement-agreement.aspx

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/inl-oversight/oversight-agreements/1995-settlement-agreement.aspx



responsiblefordirectingtheresearch,development,and

testingoftreatment,shipmentanddisposaltechnologies

forallDOEspentfuel.

• IfDOEfailstoremoveallspentfuelby2035,DOEshall

pay$60,000perdayforeachdaythisrequirementisnot

met.IfDOEfailstomeetanyoftheagreementmilestones

atanypoint,DOEshallsuspendanyfurtherspentfuel

shipmentstoINLunlessthecourtsdeterminethatthe

obligationhasbeensatised.

• Thefederalgovernmentisfurtherrequiredtoconvert

allhighlyradioactiveliquidwastescurrentlystoredin

undergroundtanksatINLtoamorestabledryform.

Withthedefeatofa1996ballotinitiativethatattempted

toundotheSettlementAgreement[seetextboxbelow],

Idahobecametheonlystateinthenationwithacourtorder

mandatingthatfederalnuclearwasteleavestateboundaries

byaspecicdate.Eventoday,nootherstateinthenation

hassuchalegallybindingcommitment.TheSettlement

Agreementandthewaythatithastransformedthestate-

federalrelationshipbetweenIdahoandDOE–fromone

basedonmistrusttoonebasedonpartnership–representa

trueparadigmshift.

Forexample,DOE’ssuccessinmeetingmostSettlement

AgreementmilestoneshasmadeitpossibleforDOEto

continueshippingspentnuclearfueltoIdahoforstorage,5andhascreatedanenvironmentinwhichtheStateofIdaho

FIGURE 2 - Text of 1996 Referendum on the Settlement Agreement

In 1996, a citizens’ group called “Stop the Shipments” put an initiative on the state-wide ballot to nullify Governor Batt’s 1995 Settlement Agreement. Proponents

of the initiative argued that, “Any agreement to accept and store nuclear waste in Idaho must be approved by the legislature and by a vote of the people.”

However, the initiative was soundly defeated, with 62.5 percent of Idaho voters rejecting this effort to undo the Settlement Agreement.

Following is the text of the ballot initiative from the 1996 Referendum on the Settlement Agreement

G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n • N o v e m b e r 5 , 1 9 9 6PROPOSITION THREE

INITIATIVE REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE AND VOTER APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS FOR THE RECEIPT OF ADDITIONAL RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND NULLIFYING PRIOR AGREEMENT.

Initiative proposing new sections of Idaho law limiting the authority of state officials to enter into agreements for the receipt and storage of additional

radioactive waste in Idaho. The initiative would require that any such agreement must be approved by the state legislature, and by the voters at the

next biennial election before becoming effective. The initiative would nullify the prior agreement entered into by the State of Idaho and the federal

government regarding receipt of radioactive waste, and would require that the Attorney General of the State of Idaho file a motion under the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure to set aside or vacate the federal court order which implemented the agreement. The initiative also defines certain terms used

in the initiative. The initiative further provides that nothing in the initiative would limit the authority of the governor or the attorney general under

the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) or the Fede ral Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act

(“CERCLA”). The initiative contains a severability clause.

1996 REFERENDUM ON THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

5Sofar,theNavyhasshipped216canistersofspentfuelandINLhasreceivedmorethan75shipmentsofspentfuelundertheSettlementAgreement.TheagreementalsoallowssmallquantitiesofcommercialreactorfueltobeshippedintoIdahoforresearchpurposes.

Simulated calcine showing volume

reduction from liquid state



10

hasconcludedthatitisinthestate’sbestinteresttoexercise

someoftheexibilitybuiltintotheagreementasitpertains

tocommercialnuclearfuelshipments.Inaddition,two

modicationstotheSettlementAgreementhaveallowed

Navyoperationstocontinuebeyond2035andhaveclaried

whatismeantbytheremovalof“all”transuranicwaste.In

sum,theSettlementAgreementcontinuestoprovidetheframeworkforcommitmentsbythefederalgovernment

thatmustbemettoprotectthestate.Atthesametimethe

agreementhasprovidedthefederalgovernmentwithenough

certaintytoenableDOEandtheU.S.Navytocontinue

investingsubstantialresourcesinIdaho.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

652 items

652

May 2005 September 2012

3,186 units

3,186

900,000 gallons

11 tanks

11

37,874 cubic meters

37, 8745,083 cubic meters

5,083

216 shipments

216

171 facilities/structures

171

2.55 acres

2.55

120 sites

120

68 systems

68

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓*

**†

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Disposition nuclearmaterial items

Transfer spent nuclear fuelfrom wet to dry storage

Treat sodium-bearing waste*

Close liquid waste tanks(grouted)

Disposition low-level andmixed low-level waste

Ship contact-handledtransuranic waste osite

Ship remote-handledtransuranic wast osite

Demolish/dispositionfacilities and structures†

Exhume targeted waste inSubsurface Disposal Area**

Remediate contaminatedenvironmental sites

Close hazardous wastetank systems

$2.5 million under budget

On schedule

First closures in complexunder DOE order 435.1

Through eciencies,generated less wastethan planned

9 months ahead of schedule,$4 million under budget

1 year ahead of schedule,$311 million under budget

1 year ahead of schedule$31 million under budget

Ahead of schedule,$67.5 million under budget

Ahead of schedule,$4.3 million under budget

Cu mu lat ive pro gre ss thr ou gh Se pt . 3 0, 201 2 Pl an ne d pro gre ss th rou gh Se pt . 30 201 2

Sodium-bearing waste treatment facility

conducting facility startup testing

Scope complete

Total facilities/structures demolished ( Target/Bridge/ARRA) 221

Source: CWI

Cleanup milestones met by CWI

Total Pit Area Exhumed (Target/Bridge/ARRA) 3.10 acres

31, 497

13-50031-02

Cleanup at INL: A Success Story

Byanyreasonablemeasure,theefforttocleanuplegacy

nuclearwasteatINLhasbeen,andcontinuestobe,a

signicantsuccessstory.Forexample,theIdahositeleads

thenationinshipmentsoftransuranicwastetotheWaste

IsolationPilotPlant(WIPP)inNewMexico.AsofAugust

1,2012,INLanditstwoprimarycleanupcontractorshaveshippedmorethan53,000cubicmetersofwastetoWIPP

forpermanentdisposalandtheyareontargettobeat

theSettlementAgreement’s2018deadlinetoremoveall

transuranicwastefromthesitebyasignicantmargin.

FIGURE 3 – Clean milestone met by CWI; Source: CWI



1

Inall,959ofthe964

enforceablemilestones

establishedunderthe1995

SettlementAgreement

andotherlegalagreements

betweentheStateofIdaho

andDOEhavebeen

completedtodate.Fourof

themilestonesmissedthusfar

wereeitherrenegotiatedor

rescheduledwhilethefth,

involvingIWTU,isdiscussed

elsewhereinthisreport.

INL’scleanupcontractor

hasalsomadetremendous

progressinthedemolitionofunusedandcontaminated

facilitiesandsignicantly

reducedINL’sfootprinton

theIdahodesert.

Since2005,morethan

200buildingsandstructuresofvarioussizes,encompassing

morethantwomillionsquarefeet,havebeendemolished.

Becausesomeofthesestructureswerehighlycontaminated,the

processesrequiredtoremovethemwereextremelycomplex.

Inaddition,thecleanupcontractorhassuccessfullyclosedsevenoftheeleven300,000gallontanksthatheldhigh-level

liquidwastesatINL.Closureoftheremainingfourtanks

willbecompletedoncetheIntegratedWasteTreatmentUnit

beginsoperations.

Mostimportantly,apresentationtotheLINECommission

bytheIdahoDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality(DEQ)conrmedthatcontaminationinthegroundwater

underneaththeINLsiteisdeclining.Thisencouragingtrend

pointstothesuccessoftheCleanupProject.

ResearchersfromtheU.S.GeologicalSurvey,theState

ofIdaho,theEnvironmentalScienceandResearch

Foundation,andotherinstitutionswillcontinueto

monitorforcontaminantsandtheirtransportthrough

theaquifertoassurethesafetyofthiscriticalwater

resource.Thislong-termmonitoringwillbeimportantto

ensurethatremainingcleanupactivitiessucceedinfully

containinganddisposingofthelegacywastefromthepast.

Tosustainthecurrentpaceofprogressitwillbeimportant

fortheStateofIdahoandtheIdahoCongressional

DelegationtoworkcloselywithDOEandthePresident’s

OfceofManagementandBudget(OMB)tomaintain

aconsistentleveloffundingsufcienttoexpeditiously

completeremainingcleanupprioritiesattheINLsite.

FIGURE 4 – Groundwater Sampling Locations by INL Oversight Program; Source: Idaho DEQ

Waste disposal practice from the 1960s



12

REMAINING CHALLENGES FOR INL CLEANUP

DespitethetremendousprogressofINLcleanupefforts

todate,theLINECommissionisfullyawarethatsomechallengesremain.Twokeyissues,inparticular,arebeing

addressedbythestateandDOE:thedisposalofremaining

liquidwasteandtheultimatedispositionofcalcinewaste.

Eachissueisimportanttounderstand.

Withregardtothedisposalofliquidwaste,theSettlement

AgreementrequiredDOEtohavetreatedallremainingliquid

wasteinundergroundtanksbytheendof2012.Overthepast

severalyearsafacilityknownastheIntegratedWasteTreatment

Unit(IWTU)wasconstructedtoaccomplishthis,butduring

startuptestingcriticalIWTUequipmentexperiencedtechnical

difculties.Thishasdelayedthescheduledtreatmentofliquid

wastes,promptingDOEtonotifytheStateofIdahothatit

willmissaSettlementAgreementmilestone.Effortsarebeing

madetoremedythesituationandDOEplanstocompletethe

wastetreatmentassoonaspossiblewhileadequatelyprotecting

workersandthepublic.Meanwhile,theGovernorandstate

DEQarecarefullymonitoringthesituationtoensurethat

Idaho’srightsandinterestsareprotected.

The State of Idaho, DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission have adopted regulations and requirements

designed to protect public health and the environment during nuclear energy related operations. In 1989, concerns over the environmental impacts of INLoperations led the Idaho Legislature to establish a comprehensive, site-specific state oversight program to independently assess INL’s environmental impacts.

In 1990, Idaho became the first state in the nation to negotiate an agreement with DOE to provide funding for the independent monitoring and oversight of a

DOE facility. This work is now being carried out by the state DEQ’s INL Oversight Program. As part of that program, “staff regularly visit the INL site, review and

comment on DOE planning and decision-making documents, and keep up-to-date on how facilities are managed.”

According to DEQ, “the INL Oversight Program also tracks inventories of various types of nuclear waste at the INL and how they are handled. Information

gathered through oversight activities helps determine where monitoring should be focused and may also be used to guide emergency planning efforts.”

In addition, state authorities also play several important roles in overseeing the transport of nuclear materials and waste and in assuring preparedness for

emergency response. The transport of nuclear materials and waste is expected to continue as part of normal INL operations, and may even expand as private

nuclear-energy companies conduct work at INL or elsewhere. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes also participate in oversight of radioactive waste shipments through

the Fort Hall Reservation along I-15 southeast of the INL, as p art of a tribal/DOE program to conduct oversight and monitoring of DOE activities at the INL site.

Shoshone-Bannock/DOE cooperation also includes a Cultural Resources/Heritage Tribal Office, formed when the Tribes entered into a cooperative agreement

with the DOE Idaho Operations Office in 1992. The INL site is located on Shoshone-Bannock aboriginal lands, and the goal of the Cultural Resources program is to

protect and monitor tribal cultural resources on INL lands as well as aboriginal use areas. This is accomplished with regular site visits, monitoring, participation

in archeological surveys and when necessary, data recovery. The program also oversees cultural resources projects on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and works

with other federal, state and private agencies to ensure compliance with cultural resources laws and protection of the Tribes’ cultural properties.

STATE AND TRIBAL OERSIGHT OF INL CLEANUP EFFORTS

Withregardtocalcinewaste,theSettlementAgreementalso

requiresthatthistypeofwastebetreatedsothatitisready

tobeshippedfromIdahobyatargetdateofDecember

31,2035.Calcinewasteiscreatedbytheconversionof

radioactiveliquidwaste;itisadrygranularmaterial,much

likelaundrydetergent.Theconversiontodrymaterial

stabilizesthewasteandreducesthecontaminationrisk

forfuturestorage.Today,calcinewasteisstoredatINL

inlargestainlesssteelandconcretesilos.Thewasteinits

currentformandstoragecongurationisstableandcreates

The Integrated Waste Treatment Unit



1

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029 2031 2033 2035 2037 2039 2041 2043 2045 2047 2049

2050204820462044204220402038203620342032203020282026202420222020201820162014201220102008

Idaho SettlementAgreement

Note: TRU received from another state for treatment at the INL shall be shippedoutside of Idaho for storage or disposal within six months following treatment

DOE Strategy for Management and Disposal of

Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste

13-50031-04

2009

Issue recordof decisionfor scheduleto completetreatmentof calcinewaste at

INL

(2012)

RCRA Part B submitted for calcined waste(dependent upon the decision to allow direct disposalor require additional treatment)

2021

Pilot interim storage facility sited, designed,licensed, constructed and open for operation

2025*

Large interim storage facility begins operation

2026

Repository sited

2042

Repositorycharacterized,designed andlicensed

2048*

Repositoryconstructedand open foroperation

* Potentially more than one

2013 - 2014

Complete calcination of Na-bearing liquid high-level waste by May 2014.(IWTU startup July 2013 – 10 month run complete May 2014)

2015Target: All TRU waste will be removed from the State

2018

Deadline: Remove all TRU waste from State

2023

All spent fuel will be placed indry storage by 12-31-23

2035

Treat all high-level waste at INL in preparation for final disposal

elsewhere. All spent nuclear fuel to be removed from the State(or a $60K/day fine)

Note: This includes all Naval & TMI fuelNote: Spent fuel being maintained for testing is exemptNote: If deadlines are missed and further shipments coming to Idaho may be stopped

verylittlecontaminationrisk.However,theSettlement

AgreementdirectsDOEtotreatthecalcinesothatitis

readyforshipmentoutsideofIdaho.ARCRAPartBpermitapplicationforcalcinetreatmentwassubmittedbytothe

StateofIdahoinDecember2012.Considerablecostswillbe

incurredtopreparethecalcinewastefordisposal.

Fundingisanotherongoingchallengeforeffortsto

completeINLcleanup.TheSettlementAgreementgives

thestateimportantleverageinthisarea,butwhileDOEis

requiredtorequestadequate

fundingtomeetitswaste

cleanupobligations,thereis

noguaranteethatCongress will appropriatetherequested

funds.Idaho’sCongressional

Delegationhasplayed–and

mustcontinuetoplay–avery

criticalroleinaggressively

securingthenecessaryfunding

forINLcleanupandother

operations.Withthesignificant

budgetchallengesthatnow

existatthefederallevel,there

areloomingconcernsthatfuturefundingcouldbein

jeopardy. Ina ddition,Idaho

islikelytobecompetingwith

otherstatesthatlikewiseneed

tosecurefederalfundsfor

theirowncleanupprograms.

Finally,oneofthemostsignicantchallengesthathas

emergedintermsofcompletingINLcleanupandmeeting

therequirementsoftheBattAgreementstemsfromthe

ObamaAdministration’sdecisiontoterminateworkona

plannedgeologicrepositoryforhigh-levelradioactivewaste

andspentnuclearfuelatYuccaMountaininNevada.Rather

thanproceedwithdevelopingarepositoryatYuccaMountain,

DOErecentlyreleasedaplantoimplementanuclearwaste

managementprogramoverthenext10yearsthat:

• Sites,designsandlicenses,constructsandbegins

operationsofapilotinterimstoragefacilityby2021with

aninitialfocusonacceptingusednuclearfuelfromshut-

downreactorsites;

• Advancestowardthesitingandlicensingofalargerinterim

storagefacilitytobeavailableby2025thatwillhavesufcient

capacitytoprovideexibilityinthewastemanagement

systemandallowsforacceptanceofenoughusednuclearfuel

toreduceexpectedgovernmentliabilities;and

• Makesdemonstrableprogressonthesitingand

characterizationofrepositorysitestofacilitatetheavailability

ofageologicrepositoryby2048.TheAdministration’sgoal

istohavearepositorysitedby2026;thesitecharacterized,

Aerial view of Yucca Mountain

FIGURE 5 - Spent fuel and HLW milestones



14

andtherepositorydesignedandlicensedby2042;andthe

repositoryconstructedanditsoperationsstartedby2048. 6

Ofcourse,theDOEplanhasnotbeenacceptedbyCongress

andwillrequiremajorlegislativechangestoimplement.

Atpresent,withnofacilityunderdevelopmentthatcould

disposeofIdaho’sspentfuelandhigh-levelwasteandno

storagefacilitiesbeing

developedoutsideof

Idahothathaveamission

toacceptspentfueland

high-levelwastestoredon

theINLsite,itishardto

seehowtheBattAgreement’s2035deadlineformovingthese

typesofmaterialsoutofIdahocanbemet.Figure5shows

howthedatesintheDOEplancomparewithkeymilestone

datesintheSettlementAgreement.Thechartillustratesthat

itwouldbeadvisableforthestatetoplanaheadforthenear

certaintythatthefederalgovernmentwillnotbeabletomeet

itslonger-termcommitmentsundertheAgreement.

Ofcourse,thecurrentlackofprogresstowardapermanent

disposalsolutionforspentnuclearfuelandhigh-levelwaste

hasimplications,notjustforIdahobutforthefutureofthe

nuclearenergyindustryintheUnitedStatesmorebroadly.

Wereturntotheselargerwastemanagementchallenges

andtheirimplicationsinthenext

section.

TheLINECommissionbelievesitis

importanttounderstandthatnotall

sourcesofnuclearwasteposeasimilar

threattotheenvironment.AtINL,

theremovalanddisposalofburiedtransuranicwasteandliquid

tankwasteshasbeenthehighestpriorityforfederalfunding

becausethesetypesofwasteposesignicantlymorerisktothe

environment.Asdiscussedbelow,calcineandspentnuclear

fuel,bycontrast,arefarmorestableandbettercontainedin

theircurrentstoragecongurationsandposelittletonoriskto

theenvironment.

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES HAE

MARKEDLY IMPROED

Ithasbecomeacommonpracticetorefertoseveralverydifferent

radioactivematerialsas“waste.”Thatterminologylumps

togetherradioactivematerialthathasnofuturevalueorusewith

usednuclearfuelthathasnocurrentusebutcouldpotentially

beutilizedinthefuture.Eventheveryvaluableusednuclearfuel

withwhichINLconductsresearchanddevelopmentworkisoften

referredtoas“waste”inthepublicdialogue.

First,thereisadramaticdifferencebetweennuclearwaste

beingdisposed ofversusstored.

Nuclear Waste Disposal: Representsapermanentplacement

ofnuclearwastewithnointentionofeverretrievingthe

material.Themostwellknownmoderndisposalsiteisthe

WasteIsolationPilotPlant(WIPP)inNewMexico.There,in

naturalsaltbeds,transuranicnuclearwasteispermanently

disposedofwithnoexpectationoffutureretrieval.

Additionally,privateandDOEfacilitiesexistacrosstheU.S.

forthedisposaloflow-levelradioactivewastes.

Permanent Nuclear Repository: Representsapermanent

disposalsiteforDOEspentfuelandhigh-levelwasteand

forspentnuclearfuelfromcommercialreactors.Yucca

MountainwasselectedbyCongressin1987tohosta

permanentrepository;unlesstheYuccaMountainprojectis

resurrectedthenationhasnoidentiedrepositorysite.

Spent Fuel Storage: Representsthetemporary,andlikely

long-term,storageofspentnuclearfuel.Thesefacilities

–bothspentfuelpoolsanddry

storagecasks–arelocatedacrossthe

nationandaredesignedwithrobust

technologythatenablessafestorage

thatcanbeutilizedfordecades

andlonger.Currentfuelstorage

capabilitiesallowforfutureretrievalofthespentfuel.

Idaho’s Legacy Waste: An Early Dumping Ground

Fordecades,thenation’senvironmentalstandardsfor

disposingofradioactivematerialsandchemicalwasteswere

basedonprinciplesofisolation,dilutionandminimizing

exposure.Inshort,itwasviewedasconsideredacceptabletodisposeofcertainnuclearwasteindrumsandboxes,buried

intheground,inremoteareas.

Asaresultofthosepolicies,IdahoandINLbecamethe

destinationforsignicantquantitiesofwastefromRockyFlats,

aColoradofacilityfornuclearweaponscomponentproduction

Differences in waste

types are important

to understand.

There is a dramatic difference between nuclear waste disposal

and used nuclear fuel storage.

6StrategyfortheManagementandDisposalofUsedNuclearFuelandHigh-LevelRadioactiveWaste,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy,January2013



1

Above: A load of debris-laden drums is emptied

into an unlined pit in 1969.

Left: Workers unload barrels of waste from

Colorado’s Rocky Flats Plant in 1961.

duringtheColdWar.Thatlow-levelwastewasdisposedofin

Idahowithvaryingdegreesofdiscipline.Intheearlydays,the

practicewastodigpitsandtrenches,dumpthewasteandthen

coveritwithdirt.Later,anasphaltpadwasconstructedand

barrelsandboxesofwastewerestackedinanticipationofbeing

movedatsomepointinthefuturetoapermanentdisposal

facilityoutsideofIdaho.

Anotheraccepteddisposalpracticeofthedaywastoinjectno

longerusefulorganicsolventsintotheground.Thatdisposal

practicehaslongsincebecomeobsoleteandhasresulted

inon-goinggroundwatermonitoringateachofthese

injectionwellsitestoverifythatmitigationofthesechemicalcontaminantsourcesiseffective.

Thephotographsaboveillustrateprevailingdisposalpractices

oftheirtime.Considerableadvancesinhazardunderstanding

andriskmitigationtechnologieshaveoccurredsincethe

1970sandtoday,INLactivitiesarebeingmanagedtonew

andmuchhigherenvironmentalstandards.To be clear, these old

disposal techniques would now be against the law!

Idaho Cleanup Proect

Asaresultof1960sand1970serapractices,Idahocurrently

carriestheburdenof“legacywaste.”AspartoftheIdahoCleanup

Project,organicmaterialsandotherwastethatposedthegreatest

risktotheaquiferarebeingremovedandsafelydisposedof.The

remainingareaswillbesafelysecuredandcapped,andthenclosely

monitoredsothatanyresidualmaterialsthatareimpracticalto

retrieveandtechnicallyacceptabletoremaininanengineered

disposalsitewillnotthreatentheaquifer.Aspreviouslynoted,the

cleanupprojectisviewedaslargelysuccessfultodate.

Current INL Waste: Dramatically Different

Today,thetechnologysurroundingnuclearenergyhas

dramaticallyadvancedtowhereriskstotheenvironmentare

signicantlylower.Advanceshaveoccurredinbothwaste

disposalandstorage.

Thefollowingisabriefsummaryofthemaintypesofnuclear

materialscurrentlypresentatINL,howtheyarestoredand

howtheyarebeing,orwillbe,disposedof.



16

Low Level Waste (LLW):Lowlevelwasteconsistsof

radioactivelycontaminateditemssuchaspaper,rags,

plasticbags,orwater-treatmentresiduesresulting

fromINLactivities.Levelsofradioactivityareoften

justabovenormallevelsfoundinnature.Ifthiswaste

remainsenclosedandcontained,itcanbesafelyhandled,

shippedanddisposed.Today,wehavenolow-levelwaste

comingfromoutsidethestatefordisposalatINL.Some

radioactivematerialresultingfromresearchatINL

isdisposedofonsiteinengineeredfacilitiesthatare

designedtoisolatethematerialsandprotecttheSnake

Riveraquiferwhileotherlow-levelwastesareshippedout

ofstatefordisposal.

Liquid Waste:Thiscategoryincludesliquidwasteresulting

frompastfuelreprocessinganddecontaminationwork

atINL.Currently900,000gallonsofliquidwastearebeingsafelystoredintanksawaitingnalprocessing.This

liquidwasteishighlyradioactiveandmorechallenging

tomanageforthelongtermthansolidiedwaste.Once

solidied,thiswastewillbestoredinrobustconcreteand

steelcontainersatINLuntildisposedofinarepositoryor

facilityliketheWasteIsolationPilotPlantinNewMexico.

Calcine:Calcineisagranularmaterial,similarintextureto

drylaundrydetergent,thatresultsfromthedryingofhigh-

levelliquidwastesfromINLreprocessingactivities.Though

calcineishighlyradioactive,itisstableandcurrentlystoredin

concrete-encasedstainlesssteelbinsdesignedtobeeffectivefor500years.Itwillbedisposedofinarepositoryorina

facilityliketheWasteIsolationPilotPlantinNewMexico.

Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF):Spentorusednuclearfuel

iscomposedofthemetallicplates,rodsandrodbundles

thathavepreviouslybeenusedasfuelinanuclearreactor.

ThepropertiesofSNFmakeitstableandstraightforward

tostore.ThestorageofSNFinIdahopresentsasmall

environmentalrisk.Spentfuelthathasbeenshippedto

IdahowasneverintendedfordisposalatINL.Itisstored

byvariousmeans.Typically,spentfuelisstoredinwaterfor

coolingandshieldingpurposesforaperiodoftimeand

thenputintodrystoragecontainers.Astechnologieshave

improved,thestoragemethodsforspentfuelatINLhave

improved.Thisfuelwillbedisposedofinarepository.

Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage:

Distinctly Different than Disposal

Today,thenuclearindustrycontinuestoadvancetechnology

andstoragetechniques.Idaho,INLandtheindustryall

benetfromthesemoderntechniques.Thepicturesonthe

followingpageillustratecurrenttechnologysurrounding

themanagementofspentnuclearfuel.Anyriskstothe

environmentandsurroundingareascreatedbymodernforms

ofstoragearedramaticallylowerthantheriskscreatedbynow

prohibiteddisposaltechniquesusedinIdahopriorto1995.

Asoutlinedintheprecedingpages,thereisasignicant

differencebetweennuclearwaste disposalandspentfuelstorage.

IfIdahoweretoallownuclearwastedisposal,ourstatewould

riskbecomingthenation’snucleardumpingground.Asthe

Governorhasstated,thiswouldnotbeacceptable.

TheLINECommission,however,believesnuclearfuel

storagetechnologyenablesthestatetohavecondencein

currentmethodsofspentfuelstorageatINLwhilealso

gainingtheexperiencetoconsiderfutureopportunities

involvingspentfuelstorage.Specically,INLmayneedthe

abilitytoreceiveandstoreadditionalamountsofspentfuel

tosupportresearchinlong-termfuelstoragetechnologies.

TheLINECommissionbelievesthesewouldbereasonable

andappropriateopportunitiestoconsiderandwouldnotrisk

makingIdahoanucleardumpingground.

OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE INL SITE

AconcernexpressedinpubliccommentsreceivedbytheLINE

CommissionrelatestothesafetyofnuclearwasteattheINLsite

intheeventofanearthquake.Seismicactivityhasoccurredinthe

vicinityofINL,asillustratedbythe6.9magnitudeearthquake

thatoccurrednearBorahPeakin1983.INLfacilities,while

adjacenttotheBorahPeakarea,experiencedlittledamageasa

resultofthe1983earthquake,becausetheirlocationrightatop

theSnakeRiverPlaincreatessubsurfaceandgeologicconditions

thathaveadampeningeffectongroundmotion.

TheNuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC)continuesto

monitortheimpactofearthquakesandthepotentialriskit

createsforthesafetyofnuclearenergyfacilities.Asageneral

7Toadequatelymanageseismicrisks,NRCregulationsrequirethatstructures,systems,andcomponentsbedesignedtotakeintoaccount(1)themostseverenaturalphenomenahistoricallyreportedforthesiteandsurroundingarea(theNRCthenaddsamarginforerrortoaccountforlimitsontheavailabilityofaccuratehistoricaldata(suchastheearly1800searthquakesinthecentralU.S.thatareestimatedtohavehadmagnitudesashighas8.2);(2)appropriatecombinationsoftheeffectsofnormalandaccidentconditionswiththeeffectsofnaturalphenomena;and(3)theimportanceofthesafetyfunctionstobeperformed.



matter,theNRChasevaluatedseismicrisksandfoundthat

alloperatingnuclearpowerplantsintheU.S.“remainsafe

andrequirenoneedforimmediateaction.” 7AtINL,seismic

activityiscontinuouslymonitoredaroundthesite.Lab

personnelacquireearthquakedatainrealtimeanduseitto

evaluateseismichazardsandsetfacility-specicdesigncriteria

toensurethesafetyofworkersandthepublicintheeventofan

earthquake.Giventheconsiderableanalysisandmonitoring

thathasoccurredandcontinuestooccur,theLINE

Commissiondoesnotviewearthquakeactivityasamaterial

threattothesafetyofnuclearwastestoredattheINLsite.

A preferred practice today is to place sufciently cooled used nuclear fuel in physically robust steel and concrete

casks that can be stored either vertically or inserted horizontally into reinforced concrete bunkers.

Inadditiontoseismicactivity,theNRCrequiresnuclear

facilities—includingreactors,fuel-cyclefacilities,andspent

fuelstorageanddisposalfacilities—tohaveconsiderable

safeguardsinplacetoprotectagainstotherformsofattack

orthreats.Requiredsafeguardsincluderegularthreat

assessments,extensivephysicalprotectionoffacilitiesand



18

immediateareas,intrusiondetection,andappropriatelevels

ofresponse—includingarmedresponseifnecessary.Based

onitstoursofINLfacilitiesandinformationpresented

byINLstaff,theLINECommissionconcludesthatINL

iscarefulinevaluatingpotentialsecurityrisksandhas

demonstratedaconsistentrecordofprovidingappropriate

safeguardsforitsfacilitiesandsurroundingareas.

PRIATE NUCLEAR-ENERGY COMPANIES

WhileIdahoisnothometoacommercialnuclearpower

plant,manyIdahocompaniesstillplaysignicantrolesinthe

nuclearindustry.Thesecompaniesarenationallyrecognized

andprovideservicesrangingfromengineeringexpertiseto

advancedmanufacturingcapabilitiestoresearchinmedical

isotopes.ThepresenceofINLhasspurredandsupportedthe

growthoftheseandothernuclear-relatedbusinessesinIdaho.

DuringitspublichearingstheCommissionheardtestimony

orotherwisereceivedinputfromseveralcompaniesthatare

basedorhavesignicantoperationsinIdaho:

• Areva,aninternationalleaderintheindustry,provides

servicestoINLcontractorsandhasusedtheresearch

capabilitiesatINLforadvancednuclearfueldevelopment.

Arevahasalsoannouncedplanstoconstructamajor

uraniumenrichmentfacilityoutsideofIdahoFalls,although

theconstructionscheduleforthefacilityhasbeendelayed.

• Diversifed Metal ProductsisanIdahoFallscompanythatemploysabout100peopleandprovidesmechanical

contractingandfabricationserviceswithafocusonnuclear

applications.Itscapabilitiesincludemetalalloycomponent

engineering,fabrication,andintegrationandinstallation

ofcontrolsystemsforthenuclearindustry.

• International Isotopesandits25Idaho-basedemployees

developanddeploytechnologiesusedincancertherapy,

medicaldiagnostics,andthetransportofnuclearmaterials.

Thecompanyhasalsodevelopedanadvancedtechnology

forthebenecialre-useofwastematerialsfromthe

uraniumenrichmentprocess.InternationalIsotopes

recentlyannouncedplanstoconstructanewfacilityinNew

Mexicotocommercializethistechnology.

• The Northwind GroupwasfoundedinIdahoFallsinthe

late1990sandnowemploysmorethan300peopleacross

theUnitedStates.NorthWindisaleadingcompanyfor

environmental,engineeringandconstructionservices.

• PortagewasformedbyseveralformerINLemployeesin

1992andnowemploysmorethan400skilledtechnical

andprofessionalpersonnelintheU.S.andabroad.

Portageoffersawiderangeoftechnicalandprofessional

servicesincludingprojectmanagement,environmental

remediation,engineering,andinformationtechnologyand

databasedesign;constructionoversightandassessment;

environmentalplanning.

• Premier Technology isaprivatelyownedcompanybasedin

Blackfoot,Idaho.Premierwasfoundedin1996withafocus

onmanufacturingforthenuclearandfoodprocessing

industries.Ithassincegrowntobecomeafullservice

engineering,manufacturingandconstructionmanagement

companyemployingnearly370engineers,machinists,

andotherskilledprofessionals.PremierisalsothesmallbusinesspartnerinthemanagementoftheIdahoCleanup

Projectcontract.

Theabovelistprovidesjustasamplingofthenuclearindustry

rmswithrootsinIdaho,andunderscoreshowthepresence

ofINLhashelpedIdahogrowcompetitivebusinessesinareas

suchasenvironmentalremediation,technicalservices,and

advancedmanufacturing.

UNIERSITY PROGRAMS

Idaho’seducationalinstitutionshavelonghelpedtomeettheneedforengineers,techniciansandotherskilledworkersto

supportINL,Idaho’snuclearindustryrms,andorganizations

nationwide.ThethreemajorIdahouniversities,inparticular,

supportINL’sobjectivetobethepremierU.S.national

laboratoryinnuclearscienceandengineeringresearchandall

ofthemhaveactiveprogramsfocusedonnuclearenergy.These

programshavebeeninvigoratedinrecentyearsanditisclearto

facultymembersanduniversityadministratorsthattheirfuture

isdirectlytiedtoINL’ssuccess.Conversely,itisalsoclearthat

INL’ssuccessdependstosomedegreeonitsassociationwith

theIdahouniversities.

Inrecentyears,Idahoschoolshavefurtherbroadenedand

strengthenededucationalofferingsrelatedtothenuclear

enterprise.Innuclearscienceandengineering,collectively,

thethreeIdahoresearchuniversitieshaveover20faculty

membersand400studentsindegreeprogramsranging



1

fromtheAssociateinScience(A.S.)toDoctorofPhilosophy

(Ph.D.)degree.Researchareasincludehealthphysics,

fuelcycleapplications,nuclearphysics,reactorphysics,

materialscience,nuclearforensics,andsafety,security,and

safeguards.Collectively,Idaho’suniversitiesofferarangeof

experienceandcapabilitiesintheseareas.

Forexample,IdahoStateUniversity(ISU)offersafull-range

nuclearengineeringandscienceprogram,withdegreeprograms

innuclearengineeringandhealthphysicsrangingfromthe

baccalaureatetothePh.D.ISU’sInstituteofNuclearScience

andEngineeringincludesthefollowingprogramsandfacilities

outlinedbelow:

IDAHO STATE UNIERSITY

• TheIdaho Accelerator Center(IAC)wascreatedin

1994todeliverundergraduateandgraduateeducation,conductappliedphysicsresearch,createnewapplicationsof

acceleratorphysics,andsupporttheeconomicdevelopment

ofIdaho.TheIAChassevenoperatingacceleratorsin

veresearchfacilities—moreoperatingacceleratorsthan

anyother

universityin

NorthAmerica.

Itsfacilities

supporta

broadrangeof

student-driven

researchinnuclearscienceandengineering,rangingfrom

theproductionofmedicalisotopestothedetectionand

quanticationofssilematerials.TheCenteralsoallows

ISUstudentsandfacultytocollaboratewithresearchersat

leadinguniversitiesandnationallaboratoriesinimportant

areassuchasnuclearmaterialsafeguardsandproliferation

detection.

• TheResearch Innovation in Science and Engineering

Complex (RISE)isamultidisciplinaryresearchcenterthat

offersnumerousresearchandlearningopportunitiesinnuclearscienceandengineeringacrossalleducationlevels,

fromtechnicianandassociates-leveldegreestodoctoral

programs.TheRISEComplexhousesstate-of-the-art

technology,includingaccelerators,reactortechnologies,

andsimulators,aswellasafullsuiteofnuclearmaterials

sciencetoolsnotfoundatanyotheracademicinstitution

intheworld.Thisinfrastructureallowsstudentstoacquire

ISU has over seven

operating accelerators —

more than any university

in North America.

real-world,hands-onexperiencethatishighlysoughtafter

inindustrial,governmentalandacademicsettings.

• TheEnergy Systems Technology and Engineering Center

(ESTEC)hasbothaninstructionalandanindustrialfocus.

ESTECtrainsgraduates(techniciansandtechnologists)

tomaintainexistingenergyinfrastructureandtoinstall

andtestcomponentsinnewrenewable,nuclear,and

fossil-fueledenergyfacilities.ComplementingESTEC’s

instructionalfocus,theCenteralsoconductsapplied

industrialresearchonbehalfofINL,electricutilities,

andenergy-systemsproductvendors.ESTECwasrecently

designatedtheNorthwestRegionalCenterofExcellence

forNuclearEducationandTrainingbytheNuclearEnergyInstitute,anindustrytradegroup.Thisdesignationmeans

thatESTECwillbecoordinatingnuclearenergyeducation

andtrainingfortechniciansinanine-stateregionthat

includesIdaho,Montana,Washington,Oregon,South

Dakota,NorthDakota,Utah,WyomingandNebraska.To

operateESTEC,ISUpartnerswithINLandPartnersfor

Prosperity,acommunity-basedorganizationfocusedon

workforcedevelopmentforlow-incomepeople.

BOISE STATE UNIERSITY

BoiseStateUniversity(BSU)doesnothaveanuclearengineeringprogrambutitsMaterialsScienceand

EngineeringDepartmenthasstrongresearchcollaborations

withINL,aswellaswithnuclearengineeringandscience

programsatISUandtheUniversityofIdaho.BSUalso

engagesinextensiveeducationalcollaborations,suchas

courseofferingsandjointprograms.

ISU’s Idaho Accelerator Center



20

BSU’sMaterialsScienceandEngineeringdepartmenthas

grownrapidlyduringthepastveyearsandisnowoneof

thelargestdepartmentsofitskindinthePacicNorthwest,

offeringB.S.,M.S.andM.Engr.degreeswithafocuson

energymaterialsresearchandeducation.APh.D.program

wasaddedin2012andhasalreadyattracted12highlyqualied

studentsaswellassixnewfacultymembers,fourofwhomhave

expertiseinenergymaterialsandmodelingandoneofwhom

hasaPh.D.innuclearengineering.Thesenewfacultywill

buildonBSU’sexistingrelationshipswithINLandtheCenter

forAdvancedEnergyStudies(discussedlaterinthereport)to

helpexpandfutureeducationalpartnerships.

Studentscanalsomoveintonuclearengineeringatthegraduate

levelthroughBSU’smechanicalengineeringdepartment,

whichoffersB.S.,M.S.andM.Engr.degrees.Thedepartment

iscurrentlyhiringafacultymemberwithafocusinanenergyeldthatincludesmodeling,controlanddesign.

AnotheremergingfocusatBoiseStateiscomputational

scienceandengineering.ArecentMajorResearch

InstrumentationgrantfromtheNationalScience

FoundationwillfundanewGPU/CPUclusterthatwill

allowlarge-scalemodelingandvisualization.Theplanis

tousethisfacilityasastate-wideresourcewithpotential

applicationsinnuclearengineering.

OverallBoiseState’sinvolvementineldsrelevantfora

careerinnuclearenergyspanstheengineeringcollege.

BSUundergraduateshavebeenawardedNuclearEnergy

UniversityProgramscholarshipsandgraduatestudents

havereceivedfellowshipsfromtheU.S.Nuclear

RegulatoryCommission.Severalstudentseachyear

participateininternshipsatINLandPacicNorthwest

NationalLaboratory(PNNL).Inall,BSUhaswon

morethanfortyawards,totalingmorethan$12million

fromresearchgrants,contractsandjointprojectsrelated

tonuclearengineeringoverthelastveyears.Inaddition,

facultyandstaffinBSU’sDepartmentofMaterialsScience

andEngineeringmanagetheMicroscopyandCharacterization

SuiteandtheAdvancedMaterialLaboratoryattheCenter

forAdvancedEnergyStudies.Thesefacilitiesaredesignedto

accommodatecollaboratorsacrossthestateaswellasnationally.

Becausetheyareequippedtohandleradioactivematerials,

thesefacilitieshavealsoenhancedthecapabilityandnational

importanceofINL’sAdvancedTestReactorandDOE’s

NationalScienticUserFacility(NSUF).

UNIERSITY OF IDAHO

TheUniversityofIdaho’sGraduateNuclearEngineering

ProgramgrantsMasterofScienceandPh.D.degrees.In

recentyears,UofIhashadapproximately12–15full-time

and15–20part-timeMSandPhDstudents.Manyofthefull-

timestudentsarebasedattheCenterforAdvancedEnergy

StudiesinIdahoFalls.

UofIisalsoworkingwithotherIdahoresearchuniversitiesto

integratetheiradvancedgraduateprogramswiththenuclear

engineeringcurriculumatIdahoStateUniversityandto

developclosercurricularcollaborationwithBSU’sMaterials

ScienceandEngineeringDepartment.Theeventualgoalis

towinnationalrankingandinternationalrecognitionforan

IdahoInstituteofNuclearScienceandEngineeringinIdaho

FallsthatsupportsthemissionsofINL.

CENTER FOR ADANCED ENERGY STUDIES

TheCenterforAdvancedEnergyStudies(CAES)isa

researchandeducationpartnership,formedin2005,

betweenBoiseStateUniversity,IdahoStateUniversity,the

UniversityofIdahoandINL.Thegoalofthiscollaborative

effortbythethreeuniversitiesandINListoleadenergy

researchprogramsimportanttothenation,educatethe

futureworkforcebyattractingbrightundergraduateand

graduatestudentsandfacultytotheIdahostateuniversities,

reachoutacrossIdahoandthenationtopromotean

informedenergypolicydialogue,andactasacatalystfor

technology-basedeconomicdevelopmentinIdahoandthe

Microscopy and Characterization

Suite at CAES



2

region.ThiscollaborativeapproachiscriticaltoCAES’

successbyallowingthebestandbrightesttoworktogether

regardlessoftheirphysicallocationorinstitutionalafliation

inanenvironmentthatpromotesexcellence,increasesthe

impactandreducesthetimescaleofinnovativeresearch,

andexpandsandinvigoratesthescienticandengineering

talentpool.Inadditiontopromotingandfacilitatingstate

widecollaborationbetweenthefourpartnerinstitutions,

CAESoperatesa55,000square-footstateoftheart

researchfacility,locatedinIdahoFallsandbuiltonIdaho

StateUniversityproperty,whichpromotesside-by-side

collaborationbetweenuniversityfacultyandstudentsandINL

researchersonenergyprojectsofnationalimportance.

CAESiscommittedtoconductingresearchthataddressesthe

energychallengesconfrontingIdahoandthenationasawhole.

Thoughitsresearchagendaemphasizesnuclearenergy,it

alsospansmaterialsscience,bioenergy,carbonmanagement,

geothermalenergy,energypolicy,modelingandsimulation,andenergyefciency.

Idahouniversitiescompeteverysuccessfullyforfederalnuclear

energyresearchfunding.Forexample,ofthestatesawarded

fundingthroughDOE’sNuclearEnergy

UniversityProgramsince2009,Idaho

universitieshavereceivedthethirdlargest

amount,$13.8million.OnlyWisconsin

andTexasreceivedmorefunding($16.8

and$14.7million,respectively).

Successatwinningfederalfundinghas

promptedinterestbothinexpanding

CAES’physicalfacilityinIdahoFalls

andinextendingthegeographicreachof

itsprograms.Suchanexpansionwould

helpcementtheroleoftheCenterfor

AdvancedEnergyStudiesasaregional

energyasset.

CAES building in Idaho Falls – Constructed using Federal,

DOE Contractor, and Settlement Agreement funds.

FIGURE 6 - NEUP Funding — 2009–2011;

Source: https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/ server.pt/community/neup_home/600/fy11_announcement_archive

https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt/community/neup_home/600/fy11_announcement_archive








22

Nuclearenergycurrentlyaccountsfornearly20percentofelectricityproductionintheUnitedStates8andslightlymorethan12percentofelectricityproductionworldwide.9Duetolow

maintenanceandfuelcosts,andmodestfuturecapitalrequirements,mostofthenation’s

104operatingnuclearpowerplantshavethusfarbeenabletocompetefavorablywithgas-generatedelectricity,despitetoday’slownaturalgasprices.Inrecentsurveys,astrong

majorityoftheU.S.believesthenationshouldmaintainapresenceinnuclearsafety

andnonproliferation.Additionally,publicfavorabilityofnuclearenergyhasincreasedsteadily.SowhilenearlyallexistingU.S.reactorsareinthelatter-halfoftheirinitial

40-yearoperatinglicenses,mosthaveapplied–orareexpectedtoapply–for20-year

licenseextensions.

OutsidetheU.S.,thenuclearindustryisstillgrowinginsomeparts

oftheworld,withseveralcountriesplanningtobuildnewreactors.

Mostofthesecountiesaremotivatedbysomemixtureofnational

strategicconsiderationsandenvironmentalandenergysecurity

concerns.Therearecurrentlymorethan430nuclearreactors

operatingworldwidewithroughly60reactorsunderconstructionandanother150new

reactorsplanned.SouthKorea,China,IndiaandRussiaaremovingforwardaggressively

withinvestmentsinnewnuclearcapacityandeffortstodeveloptheirownbaseofnuclear

manufacturing,constructionandoperationalexpertise.

OutsideEuropeandJapan,theaccidentexperiencedattheFukushimaDaichiinuclear

powerplantafterthedevastatingtsunamiofMarch11,2011doesnotappeartobe

A LOOK AHEADOPPORTUNITIESFOR IDAHO

Nuclear energy currently

generates nearly 20% of

the nation’s electricity.

8Seehttp://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_use

9Seehttp://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/nuclear_statistics/

worldstatistics

Watts Bar Nuclear Power S

http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_use



http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/nuclear_statistics/worldstatistics











2

diminishinginterestinanddemandfornuclearenergy.

MeanwhileregulatorsintheUnitedStatesandinother

leadingnuclearnationshavesoughttoimprovethesafety

andresilienceofnuclearfacilitiesinthecaseofextreme

eventsandtoaddressheightenedpublicconcernsfollowing

theaccident.IntheUnitedStates,someoftheprecautions

recommendedafterFukushima—suchasacceleratingthetransferofspentnuclearfuelfromcoolingpoolstodrycask

storage—werealreadybeingimplementedtosomeextentasa

resultoftheeventsof9/11.

NUCLEAR ENERGY OUTLOOK IN THE U.S.

WhiletheU.S.hasthelargestnumberofoperatingnuclear

powerplantsintheworld,thelowpriceofnaturalgas(and

therelativelylowcapitalburdenassociatedwithbuilding

naturalgas-redelectricgenerationcapacity)ishavinga

negativeimpactoninvestmentinanyothertechnologyforelectricityproductionintheU.S.,includingnuclearenergy.

Despiteabriefresurgenceofinterestinnuclearenergyin

themidtolate2000s,whenvariouscompaniesconsidered

buildingasmanyas26newcommercialnuclearpower

reactorsintheUnitedStates,10itnowappearsthatonlythe

twonewreactorscurrentlyunderconstructioninGeorgiaand

twothatarehavebeenproposedinSouthCarolinaarelikely

toproceedthisdecade.

Whethernaturalgaswillcontinuetoberelativelyplentiful

andcheapintheUnitedStates,andforhowlong,iscurrently

uncertain.Factorssuchasenvironmentalregulation,public

acceptanceofhydraulicfracturingor“fracking”operations,

andtheopeningofnaturalgasexportterminalscould

fundamentallyaltertheeconomicsofthedomesticnaturalgas

market.Inlightofthisuncertainty,manyexpertsarguethat

maintainingabalancedanddiversesupplyofenergysources

isimportanttoournation’slong-termeconomicstrength

andenergysecurity.

Ifnaturalgasdoesremaininexpensiveovertherestofthe

decade,itcouldforcenuclearpowerplantoperatorstomake

difcultdecisionsaboutthefutureoftheiroperatingreactors.

Forexample,theowneroftheKewauneenuclearpowerstationrecentlyannouncedplanstoclosethereactorpermanentlyin

early2013.Accordingtonewsreports,thedecisiontoshutter

theplant“wasdrivenbyeconomicsandprojectedlowwholesale

electricitypricesintheregion.”Theplantownerreportedly

FIGURE 7 - Commercial nuclear power

plants in the United States. Source: www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.html

10Theseotherissuesincludehighconstructioncosts,longconstructiontimeframes,andtheinabilityofthefederalgovernmenttoimplementaworkableloanguaranteeprogramfornuclearpowerasestablishedundertheEnergyPolicyActof2005

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.html

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.html



24

triedbutfailedtondabuyerfortheplant.11Whetherthisis

auniquecaseorisonethatwillberepeatedatothernuclear

powerplantsremainstobeseen.

NucleartechnologyprovidersintheU.S.andabroadare

engagedinanefforttodevelopnewproductsthataddresstheeconomic,wasteandotherchallengesfacingthefutureuse

ofnuclearenergyandothernucleartechnologies[seegure

8].AndtheU.S.government–principallythroughDOE–

engagesinresearch,developmentanddemonstrationprograms

focusedonensuringthatnuclearenergyremainsaviable

technologytoaddresscurrentandfutureenergydemandswhile

addressingconcernsaboutgreenhousegasemissions.

TheremainderofthissectionreviewstheopportunitiesthatexistinnuclearenergyandnucleartechnologyforIdaho’s

nuclear-relatedresearch,infrastructure,business,and

workforceassets.

Figure 8 - Pros and cons of nuclear energy

PROS AND CONS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Pros Cons

>> Cheap electricity production by existing already amortized nuclear

plants

>> Low operational costs and stable market prices (low volatility in

the price of nuclear generated electricity)

>> High tech, high paying domestic jobs (at the plants and the

service sector)

>> Production cost immune to potential carbon taxes

>> Growing international market for new nuclear plants that can

create a strong industry in the U.S.

>> Reliance on primarily domestic resources (uranium)

>> A very good safety, reliability and operational availability recordby domestic industry

>> Maintaining U.S. leadership in technologies and applications

during an increasing international demand on nuclear energy

>> U.S. leadership in non-proliferation and nuclear safety

>> Reduced reliance on non-domestic energy sources

>> High density clean energy with nearly zero greenhouse gas

emissions

>>

Small plant footprints per unit energy

>> Very high capital cost of new plants

>> Economic uncertainty associated with the regulatory process

>> Relatively inexpensive domestic alternative energy sources (e.g.

natural gas)

>> Competitive international market for reactor vendors (France,

Russia and South Korea)

>> Uncertainty in long-term storage and disposal of used nuclear

fuel (UNF)

>> Increasing domestic fossil fuel resources

>> Negative public perception of safety post-Fukushima

>> Public concern about increasing volume of used fuel (stored atoperating reactor sites)

>> Concerns about the vulnerability of nuclear plants and fuel

facilities to terrorism

>> Risks of the misuse of civilian technologies for proliferation of

nuclear weapons

>> Environmental impact of uranium mining

>> Water usage equivalent to any large thermal plant

>> Uncertainty in long-term disposal of used nuclear fuel

Economics

Energy

Security

National

Security

Environmental

Impact

11“QuestionsariseaboutshutteringofKewauneenuclearpowerreactor,”WisconsinStateJournal,November3,2012–seehttp://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/questions-arise-about-shuttering-of-kewaunee-nuclear-power-reactor/article_8ab13fd6-25ea-11e2-b3f4-001a4bcf887a.html

http://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/questions-arise-about-shuttering-of-kewaunee-nuclear-power-reactor/article_8ab13fd6-25ea-11e2-b3f4-001a4bcf887a.html






2

INL Business Volume

0FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

(Projected)

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

FY 2013FY 2012FY 2011FY 2010FY 2009FY 2008FY 2007FY 2006

$ 6 8

6 M

$

7 4 0 M

$ 7 9 9 M

$ 8 7 0 M

$ 1 , 0

6 0 M

$ 9 7 4 M

$ 9 0 2 M

$ 8 7 5 M

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IDAHO

INL

Concernsoverairqualityandclimatechangeareamajordriver

forcleanenergyalternatives,includingnuclearenergy.Nuclear

technologycurrentlyaccountsfornearlytwo-thirdsofalllow-carbonelectricityproductionintheUnitedStates.Itwillremain

anessentialelementofanyefforttoimproveairqualityand

reducethecarbonfootprintofelectricitygeneration.

Fortheseandotherreasons–includingtheimportanceof

baseloadelectricitysupplyandtheimpactU.S.leadershipin

nuclearenergycanhaveinachievingeconomicandnational

securityobjectives–theU.S.governmentmaintainsaresearch,

developmentanddemonstrationprogramfocusedonnuclear

energy.ThisprogramisconductedprimarilythroughtheU.S.

DepartmentofEnergy.Whilethespecicsoftheprogramcanvaryfromyeartoyear,thefocusinrecentyearshasbeen

onresearchanddevelopmentofnuclearenergytechnologies

focusedonelectricitygeneration,safety,wastestorageand

management,andsecuritytechnologies,tohelpmeetenergy

security,proliferationresistance,andclimategoals. 12

Specically,theDOEnuclearresearchprogramemphasizes:

• DevelopmentofSmallModularReactorandadvanced

nuclearreactortechnologies

• Spentfueldisposition(bothstorageanddisposal

technologiesandadvancedtechniquesforrecyclingspent

nuclearfuel)

• Modelingandsimulationofadvancedreactorsandfuelcycles

• Nonproliferation

• Crosscuttingscienceandotherenablingtechnologies

INL,asthenation’sleadnuclearenergylaboratory,iswell-

positionedtocaptureasignicantshareofDOEandother

federalresearchfundingdirectedatnuclearenergyandnucleartechnologies.Unfortunately,giventherisingfederal

debtandincreasingpressurestoholddownfederalspending,

itislikelythattheamountoffederalfundingdirectedat

nuclearenergyRD&Dwilldecreaseinthecomingyears.

IDAHO UNIERSITIES

Idahouniversitiesandcollegesareanimportantpartofthe

state’snucleartechnologyenterpriseandamajorassetfor

Idahointermsofcapturingnewnuclear-relatedeconomic

opportunitiesinthefuture.Growingdemandforhigher

educationcredentialsinnuclear-relatedeldsandthe

continuedabilitytocompetesuccessfullyfornuclearresearch

fundingrepresenttwopromisingareasofopportunityfor

Idahouniversitiesandcollegesgoingforward.

Inbothareas,Idahofacescompetitionfromotherstates.

Nationally,thereare39highereducationinstitutionsin28

statesthatofferbachelors,mastersordoctoralprogramsin

nuclearscienceandengineering.Idahoisoneofninestates

withmorethanoneinstitutionofferingsuchdegrees:Idaho

StateUniversity(BS,MSandPhD)andtheUniversityofIdaho

(MSandPhD).Inaddition,38technicalschoolsin24statesofferNationalNuclearUniformCurriculum-recognized

associateinappliedsciencedegrees(AAS)intheareasof

nuclearoperations,nuclearmaintenance,radiationprotection

andchemistry.IdahoStateUniversity’sEnergySystems

TechnologyandEducationCenterofferstwoindustry-

recognizedandapproveddegreesinNuclearOperations

andNuclearInstrumentationandControl.

Demandforskillsandcredentialsinnuclear

engineeringandothernuclear-relateddisciplineshas

beenrising,notwithstandingthedomesticindustry’s

uncertaingrowthprospectsatpresent.Figure10shows

thenumberofnuclearengineeringdegreesawardedin

theU.S.inrecentyears.13In2011atotalof471BS,289

MS,and114PhDdegreeswereawardedintheUnited

States.Thenumbersrepresenta30percentincrease

innuclearengineeringBSandMSdegreesawardedin

2011comparedto2006anda43percentincreasein

12U.S.DepartmentofEnergyFY2013BudgetRequesttoCongress,Volume3

13IntegratedPostsecondaryEducationDataSystem(IPEDS)http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/

Figure 9 - INL Business olume

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/



26

13-50031-07

0

2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

N u m b e r o f D e g r e e s

2010 2011

B.S.M.S.

Ph.D.

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Degrees awarded in nuclear engineering in the U.S. 2006–2011

PhDdegreesforthesametimeperiod.Evenwithoutawave

ofnewreactorconstructionintheU.S.,nuclearengineering

andrelatedeldsarelikelytocontinuetoofferattractivejob

prospects,thankstotheongoingstafngneedsofcompanies

thatservetheoverseasmarketandbecauseoftheneedtoreplace

retiringnuclearplantworkersintheU.S.Basedondatathat

showaheavyrelianceonemployeesinthe50-and-olderage

rangethroughouttheindustry;theNuclearEnergyInstitutehas

estimatedthatasmanyas5,000positionswillneedtobelled,

onaverage,foratleastthenextveyearsinthecommercial

nuclearenergyindustry.

Figure 10 - Degrees Awarded in Nuclear Engineering in the U.S. 2006-2011

engineering.)Thesenumbers,whenconsideredinthe

contextofprojectednuclearindustryworkforceneeds,

suggestthatIdahouniversitiescouldenrollasubstantially

largernumberofstudentsinnuclearengineeringand

relatedelds.Infact,ananalysisofworkforceageand

qualicationsatINLindicatesthat—atthecurrentrate

ofdegreeproduction—Idahouniversitiesandtechnical

collegeswillnotkeepupwitheventheworkforceneedsof

INLalone,especiallyatthedoctoralandmasterslevels.16In

addition,theneedfornuclearornuclear-relatededucation

atthetechnicianlevel(two-yearassociatesinappliedscience

andone-yearcerticateprograms)will

closelytracktheneedforotherdegrees.

Currently,thereareonlythreenuclear/

radiologicaltechnicalprogramsinthe

regionthataddressINL’sspecicnuclear

orradiologicaltechnicianworkforce

needs.TheseincludetheNuclear

OperationsEngineeringTechnology

andNuclearInstrumentationand

ControlEngineeringTechnology

AssociateinAppliedSciencedegrees

fromISU’sEnergySystemsTechnology

andEducationCenter(ESTEC)andthe

EasternIdahoTechnicalCollege(EITC)

one-yearcerticateinRadiationSafety.

AsecondimportantareaofopportunityforIdahouniversitiescenterson

theirabilitytocontinuetocompete

successfullyfornuclear-relatedR&Dfunds.Asnotedearlier

inthisreport,Idahowasthirdhighestamongthestatesthat

wereawardedNuclearEnergyUniversityPrograms(NEUP)

grantsbetween2009and2011,trailingonlyTexasand

Wisconsin.ThissuggeststhatthequalityofIdaho’snuclear

programs/institutionsiscomparabletootherstates,butthat

thestatecouldworktocaptureanevenlargershareofthe

federalfundingavailabletosupportpeerreviewednuclear

energyresearchinthefuture.RecommendationsputforwardbytheLINECommission’sTechnologySubcommittee

Althoughinterestisontherise,Idahouniversitiescurrently

accountforonlyasmallfraction(approximately2percent)

ofthedegreesinnuclearengineeringawardedbyallU.S.

universitieseachyear.Lookingatthebroaderrangeof

disciplinesrelevanttonuclearscienceandengineering,14

Idahouniversitiesgraduated,onaverage,299bachelors,

64masters,and12doctoralstudentsineachoftheyears

between2006and2011.15(Ofthetotaldegreesawarded

byIdahouniversitiesinthesedisciplines,51percentwereinmechanicalengineeringand3percentwereinnuclear

14Disciplinesconsideredinclude:AppliedMathematics,Chemistry,ChemicalEngineering,EngineeringPhysics,MaterialsScienceandEngineering,MechanicalEngineering,NuclearEngineering,andPhysics.Althoughimportanttothenuclearindustryaswellasawidevarietyofotherindustrysectors,ComputerScience,ComputerEngineering,andElectricalEngineeringarenotincludedinthetotals.

15IntegratedPostsecondaryEducationDataSystem(IPEDS);seehttp://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/.

16 Accordingtodatacompiledbythesubcommittee,ofapproximately4,000employeesatINL,1,900areovertheageof50andmorethan1,100overtheageof55.Themedianagerangeis50-54.Between2006and2011,INLhired,onaverage,approximately329newpeopleperyear(attritionof206plusgrowthof123)between2006and2011.DuringthisperiodoftimetheINLworkforcealsogrewfromanemployeeheadcountof3,513to4,181.Thedistributionofthehighestdegreeofeducationalattainmentforthesehireswas21percenthighschool,14percentassociate’sorpost-secondarycerticates,32percentbachelor’s,17percentmaster’sand17percentdoctor’sdegrees.



2

targetedfurtheropportunitiesforstrengthening

collaborationbetweenINL,nuclearcommercialenterprises,

andIdahouniversitiestoinvestinthestate’sresearch

infrastructureandtosecureR&Dfunding,including

fromnewsourcessuchasforeigngovernmentsandforeign

commercialbusinesses.

COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR FIRMS

Asnotedinanearliersection,severalnuclear-related

commercialenterprises,offeringawiderangeofservices,

manufacturingcapabilities,andexpertise,areheadquarteredin,

orhaveoperationsin,Idaho.Theyincludelarge,multinational

companieslikeArevaaswellassmaller,U.S.-basedcompanies

thatprovidehighlyspecializedproductsorcapabilities.

Giventheoutlookforthenuclearenergyindustry,intheU.S.

andabroad,growthopportunitiesforthesecompaniesarelikelytobeclusteredintwoareas:(1)servingthestillgrowing

internationalmarketfornuclearenergyproductionand(2)

providingcutting-edgewastemanagementandfuelcycle

servicesforthedomesticandglobalmarketasallcountries

withexistingnucleareets—includingtheU.S.—grapple

withlonger-termissuesoffacilitydecommissioningand

wastestorageanddisposition.Otherimportant

opportunitiesmayexistin“niche”marketslikemedical

isotopeproduction;Idahohostsbothcompanieswith

medicalisotopeexpertiseandsupportingresearch

capabilitiesinthestate’suniversitiesandINL.As

discussedattheoutsetofthissection,themarketfor

servicesandproductsrelatedtonewreactordesign

andconstructionarelikelytobeconcentratedoverseas

forthenextdecadeorlonger,givencurrentlydim

prospectsforsubstantialnewnuclearinvestments

intheU.S.Othercountries,however,aremoving

forwardwithplanstosubstantiallyexpandtheirnuclear

energyfootprint.Thedozensofnewplantsthatare

plannedorcurrentlyunderconstructionaroundthe

world,representanimportantbusinessopportunityfor

thespecializedengineering,manufacturing,operations

andmaintenance,andadvancedsafetyandsecuritycapabilities

Idaho-basedcompaniescanprovide.TheU.S.Departmentof

Commerce,forexample,hasestimatedthattheinternational

marketfornuclearequipmentandserviceswilltotalbetween

$500and740billionoverthenexttenyears. 17Longerterm,

theglobalanddomesticmarketforadvancednuclearenergy

technologies,suchassmallmodularreactorsandhybrid

energysystems,couldgrowquickly,especiallyifeconomicand

regulatoryconditionschange.Futurecarbonconstraints,for

example,orchangesinthecostandavailabilityofcompeting

fuelslikenaturalgas,couldrapidlyshifttheeconomicsof

nuclearpowerrelativetootherelectricityproductionoptions

intheU.S.andelsewhere.Idaho-basedcommercialnuclear

rmswouldbewellpositionedtorespondtosuchnewmarket

opportunities.

Onepotentiallypromisingoptionforcapturingtheadvantages

ofnuclearenergywhileavoidingthehighcapitalcostof

newreactorsinvolvesdevelopingandcommercializingsmall

modularreactors(SMRs).SMRdesignsmaybeabletodeliver

powerwithashorterconstructiontimetableandwithlessupfrontnancialriskbuttheiroveralleconomicviabilityis

currentlyuncertain.IfthecurrentU.S.nuclearmanufacturing

infrastructureandregulatoryframeworkcanbeadaptedor

augmentedtoallowSMRmanufacturing,thiscouldofferan

economicdevelopmentopportunitytostateswithafavorable

businessclimateandestablishednuclearcapabilities.

DOEhaslaunchedaprogramintendedtoleadtothe

demonstrationandcommercializationofSMRdesigns.In

Januaryof2012,DOEannounceditisseekingapplications

fortwoSMRdevelopmentgrants,estimatedtototal$452

Cutaway of B&W’s SMR concept

17Seehttp://trade.gov/press/press-releases/2011/commerce-report-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-can-help-meet-future-energy-demands-create-american- jobs-021611.asp18Seehttp://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/3903791

http://trade.gov/press/press-releases/2011/commerce-report-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-can-help-meet-future-energy-demands-create-american-jobs-021611.asp


http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/3903791

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/3903791





28

millionoverveyears.Thefundswillpayuptohalfthecost

ofcertifyingtwoSMRdesigns.18TheLINECommissionheard

fromseveralnuclearenergyrmsthataredevelopingSMR

technologiesandwhoseplansincludetheeventualdevelopment

ofdemonstrationSMRsandSMRmanufacturingcapabilities

tomeetmarketdemandintheU.S.andabroad.

Inaddition,newreactordesignsbasedongas-cooledandliquid

metal-cooledreactor

technologiesarelikelyto

beintroducedinsome

partsoftheworldover

thenextdecade.The

introductionofreactors

basedonthesedesignscanbeexpectedtocreatedemandfor

moreadvancedfuels.

Fuelcycleandwastemanagementserviceswillcontinueto

beindemandevenincountriesthatarenotaddingtotheir

existingreactoreetsorarewindingdowntheircurrentnuclear

commitments.Areva’splantobuildauraniumenrichmentplant

inIdaho,forexample,responds

totheongoingdemandfor

fuelfromcurrentlyoperating

reactorsgiventhatmuchofthe

currentU.S.eetisexpectedto

applyfor,andreceive,license

extensionsthatwouldallowfor

continuedoperationwellinto

the2020sand2030s.

Oneissuethatcouldserveas

aneconomicopportunityfor

willingbusinesses,communities

andstates–isthenation’s

failurethusfartondalong-

termdisposalsolutionfor

spentnuclearfuel.Whilesome

haveadvocatedreprocessing

toextractre-useableelementsfromspentnuclearfuel(asiscurrentlybeingdoneinFrance,

RussiaandJapan),theU.S.hasrejectedthisoptionfor

economic,environmentalandnationalsecurityreasons.

Instead,U.S.policycallsforthedirectdisposalofspentfuelin

anundergroundrepository.Underlegislationpassedin1987,

asinglesiteatYuccaMountaininNevadawastobeconsidered

fortheconstructionofsucharepository,buttheObama

Administrationhaltedworkonthisprojectin2010.

Instead,theAdministrationtaskedaBlueRibbonCommission

(BRC)withdevelopingrecommendationsforre-formulating

andre-invigoratingtheU.S.nuclearwastemanagementprogram.TheBRCissuedareportinJanuary2012[see

textboxonpage30]andwhilelegislationtoimplementits

recommendationshas

beenputforward,no

billhasadvancedvery

farinCongress.The

Administration,likewise

hassubmittedastrategyfor

implementingtheCommission’srecommendations.Atthestate

andlocallevel,communitiesinseveralstates–mostnotablyEddy

andLeaCountiesinsoutheasternNewMexico–haveexpressedinterestinhostingnuclearwastemanagementfacilitiesandare

gearinguptoparticipateinaconsent-basedsitingprocess.

Nonetheless,thedecisiontohaltworkontheYuccaMountain

President Obama established the Blue Ribbon

Commission to study solutions for storage of

the nation’s spent nuclear fuel.

13-50031-08

FUEL FABRICATION NUCLEAR REACTOR

INTERIM STORAGE

FINAL DISPOSITION

FRONT END OF CYCLE

UraniumPlutonium

BACK END OF CYCLE

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

SPENT FUEL

REPROCESSING

MINING

MILLING

CONVERSION

ENRICHMENT

19StrategyfortheManagementandDisposalofUsedNuclearFuelandHigh-LevelRadioactiveWaste,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy,January2013

Figure 11 – The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

repository—andtherecommendationssubsequentlydeveloped

bytheBRC—presentpotentialopportunitiesaswellasrisks

fortheStateofIdaho.Forexample,theYuccaMountain

decisionmeansthatspentfuelatlocationsacrossthecountry

willremaininstorageformuchlongerperiodsthaninitially

anticipated;DOE’slatestplancallsforaspentfuelrepository



2

tobeavailablein2048,19decadesaftertherepositoryatYucca

Mountainwassupposedtobeopen.Consequently,thereis

aneedtoperformresearchsoweunderstandwithcertainty

theperformanceoftoday’scommercialreactorfuelsinthe

conditionsandcongurationswehavechosenforstorage.Such

research,ifperformedatINLmightrequireallowingonthe

orderof30-60tonsofcommercialspentfuelintothestate.

DoingsowouldnotmakeIdahothenation’sinterimstorage

site.INLisideallysuitedtohostthenewresearcheffortsthat

willbeneededtostudythebehaviorofspentnuclearfuelover

longperiodsoftimeindrystorage.

Atthisso-called“backend”ofthenuclearfuelcycle[seeFigure

11;Source:BRCreport,p.10],therewillbegrowingdemand

intheU.S.andelsewhereforthespecializedexpertiseand

equipmentneededtopackagespentnuclearfuelandhigh-level

wasteintoformssuitableforsafe,multi-decadestorageandeventualdisposalinageologicrepository.Statesthatarewilling

toengageinestablishingorexpandingstoragefacilitiesforspent

fuelandhigh-levelwastewouldappeartoholdacompetitive

advantageintermsofreceivingresearchfundsdirectedatthese

“back-end-of-the-fuel-cycle”activities.Forexample,theBRC

reporthighlightedaneedforresearchtoexplorespentfuel

degradationmechanismsindrystorage,“particularlysincemany

currentsafetyassessmentsarebasedonanexaminationoffuel

withlowerburnupthanisnow“standard”anddonotaccount

forstoragetimesofthelengthnowbeingcontemplated.”20

Relatedopportunitiesincludeengineeringandsupplyingthe

instrumentationandcontroltechnologiesneededtomonitorthe

conditionofnuclearfacilitiesandmaterialsandaddresspotential

safetyriskswiththehigherdegreeofreliabilityandlesserreliance

onhumaninterventionlikelytobedemandedintheaftermath

ofFukushimaanddevelopingnon-destructivetechniquesfor

assessingtheintegrityofwastestorageanddisposalsystems.

Finally,uncertaintyinthefederaldisposalprogrammay

addimpetustocallsforthefederalgovernmenttodevelop

oneormorefacilitiesfortheconsolidated

storageofspentnuclearfuel.DOE’splancallsforconstructionofbothapilot-scale

storagefacilityandalarge-scalestorage

facility.SeveralIdahocitieshaveexpressed

interestinexploringtheprosandconsof

possiblyhostingastoragefacility,whileother

individuals,businessesandorganizationsareopposedtoany

suchproposalevenbeingconsidered.

TheCommissionwasnottaskedspecicallywithevaluating

whetherIdahoshouldconsiderbecominganinterimstorage

site.Whilesuchanevaluationwasnotcalledforinourcharteritwasunderstandablyandappropriatelydiscussedat

Commissionmeetingsandaddressedinpresentationsmade

totheCommission.

First,itshouldbenotedthatinterimstorageisnotaresearch

activity.Asdiscussedabove,andasaconsequenceofpast

decisions,INLisaninterimstoragesiteforabout300tons

ofgovernmentownedspentfuel,asmallfractionofthe

nation’sinventoryofnearly70,000tons.These300tonsare

inrobuststorage.

DOE’srecentlyreleasedstrategyformanagementanddisposalofusedfuelandhighlevelwasteproposesapilotinterimstorage

facilitythatcouldacceptontheorderof3,000tonsofspentfuel

andbeoperationalby2021.ItisclearthatDOEwouldconsider

thispilotevolvingintoalargernationalinterimstoragefacility.

DOEproposesthatlargerfacilityopenby2025.

WhileIdahohostinganinterimstoragefacilitywouldnothave

tobedoneattheINLsiteandisnotdirectlyrelatedtothe

lab’sresearchmission,itisreasonabletoassumeandseveral

federalofcialshavecommentedthatastatethathostssuch

afacilitycanappropriatelyargueforbenetsthatjustifythe

burdens.Oneofthosebenetswillprobablyincluderesearch

activities,infrastructureandfacilitiesthatmightotherwisebe

investmentsmadeatINLandinIdaho.

Finally,Continuedandstrengthenedcollaborationbetween

INL,Idahouniversitiesandcolleges,andIdaho-based

commercialenterprisesoffersthebesthopeofpositioningthe

statetotakeadvantageoftheseeconomicopportunitiesgoing

forward.Forexample,onerecommendationadvancedbythe

LINECommission’ssubcommitteeontechnology—establishing

“Gigantic Industrial Opportunity”

Dr. Peter B. Lyons, DOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy,

offered this description of what awaits states that embrace

broader engagement in the nuclear energy sector.

20ReportoftheBlueRibbonCommissiononAmerica’sNuclearFuture,p.34



30

anewnuclearmanufacturingresearchcenterinIdaho—could

beinstrumentalindevelopingadvancedtechnologysolutions

tomeettheneedsofcurrentandfuturenuclearreactorsand

helpIdaho-basedrmscompeteeffectivelyaspartofthe

internationalnuclearsupplychain.Sucharesearchcentercould

bemodeledaftertheNuclearAdvancedManufacturingResearch

CenterrecentlyestablishedintheUnitedKingdomandcouldbe

ledbyaconsortiumthatincludestheeducationalandresearch

institutionscurrentlyinvolvedinCAES(i.e.,BSU,INL,ISU,

UI)aswellasleadingindustrialrmssuchasAREVA,GE,and

Westinghouse,etc.Inthismodel,engineersanddesignersfrom

private-sectorrmswouldworkhand-in-handwithuniversity

andnationallabresearcherstodevelopnewconceptsand

productsinresponsetorapidlyevolvingregulatoryandmarket

demands.Suchcollaborationhassubstantialpotentialtohelp

ensurethelong-termsuccessandgrowthofIdaho’scommercial

nuclearinterests,andtherebyprovidedurablebenetsforthe

state’seconomyasawhole.

Overview and Recommendations

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future was formed by the Secretary of Energy at the request of the President, following the Administration’s

decision to terminate work on a planned nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain i n Nevada. The Yucca Mountain project began in 1987, and the repository

was intended to serve as the final resting place for much of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and other high-level waste. However, the state of Nevada never

consented to host the repository, and stiff resistance from the state contributed to extensive delays in completing the project; by law, the repository was

supposed to open by 1998, but at the time the project was terminated most estimates foresaw the repository opening in 2020 at t he very earliest.

All told, at the time of the Administration decision more than $10 billion had been spent on investigations, repository design, license application development

and other Yucca Mountain project activities. The President directed that the 15-member Blue Ribbon Commission be formed to conduct a comprehensive review

of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle and recommend a new strategy.

The nuclear waste management strategy recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission includes eight key elements:

1. A new, consent-based approach to siting future nuclear waste management facilities.

2. A new organization dedicated solely to implementing the waste management program and empowered with the authority and resources to succeed.

3. Access to the funds nuclear utility ratepayers are providing for the purpose of nuclear waste management.

4. Prompt efforts to develop one or more geologic disposal facilities.

5. Prompt efforts to develop one or more consolidated storage facilities.

6. Prompt efforts to prepare for the eventual large-scale transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste to consolidated storage and disposal facilities

when such facilities become available.

7. Support for continued U.S. innovation in nuclear energy technology and for workforce development.

8. Active U.S. leadership in international efforts to address safety, waste management, non-proliferation, and security concerns.

Congress directed the Administration to submit an implementation plan for the Blue Ribbon Commission report by July 2012. It was submitted in January

2013. Legislation was introduced in Congress in 2012 to implement many of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, but thus far none of these

legislative proposals have become law.

BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON AMERICA’S NUCLEAR FUTURE



COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

AsdiscussedintheIntroduction,theLINECommissionformedvesubcommitteestoaidintheinvestigationofspecicareasincludedintheexecutiveorderthatformedtheCommission.Eachsubcommitteewastaskedwithdevelopingalistofpreliminaryrecommendationsthat

respondtothekeyissuesthesubcommitteewasaskedtoaddress.Fullsubcommitteereports,includingadditionalbackgroundandanalysis,canbeaccessedat www.line.idaho.gov .

Thesubcommitteesbroughtforthanextensivesetofrecommendationstothefull

Commission.Thesubcommitteerecommendations,alongwithpubliccommentonthesubcommitteerecommendations,werereviewedanddiscussedbythefullLINE

Commission.

TheLINECommissionhasstudiedtheburdensandbenetstotheStateofIdahothat

accompanythenuclearresearchmissionofINLandthepresenceofastrongnuclearsector

inthestate.Wearecondentthesignicantbenetsoutlinedelsewhereinthereportfar

outweighthelimited,andmanageable,burdensthatarisefromthepresenceofINLin

Idaho.

Therefore,recognizingthatthenuclearenergyindustriessectorfacessignicantchallenges,

theLINECommissionnonethelessbelievesthataproactiveapproachtostrengtheningand

leveragingitsexistingnuclearcompetenciescouldbeofsubstantiallong-termeconomicandstrategicvaluetotheStateofIdaho.Inparticular,theLINECommissionfullysupports

theleadlaboratorydesignationandbelievesstronglythatthestateshouldendeavorto

protectthedesignationandthelab’senduringnuclearmission.

Ouranalysisofthisframeworkresultedinaseriesofndingsorguidingprinciplesthat

informedtheLINECommission’srecommendations.

FindingNo.1:SafetyandEnvironmentalProtectionareNon-Negotiable

FindingNo.2StorageandDisposalTechnologiesHaveMarkedlyImproved

FindingNo.3:TheDecisiononYuccaMountainDemandstheState’sAttention

FindingNo.4:NuclearTechnologiesRepresentaSignicantIndustrialOpportunity

SpecicactionsrecommendedbytheCommissionaregroupedaccordingtosix,

overarchingstrategicprioritiesthatformthecoreoftheCommission’srecommendations.

TheCommissionrecommendsthattheStateofIdaho:

1.ContinuetoworkcooperativelywiththeU.S.DepartmentofEnergyandotherimpacted

statestoaddressremainingenvironmentalrisksandcontinuecleanupattheINLsite.

http://www.line.idaho.gov/

http://www.line.idaho.gov/



32

2.ExerciseleadershipastheU.S.formulatesfederalenergy

andnuclearwastemanagementpolicies

3.CapitalizeonIdaho’snucleartechnologycompetenciesby

supportingthegrowthofexistingnuclearbusinesses,the

correspondinginfrastructure,andtheattractionofnew

nuclearbusinesses

4.InvestinitsinfrastructuretoenableINLandIdaho

universitiestosuccessfullycompeteforU.S.andglobal

researchopportunities

5.DevelopandpromotetheCenterforAdvancedEnergy

Studiesasaregional,nationalandglobalresourcefor

nuclearenergyresearch

6.Strengthenandexpandnucleareducationandworkforce

trainingofferings

Eachoftheserecommendations–andsupportingactions–isdiscussedindetailbelow.

CONTINUE TO WORK COOPERATIELY

WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

AND OTHER IMPACTED STATES TO

ADDRESS REMAINING ENIRONMENTAL

RISKS AT THE INL SITE

Thelong-termviabilityofINLandofnuclearactivitiesin

Idahoisdependentuponthecontinuedsuccessfulcleanupof

theINLsiteandprotectionoftheSnakeRiverPlainAquifer.Inshort,thestateshouldcontinuetoworkwiththefederal

governmenttocompletethecleanupeffortsinitiatedbythe

1995SettlementAgreement.Idahocontinuestobenetfrom

thecleanupeffortsthatarecurrentlyunderwayattheINL

site.Inparticular,theSettlementAgreementhasgivenDOE

andtheIdahoCongressionalDelegationsubstantialleverage

inensuringthatIdahosecuresitsshareoffederalcleanup

dollars.TheSettlementAgreementalsohadtheeffectof

raisingenvironmentalawarenessatDOEandamongits

contractorsandemployees,whichhashelpedfosteraculture

ofongoingenvironmentalimprovementattheINLsite.

Asweheardconsistentlythroughoutourinvestigation,

Idaho’senvironment–particularlytheSnakeRiverPlain

Aquifer–mustbeprotected.Weagree.Workingcloselywith

U.S.DepartmentofEnergytosecurethenecessaryfunding

tocompletetheremainingcleanupefforts,andtocontinue

thehighestlevelofsafetygoingforward,areprerequisite

toensuringthelong-termviabilityofINLandofnuclear

activitiesinIdaho.ProtectingIdaho’senvironmentandthe

SnakeRiverPlainAquiferhasbeenandmustremainthe

highestpriorityforthestate.

Ofcourse,notallwastespresentthesamelevelofrisktopeopleandtheenvironment.TheSettlementAgreementplacedthe

cleanupfocuswhereitbelongs–ongettingtheriskiestwastes

(suchasliquidtankwastes,buriedtransuranicwastesand

spentfuelinlong-termwetstorage)intosafercongurations;

removingandsolidifyingtankwastes,exhumingandstabilizing

buriedtransuranicwastes,andmovingspentfuelfromwetto

drystorageforthelong-term.Afactualunderstandingofthese

variouswastes,andofthedramaticallydifferentlevelofhazard

theypresenttopeopleandtheenvironment,willbeessentialto

futuredecision-making.

AsnotedintherstpartoftheExecutiveSummary,cleanup

effortstodatehaveadvancedsteadilyandlargelyontrack.

TechnicalissuesattheICP’sIntegratedWasteTreatmentUnit

(IWTU)havedelayedthetreatmentofsomeliquidwastes,

buttheseissuesdonotseeminsurmountableandtheliquid

wasteisbeingsafelystoredintheinterim.TheCommission

recommendsthatthestatecloselymonitorprogressatthe

IWTUandtakermaction,includingpenaltiesifnecessary,

underexistingagreementsifstart-upandprocessingdoesnot

commenceina2013–2015timeframe.

Morebroadly,theCommissionrecommendsthatthestatecontinuetosustainandcommunicateitscommitmentto

safetyandtheenvironment.Thiscouldincludeaneffort

tohighlighttheimportantandeffectiveroleplayedbythe

SettlementAgreementandbytheIdahoDepartmentof

EnvironmentalQuality’sINLOversightProgram.Thelatter

agencyistheappropriatebodytoinvestigateandrespond

toconcernsraisedbythepublic;italsoplaysanimportant

roleincoordinatingthestate’sroleintransportationand

emergencyresponsemeasuresfortheINLsite.

WithregardtocurrentactivitiesattheINLsite,theCommission

believestheStateofIdahoshouldcontinuetosupport:

• TheworkbeingdoneattheNavalReactorsFacility(NRF),

includingtheNRF’sapproachtoimplementingdrystorage

forusednuclearfuel.Giventheimportantnational

securitydimensionsofthiswork,theCommissionendorses

andadvocatesforcontinuingtheNRF’smissionand

recapitalizingitsfacilitiesasproposed.



3

• ThecontinuationoftheAdvancedMixedWasteTreatment

Project(AMWTP),toprocessotherDOEwastesafter

fulllingitscleanupobligationsundertheSettlement

Agreement.Over$1billionhasbeeninvestedinthis

facility,whichisanationalasset.OncetheIdahocleanup

effortsarecompletedthefacilitiesattheAMWTPcouldbe

effectivelyusedtoassistinthecharacterizationandcleanup

beingperformedatothernationallocations.

• TheapproachbeingtakenatICP’sRadioactiveWaste

ManagementComplex(RWMC)toexhume,sort,

categorizeandshipburiedwasteoutofIdaho.Tofollow

uponthisproject,thestateshouldrequireaformal

monitoringandresearcheffort,conductedinIdaho,to

ensurethatplannedremediationmeasures,includinga

futurecapoverthesite,remaineffectiveinprotecting

publichealthandsafety.

AsnotedintheSettlementAgreementdiscussion,oneaspect

thatmaywarrantfurtherinvestigationisthe2035deadline

forprocessingcalcinewasteintoa“repositoryready”form

fordisposalorstorageoutsideofIdaho.Industryexperts

acknowledgethistypeofwasteposesverylittle

risktotheenvironmentinitscurrentform.The

stateshouldbemindfulofpastprecedentwhere

theSettlementAgreementhasbeenmodiedin

negotiatingarrangementsthatareinthestate’sbest

interestsandadvancethefundamentalmissionofthelab.Thus,thestateshouldbeopento

alternativeapproachesforthecalcine;thiscould

includethepossibilityofkeepingthecalcineinits

current,safestoragecongurationsolongasany

changeinplansbroughtcommensuratevaluetothe

StateofIdaho,suchasredirectingthefundssaved

tootherINLprojects.

The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment facility



34

AGREEMENT PROVIDED NECESSARY LEVERAGE TO INITIATE CRITICAL,

AND LARGELY SUCCESSFUL, CLEANUP WORK.

1. Stopped disposal of other states’ nuclear waste at INL.

2. Accelerated remediation of threats to Snake River Aquifer.

3. Substantially mitigated further contamination to the environment.

4. Initiated use of engineered landfills and other disposal strategies to

protect the aquifer.

PRIORITIED THE PROTECTION OF IDAHO’S ENVIRONMENT AND THE

SNAKE RIVER AQUIFER.

1. Established priorities and deadlines for removal of highest

environmental risks.

2. Initiated predictable provisions for moving forward.

3. Created permanent focus on the Snake River Aquifer and its current

and future beneficiaries.

ESTABLISHED LEGAL, CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS FOR IDAHO TO HOLD THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

1. Established fixed timeframes and milestones for cleanup activities.

2. Established a financial penalty to benefit Idaho for non-

performance.

3. Allowed mission critical fuel shipments to continue (Navy, DOE).

4. Enables state to block future shipments if deadlines are missed.

1995 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTENDURING STRENGTHS (Non-negotiable) CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHANGE

FAILURE TO LICENSE THE YUCCA MOUNTAIN REPOSITORY MAY JEOPARDIE

IDAHO’S INTERESTS WITH REGARD TO NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT:

1. Recent policies confirm the federal government will not likely have a

repository for Idaho waste by 2035.

2. May relegate Idaho to a “de facto interim storage site” without

meaningful financial rewards in return.

THE FINANCIAL PENALTY IS SUBJECT TO CAVEATS.

1. Fine is not guaranteed; subject to appropriation by the federal

government.

2. Could create significant court and legal costs for Idaho to enforce.

3. Fine is not adjusted for inflation. By 2035, deterrent value will be

significantly diminished.

4. A diminished fine may create incentive for federal government to

not remove waste.

TO CONTINUE INL’S ABILITY TO PERFORM NEW RESEARCH, ADDITIONAL

ACCOMMODATIONS, BEYOND THE CURRENT RESEARCH ALLOWANCES,

MAY BE NECESSARY.

1. Future research missions will likely include fuel storage safety and

technology. Research quantities would exceed current allowances.

2. Calcine waste is stable in its current state. Future funding intended for

“repackaging” could be redirected for additional research missions.



3

EXERCISE LEADERSHIP AS THE U.S.

FORMULATES FEDERAL ENERGY AND

NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICIES

Monitor, Inuence and Act on Federal Nuclear Policy

Federalnuclearwastepolicyisinux.Whilethisuncertainty

raisesveryrealquestionsaboutthefateofthespentfueland

high-levelwastealreadybeingstoredinIdaho,itmayalso

presentopportunitiesforboththeprivateandpublicsectors

inthestate.Thestateshouldseektoparticipatein,inuence,

andcapitalizeonnuclearwastepolicyformulationand

implementationoverthecomingyearsanddecades.

Forexample,theCommissionbelievesthatINLshouldlead

anyfederalresearcheffortonlong-termdryfuelstorage

research;suchresearchisbothanaturalextensionofongoing

workatthelabandisconsistentwiththeprovisioninthe

SettlementAgreementthatnamesINLtheleadDOElabfor

spentfuelresearch.Suchaneffortmayinclude

theadditionofafewcommercialspentfuel

storagecaskstothedozensofdrystoragecasks

alreadylocatedatthesite.

Giventhesignicantandgrowingcompetition

amongDOElaboratoriesforlimitedresearch

funding,theLINECommissionbelievesthe

lab’slong-termviabilitywouldbesignicantly

harmedbyaninabilitytoacquireappropriateandnecessaryresearchmaterials.Therefore,the

LINECommissionconcludesthestateshould

beopentolimitedwaiversof,orchangesto,

theAgreementtoenableINLtofulllitslead

laboratorymission.TheLINECommission

pointstothe2011agreementonsmallresearch

quantitiesofspentfuelasanexampleofthe

typeofmodestaccommodationthatmaybeneededagainin

thefuturetofacilitatetheongoingmissionofthelaboratory.

AsmentionedpreviouslytheBRCrecommendedconsent-

basedinterimstoragesites.TheAdministrationrecentlyendorsedthispathforwardandwillbeseekinglegislation.

Somecommercialinterestsandlocalgovernmentshave

suggestedthatIdahoexplorethepossibilityofhostingof

aconsolidatedcommercialspentfuelstoragefacility.The

Commissionbelievesconsolidatedinterimstoragecouldbe

conductedsafelyandsecurelywithinIdaho’sboundaries,and

that,asstatedtotheCommissionbyDOEAssistantSecretary

PeteLyons,suchastoragefacilityrepresentsasubstantial

economicopportunity.

WhiletheCommissionbelievesconsolidatedstoragecanbe

(andis)conductedsafelyandsecurelywithinIdaho,current

federalwastemanagementpolicyhasnotevolvedtothepointthatgivesstategovernmentsenoughclarityorsufcient

leveragetonegotiateandenforcesitingagreementswiththe

federalgovernment.

TheCommissionnotesitsdecisiontoexcludefromits

recommendationsaprovisioncontainedintheprogress

reportrelatedtoaPilotU.S.RegionalInterimStorage

Facility.TheCommissionheardbothsupportandopposition

tothatideaduringthepubliccommentperiod,but,asstated

previously,believesfederalpolicyhasnotevolvedsufciently

toconsidersuchadecision.

Idaho’sinterestinthelabneedstobeprotected.Toensure

thatthenationbenetsfromIdaho’s60yearsofexperience

innuclearenergytechnology,thestateshouldexercise

leadershipastheU.S.considerschangestoitsnuclearwaste

managementpolicies.Thiscanbestbeachievedbyforming

astandingNuclearAdvisoryCouncilthatwouldmonitorandperiodicallyreviewfederaldevelopmentsandmake

recommendationsregardingfederalnuclearwastepolicy.The

Councilcouldalso,attherequestoftheGovernor,reviewthe

burdensandbenetsofhostingINL,identifycommercial

nuclearsectoropportunities,andcoordinatewiththe

Governor’sIdahoStrategicEnergyAlliancetoprovideadviceon

nuclearenergypolicyandrelatedscienticandtechnicalissues.

Long-term dry storage casks at INL



36

Inparticular,theCommissionrecommendstheproposed

NuclearAdvisoryCouncilengagecloselyintheevolutionof

nationalpolicyasitaddressesDOE’sstrategyformanagement

anddisposalofusedfuelandhighlevelwasteandparticularly

intheareaofinterimstorage.TheCouncilshouldadvise

stateleadershipandthepubliconprogress,opportunities

andchallengesinthisarea.

Elevate the Conversation with the Citizens of Idaho

ThefollowingcommentreceivedfromtheLeagueofWomen

VotersofIdahohighlightsanotherveryimportantleadership

rolethestateneedstoprovide:

“Citizenswholackfullinformationoraccesstoarobust

andentirelyopendialoguewillalwaysmovetoaless

productiveposition.ThecitizensofIdahoneedtime,

spacesandmeanstolearn,frame,andconsidertheinevitablechoicesandtheirprosandcons.Soundpublic

processwillrequireaccesstobalancedinformationand

opportunitiesforthecitizensofIdahotogenerateandown

theirchoices.

Attheendoftheday,wehaveallbeenbeneciariesof

nuclearpower.Assuch,weallhavetherelatedobligationto

bepartofaninformedsearchforaresponsibleapproach

tothemanagementofthewaste.Thisistrulyanational

challengethatcrossesstateboundaries,buttheexistenceand

workoftheLINECommissionhasbroughtthissearchto

ourstate.Itistimetoprovideapublicprocessrespectfulof

thecitizensofIdaho.TherecommendationsfromtheLINE

Commissioncanandshouldprovidethestartingpoint.” 21

Weagree.ThenuclearindustryanditslegacyinIdaho,coupled

withtheopportunitiesandrelatedchallenges,presentsone

ofthemostimportantissuesinthehistoryofthestate.The

citizensofIdahoneedampletimeandtheabilitytocontinue

abalanceddiscussionregardingtheseissues.Important

decisionsforthestatewerenalizedin1995byGovernor

Batt.Meanwhile,signicantshiftshaveoccurredinfederal

policy,advancementshaveoccurredintechnology,andchangcontinuestorequireadjustmentswithintheindustry.These

changeshavecreatednewquestionsandwarrantthestate’s

renewedattention.Thesenewandimportantquestionson

boththenearhorizonandthelongtermhorizonneedto

beaddressedforthestatetoeffectivelysupportINLand

determinetheappropriatepolicyforthestate.

TheCommissionrecommendstheGovernorinitiateand

monitoranefforttoprovide“accesstobalancedinformation

andopportunitiesforthecitizensofIdahotogenerateand

owntheirchoices.”Thesedutiescouldbedelegatedtothe

NuclearAdvisoryCouncilrecommendedaboveoranother

comparablegrouptofacilitatetheseefforts.Regardlessofhow

itisprovided,thecitizensofIdahodeserveampletimeand

informationtounderstandthesecomplexandcriticalissues

andmakechoicesonbalancedandaccurateinformation.

Inadditiontoadvisingthestate’spoliticalleadership,the

Councilcould:

• WorkwithIdaho’sCongressionalDelegationtopersuade

federalpolicymakers—includingCongress,OMBandDOE—

thatthenation’sscalinterestsarebestservedbyconcentrating

andconsolidatingnuclearenergyresearchcapabilities,tothe

maximumextentpracticable,inIdahoatINL.

• PursueincreasedcollaborationandfundingforR&Dfrom

foreigngovernmentsandoverseascommercialbusinesses

inthosecountriesthathaveactivenuclearpowerexpansion

initiatives.

• CoordinatetheStateofIdaho’sinvolvementinplanned

andproposedeventsliketheAmericanNuclearSociety’s

Global2013conference,aninternationalconferenceon

nuclearsafety,andaWesternRegionalEnergySummitto

promoteastrongpoliticalvoiceforourenergyrichregion

ofNorthAmerica.

CAPITALIZE ON IDAHO’S NUCLEAR

TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES BY

SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF

EXISTING NUCLEAR BUSINESSES, THE

CORRESPONDING INFRASTRUCTURE,

AND THE ATTRACTION OF NEW

NUCLEAR BUSINESSES

Idaho’snuclear-trainedworkforceanditscommercial,

research,educationandtrainingactivitiesrepresentakey

Idahocompetencyandamajoreconomicdriver.Thenuclear

sectoralsoplaysanimportantroleinthediversicationof

Idaho’seconomy,whichhastraditionallybeenhighlyreliant

onagriculture,forestryandmining.TheCommission

recommendsthestatetakeseveralstepstosetthestageforfuture

investmentsinnuclearenergyresearchandoperationsinIdaho.

21PubliccommentreceivedviaLINECommissionwebsitefromLeagueofWomenVotersonJanuary1,2013.



3

• Supportnewoptionsforpromotingresearch,development,

demonstrationanddeployment(RDDandD)andpublic-

privatepartnerships.DOE’sabilitytofacilitatesuch

partnershipsfornuclearenergyRDD&Disconstrained

bycontractuallimitationsinnancialrisksharing,

indemnication,intellectualpropertyrightsandother

typicalcommercialtermsandconditions.Thestateshould

encourageitsFederalDelegationtoexaminethisissueand

createsomenewmechanismstosupportpublic-private

partnershipstoadvancenuclearenergytechnologies.

• Encourageinvestmentinsmallmodularreactors(SMRs),

whichmaypresentthemostpromisingnewnuclear

technologyopportunityfortheindustryandforIdaho.

Becausestatesthatgetinvolvedearlywillhaveacompetitive

advantageinattractingmanufacturinginvestmentifmarkets

forSMRsmaterialize,Idaho’sDepartmentofCommerceshouldbechargedwithworkingdirectlywithSMRdevelopers

totoutIdaho’sadvantages(includingaskillednuclear

workforce,lowenergycosts,pro-businessenvironmentand

accesstoroad,railandbargetransportation)andtoexplore

thetypesofincentivesthatwouldmakethestatemore

attractiveasthehostofanSMRdemonstrationprojectoran

SMRmanufacturingfacility.Thedepartmentshouldalsobe

chargedwithexploringcleanenergyandotherincentivesthat

couldhelplowertheamountofup-frontcapitalneededto

constructademonstrationplant.

• Considerandadoptlegislationtocreateappropriate,competitivetaxpoliciesandpromoteastableregulatory

environmentaimedatpromotinginvestmentinIdaho’s

nuclearindustry.Thiscouldincludeassemblingand

aggressivelymarketingan“IdahoEnergyResearchIncentive

Package”thatincludesanenhancedstateinvestmenttax

credit,realpropertyimprovementtaxcredit,andR&Dcredit,

whilepossiblyalsoincludingcounty-authorizedproperty

taxexemptions,industrialrevenuebondsand-potentially

–authorizationfromDOEtooffersomeofitsfacilities/

resourcesasa“NuclearEnergyParkInitiative”testbed.

INEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO

ENABLE INL AND IDAHO UNIERSITIESTO SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE FOR

U.S. AND GLOBAL RESEARCH

OPPORTUNITIES

Advance Existing Nuclear Specialties

TheexistingresearchinfrastructureatINLandatthestate’s

universitiesincludessomeofthebestandmostversatile

nuclearandcriticalinfrastructuretestingfacilitiesinthe

world.Thisinfrastructurerepresentsmanybillionsofdollars

ofinvestment,primarilyoffederalandstatetaxpayerfunds,

andmanyofthefacilitiesinIdahoareone-of-a-kindor wouldbeprohibitivelyexpensivetoreplace.Maintainingand

buildingonthiscapabilitywillrequireinvestmentsfromthe

federalgovernment,thestate,andprivateentities.

Havingreviewedthisinfrastructureandsoughtexpert

input,theCommissionbelievestheStateofIdahoshould

chargetheproposedIdahoNuclearAdvisoryCouncilwith

reviewingand,asappropriate,identifyingavenuesandmeans

forthestatetosupport,throughadvocacyandappropriate

investmentincentives,effortstobringadditionalfacilities,

capabilities,andprogramstoINL.Thiscouldincludenewor

restoredreactor,post-irradiationexamination,energysystem

demonstrationandcomputingcapabilities.

Additionally,thestateshouldworktoestablishanAdvanced

NuclearManufacturingResearchCenterinIdaho,modeled

afterasimilarcenterrecentlyestablishedintheUK.The

purposeofthisnewinstitutionwouldbetodevelopadvanced

manufacturingsolutionsforcurrentandfuturenuclear

reactors,helpmembersbepartoftheinternational

nuclearsupplychain,andsupportskillsdevelopmentand

qualitymanagement.

Advance Non-Nuclear Capabilities

TheCommissionwelcomestherecentdesignationof

INL’swirelesstestbedasanofcialDOENationalUser

Facility.Thisdesignationwillsupportnationalmissionsin

smartgridandspectrumallocationresearch,andincrease

federal/commercialfundinginINL’sresearch.The

StateofIdahowillbeneteconomicallyfromindustry

The new Irradiated Materials Characterization Lab at INL



38

collaborationasmajorcarriersaccessINLaswellassmall

businessincubationinanewlyevolvingtechnologicalarea.

ThestateshouldadvocatefordesignationoftheINLsite

electricalgridasanofcialDOENationalUserFacility

–amovethatwouldsupportnationalmissionsinsmartgridresearch,

increasefederal

andcommercial

fundingfor

INLresearch,

andencourage

incubationofnew

smallbusinesses

inanevolving

technologicalarea.

Thestateshould

alsoencourage

establishmentofthePacicNorthwestCyberCenter

(PNCC),anewIdaho-centeredconceptintendedto

addressthenationalchallengeofsharingnationalsecurity

informationbetweentheU.S.governmentandinfrastructure

assetowners.Fundamentally,PNCCwouldbeanINL-

located,Idaho-ledinitiativetoprovidesurroundingstates

andtheirinfrastructureassetowners(utilities)accessto

actionableintelligenceonindustrialcontrolsystemcyber

securitythreats.

Fromacapabilityconsolidationandoperationalcollaboration

perspective,thestate–throughtheNuclearAdvisoryCouncil

–shouldadvocateasappropriatefornon-nuclearcapabilities

andinfrastructureimprovementsandforexpandeduseof

INLfacilitiesbyotherfederalagenciesindiverseareassuch

asemergencyrstresponsetraining,regulatorysupport,

physicalandcybersecurity,andsupercomputing.

FirstResponderTrainingisparticularlyimportanttoensure

citiesandstatesareprotectedagainstradiologicalthreatsand

thatrespondersareprocientinthreatmitigation.Thestate

shouldadvocateforINLtoproviderstrespondertraining

regionallytohospitals,medicalfacilitiesandindustrialsites.

ThestateshouldalsoassistINLinrecruitinggovernment

agenciessuchasNRC,DOT,EPA,andFAAtoconsolidate

theirresearch,testing,training,andinspectionprogram

workatINL.ThestateshouldadvocateforINLtosupport

regionalregulators.

TheINLcomputingcenterisnowatcapacity.INL,in

collaborationwiththestateuniversitiesandtheIdaho

RegionalOpticalNetwork(IRON),hasformedtheIdaho

ComputingConsortium(ICC)intendedtoshareresearch

levelsupercomputingacrossallinstitutionsforcollaborative

researchandtogaineconomyofscaleonthese verylargeinvestments.Anadditional$6-10M

willmorethandoubleINL’sandtheIdaho

ComputingConsortium’scapacityenabling

thenext10yearsofsimulation,modeling,and

generalresearch.Thestateshouldendorsethis

expansionandseektheresourcestomakethis

investmentintheICC.Thestateshouldalso

considerexpandingtheICCregionally.The

stateshouldalsoconsiderpartneringwithIRON

andINLfornonprot,education,virtualrural

healthcare,andstatewideresearchtoexpand

highspeedbandwidthtoallcommunitiesin

centralandsouthernIdaho.

• Finally,fromaphysicalfacilitiesstandpoint,theState

ofIdahoshouldinvestigateworkingwithBonneville

County,theCityofIdahoFalls,andprivatedeveloperson

developmentofaScienceandTechnologyParknorthof

theexistingUniversityPlaceandtheUniversityBoulevard

Campus.Thestateshouldalsoinvestigatetransportation

improvementsintheINLarea,includingoptionsto

expandHighway20ortakeotheractionstoimprovesafetyandreducecongestion;thepossibilityoftransferring

responsibilityforroadmaintenanceontheINLsitetothe

IdahoTransportationDepartment;protectionofright-of-

wayinterestsonroadsthatrunthroughINL;opportunities

tolocateberopticcablesduringroadconstruction;and

improvedpedestrianaccessamongfacilitiesatUniversity

PlaceandtheUniversityBoulevardCampus.Methods

shouldbeformalizedthatprotectINLdesertoperations

sitefromnoise-generatingexternalinfrastructuretothe

maximumextentpossibleandconsistentwithDOE’s

missiontopromotedevelopmentofenergygenerationandtransmissioninfrastructure.

Finally,thestateshouldencourageimproved

communicationandinteractionbetweenINLsecurity

forcesandstateandlocallawenforcementtargetedtowards

physicalsecurity,cybersecurity,criticalinfrastructure

protection,andinteroperableconnectivity.

A portion of INL’s isolable electric grid



3

DEELOP AND PROMOTE THE CENTER

FOR ADANCED ENERGY STUDIES

AS A REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND

GLOBAL RESOURCE FOR NUCLEAR

ENERGY RESEARCH

TheCenterforAdvancedEnergyStudiespartnershipamong

Idaho’sresearchuniversitiesandINLhasproventobeone

ofthemostsuccessfulcollaborationsamongfederaland

stategovernmentandprivateindustry.Otherstates,such

asTennessee,Illinois,andNewMexico,havealonghistory

ofworkingcollaborativelywiththefederalgovernmenton

nationallaboratory-relatedprojectsthatcanbenetboth

thefederal

government

andthestate

(particularlystate-funded

universities).

Thecapabilities

atCAESprovide

numerous

opportunities

toimplement

researchand

educationprogramsthatadvanceIdaho’sroleinenergy

researchandcollaboration.

TheCommissionrecommendstheGovernorenterinto

discussionswithneighboringstatestoexpandtheroleof

CAESintoaregionalresearchfacilityandestablishjoint

fundingandresearchcollaborationwiththosestates.Aligning

thecollectivecapabilitiesandresourcesoftheintermountain

stateswouldstrengthenthestrategicroletheintermountain

regioncouldplayinenergyresearchandelevatethe

capabilitiesofCAESundertheexpandedcollaboration.

Inaddition,theCommissionrecommendsusingCAESasa

focalpointforseveralnewinitiatives:

• Implementanupgradeplanforthefacilities,

instrumentation,equipmentandothernuclearscience,

engineeringandtechnologyresearchinfrastructureat

Idaho’suniversitiesandtechnicalschoolstofacilitate

world-classundergraduateandgraduateeducation.

• Assessthelong-termfeasibilityofestablishinganon-degree-

granting“IdahoPolytechnicInstitute,”astatewideeducational

collaborationbetweenIdaho’suniversitiesanditscommunity

andtechnicalcollegeswiththegoalofprovidingapplied

scienceandtechnologydegreeoptionsatalllevels.

• Determine,incooperationwiththeInternationalAtomic

EnergyAgencyandtheWorldAssociationofNuclear

Operators,theroleIdahoeducationalinstitutionscanplay

inassistingemergingnuclearpowercountries.

• ExpandthemissionofCAEStoaddresswaterqualityissues.

• ExpandtheroleofCAEStoincludeafocusoneducation

andtrainingfornuclearandworkplacesafety,including

thedevelopmentofpartnershipswithacademiesand

professionalsocieties.

• DevelopapartnershipbetweenINL,theIdahoDepartment

ofCommerce,andIdahouniversitiestoidentifyareas

wherenuclearenergyRDDcapabilitycanbeleveraged

tonon-nuclearglobalenergymarketsfromIdaho-based

corporations.

• Establishanindustry-drivenNuclearTalentTaskForceto

deneandresolveworkforceissuesandchallengesspecic

totherigor,disciplineandrequirementsofthenuclear

research,developmentandoperationscommunity.

• LeverageandsystematicallyintegrateexistingK-12and

STEMeducationinitiativesthroughoutthestatewith

effortsdescribedintheaboverecommendationsto

improvepost-secondarynuclearscience,engineeringand

technologyeducationandthereadinessofstudentstoenter

theseprograms.

STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND NUCLEAR

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

TRAINING OFFERINGS

Idaho’suniversitiesandcollegeshavelongplayedanessential

roleinmeetingtheworkforceneedsofINLandotherIdaho

concerns.TheCommissionbelievesthisimportantcapability

canbeaugmentedbytheappropriationof$5millionfrom

theIdahoGeneralFundtobuildonexistingcollaborationsbetweenthestate’sresearchuniversitiesandtechnicalcolleges

andtoexpandthereachandscopeofIdaho’sSTEMchannels

fornuclearenergyeducationandworkforcedevelopment.

Specicactionscouldinclude:

• ImplementingasustainablefundingmodelfortheNuclear

Operations/EngineeringTechnologyAssociateinApplied

ScienceDegreeProgramatIdahoStateUniversity’sEnergy

he Center for Advanced Energy

udies (CAES) in Idaho Falls



40

SystemsTechnologyandEducationCenter(ESTEC)and

upgradingthetworemainingESTECenergytechnician

programs.

• ExpandingtheroleofIdaho’suniversitiesinINLactivities.

TheuniversitiescouldalsotakeadvantageofINL’scutting

edgeresearchtodevelopuniquenuclearscienceand

technologycoursesthatcouldhelpcatapultIdahointothe

leadershipinnuclearengineeringeducation.

• Facilitatingstronger/moreuidworkingrelationships

betweenINLandIdahouniversitiesandbetweenUtah

andotherregionaluniversitiesandindustrieswith

complementarytechnicalstrengthsandinterests

• EstablishingIdaho’seighth“FundedResearchCenter”to

focusonwaysthestatecouldtakeadvantageofitssubstantial

thorium/rareearthelementdepositstoaccelerateR&Don

rareearthandthoriumutilizationincludingpowersystems,

electricvehicles,renewableenergysources,energy-efcient

lighting,andnationaldefensesystems.

• CreatinganIdahoEnergyStorageCenterofExcellence

toleadresearchintomoreefcient/cost-effectivegrid

stabilizingenergystoragesystems.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

Thetableonthefollowingpagesummarizestherecommended

actionsandtherationaleforeachrecommendation.Most

oftheserecommendationscanbeaccomplishedbyexistingorganizationswithouttheexpenditureofadditionalstate

funds.However,severaloftherecommendations,particularly

thoserelatedtoeducationalandfacilityinfrastructure

improvements,mayrequireinvestmentsbythestate.Whilethe

Commissionseesvalueinthebroadcategoriesofinvestment

ithasrecommendedandisawareofmultiplesourcesoffunds

thatcouldbeaccessed,ithasnotconductedadetailedcost-

benetanalysisofeachofthemanypossibleprojectsinwhich

thestatecouldinvest.Inparticular,individualCommissioners

hadoccasiontoconferwiththeIdahoCongressional

Delegationontheissueoffederalfunding.Wearecondent

thatIdaho’sCongressionalDelegationwillsupportthestate’s

interestsandINL’sfuture.

Further,wearemindfulofthenumerouspromisesmadeto

theIdahoCongressionalDelegation,beginningin2002and

continuingthroughthere-competitionofINL’smanagementcontract,thatsavingsachievedfromthecompletionof

cleanupactivitieswouldbere-investedintheLaboratory.In

numerousdocumentsobtainedbytheCommission,DOE

directly,andrepeatedly,pledgedtoturncleanupsavingsover

totheLaboratory.

InaletterdatedFebruary5,2004,then-UnderSecretary

ofEnergyRobertCard,wrotetotheIdahoCongressional

Delegation,“…webelievethebestcontributionEMcanmake

istocompletetheacceleratedcleanupsafelyandquickly,

therebyallowingadditionalresourcestobeshiftedtothe

growthoftheIdahoNationalLaboratory.”

InaJanuary,2004overviewoftheDraftRequestsfor

Proposalsbythen-DirectoroftheOfceofNuclearEnergy,

Science,andTechnology,WilliamD.Magwoodtoldthe

IdahoCongressionalDelegationthattheDOE,“Supportsa

rapidcompletionoftheEMcleanup-upefforttocreatethe

opportunitytoshiftfundstotheNEmission.”

Asnotedelsewhereinthisreport,thecleanupfunding

proleatICPincludesroughly$400millioninannual

appropriations.Ascleanupmovestowardcompletionover

thenextseveralyears,someofthe$400millioninannual

cleanupfundingshouldbemovedtoresearcheffortat

INLconsistentwiththepromisesofDOEtotheIdaho

CongressionalDelegation.

TheCommissionrecognizesthatfulllingthepromises

madetotheIdahoCongressionalDelegationadecadeago

issubjecttofutureappropriationsandthecompetingneeds

withintheDepartmentofEnergy.However,theCommission

alsorecognizesthatmanyoftherecommendationscontained

withinthisreportcouldbefundedwithaportionofthe

savingsDOEwillachievefromthecompletionofmajorcleanupactivitiesinIdaho.



4

Hold DOE accountable for missing the Settlement Agreement milestonefor liquid waste treatment.

Establish an Idaho Nuclear Advisory Council, reporting to the Governor

or his designee.

Enter into discussions with neighboring states to expand the role of

CAES into a regional research facility and establish joint funding and

research collaboration with those states.

Advocate for designation of the INL site electrical grid as an official DOE

National User Facility.

Direct the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to engage in a concerted

effort to increase awareness of INL cleanup progress and status.

Endorse the use of the AMWTP for treatment of other DOE waste

streams, consistent with provisions in the Settlement Agreement.

Work with DOE to establish a formal monitoring and research effort,

conducted in Idaho, to ensure that planned buried waste remediation

measures remain effective in protecting public health and safety.

Charge the Idaho Department of Commerce to work with small modular

reactor (SMR) developers and other nuclear energy firms to explorethe types of incentives that would make the state more attractive for

investment by such firms.

Maintain a dialogue with t he Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and other

interested Idaho tribes about the potential development of nuclear

energy facilities at locations in which they have an interest.

Charge the Idaho Nuclear Advisory Council with reviewing and, as

appropriate, identifying avenues and means for the state to support efforts

to bring additional facilities, capabilities, and programs to INL.

Investigate development of a Science and Technology Park adjacent to

INL and Idaho university facilities in Idaho Falls.

Investigate transportation and pedestrian access improvements in and

around INL facilities.

Use CAES as the focal point of new research and educational initiatives.

RECOMMENDATIONS: SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS

ACTION ITEM RATIONALE

Ensure the federal government and DOE understand that Idaho remainsinsistent on meeting the terms of t he Settlement Agreement.

Ensure that Idaho’s interests are protected, and ensure that the

nation benefits from Idaho’s 60 years of experience in nuclear energy

research, development, demonstration and deployment.

Meet state and regional needs in global energy markets, and improve

post-secondary nuclear science, engineering and technology education.

Support national missions and funding for smart grid research.

Encourage incubation of new small businesses in an evolving

technology area.

Raise awareness of environmental issues and progress at the INL site.

Set the stage for a fact-based public dialogue about the future of INL.

Employ this valuable asset to help meet cleanup needs across the

DOE complex.

Protect the long-term health of Idaho’s environment, particularly the

Snake River Plain Aquifer.

Set the stage for future investments in nuclear energy research and

operations in Idaho.

Ensure that the rights of Idaho tribes are upheld and that tribal

interests are considered in state decision-making.

Increase investment in and enhance the national and international

relevance of INL and its research assets.

Enhance INL/university/industry collaboration.

Improve public and worker safety, and promote increased efficiencies

at and around the INL site.

Enhance INL/university collaboration, and integrate K-12 and STEM

education initiatives to improve the readiness of students to enter

university engineering and science programs.



42

APPENDIX I: COMMISSION CHARTER

THE OFFICE OF THE GOERNOR

Executive Department

State of Idaho

Boise

Executive Order No. 2012-01

ESTABLISHING THE GOERNOR’S LEADERSHIP IN NUCLEAR ENERGY (LINE) COMMISSION

WHEREAS,formorethan60years,themenandwomenofIdahoNationalLaboratory(INL)haveplayedaleadingrolein

carryingoutPresidentEisenhower’svisionofproducingpeacefulpowerfromatomicenergy;and

WHEREAS,theresearchersworkingatINLbroughthistoricandscienticdistinctiontothestateastheplacewhereausable

amountofelectricitywasrstgeneratedfromnuclearenergyin1951,andwhereatotalof52pioneeringnuclearreactorswere

designedandbuilt;and

WHEREAS,leadershipandvisionoverthepast60years,includingnegotiationofbindingagreementsbetweentheState

ofIdahoandINLhaveguidedsuccessfulcleanupeffortsoflegacywasteatthesite,helpedtransitionINLintothenation’slead

laboratoryforresearch,developmentanddeploymentofnucleartechnologiesandsolidiedIdaho’spositionasoneoftheonly

eightstatestohostamulti-programnationallaboratory;and

WHEREAS,today’sIdahoNationalLaboratoryperformscriticalworkaimedatsolvingourstate’sandnation’smostpressing

energy,securityandenvironmentalchallengesandactivelyinvolvesallthreeofIdaho’suniversitiesincarryingoutitsmission;and

WHEREAS,theStateofIdahoanditscitizenshaveaspecialinterestinseeingINLsucceedowingtothescientic,

educationalandeconomicbenetsitbringstoitshoststate;and

WHEREAS,recentevaluationsbyIdaho’sCommerceandLabordepartmentshaveidentiedarobustandexpansivenuclear

industriessectorinthestate—anchoredbyINL—thatconsistsofmorethan20rmsthatemploythousandsofIdahoans,

contributemillionsofdollarstoIdaho’sgeneralfundandhelprealizeourstate’sProject60goals;and

WHEREAS,strongleadershipisnecessarytodaytoensurethecontinuedvitalityofINLandIdaho’sgrowingnuclear

industriessector;

NOW,THEREFORE,I,C.L.“BUTCH”OTTER,GovernoroftheStateofIdaho,bytheauthorityvestedinmeunderthe

ConstitutionandlawsoftheStateofIdahodoherebycreatetheLeadershipinNuclearEnergy(LINE)Commission.

1. TheLINEcommissionwillmakerecommendationstotheGovernoronpoliciesandactionsoftheStateofIdahoto

supportandenhancethelong-termviabilityandmissionrelevanceofIdahoNationalLaboratory.

2.TheLINECommissionwillalso:

a.IdentifyopportunitiestoensuretheuniqueresearchcapabilitiesofINLcontinuetoplayanimportantroleinour

economicgrowthandthenation’senergysecurity;

b.ReviewIdaho’seffortstoprovideanuclearworkforcedevelopmentprogramandmakerecommendationsfor

improvement;

c.Identifyandpossiblelong-termissuesrelatingtooperationsatINL;

d.IdentifyadditionalopportunitiesandinvestmentsthatcanbemadeintheCenterforAdvancedEnergyStudiesin

furtheranceofhemissionofINL;

e.Identifyinfrastructureneeds(roads,rail,transmission,informationtechnology)atINL;



4

f.ReviewthenalreportoftheBlueRibbonCommissionandidentifyappropriaterolesandopportunitiesforthe

enhancementofresearchanddevelopmentattheINL,whileadheringtothelong-standingpositionoftheStateofIdaho

underthe1995SettlementAgreementthatthestatewillnotbearepositoryforspentnuclearfuelorhigh-levelwaste,and

g.EvaluatepolicyoptionsforstrengtheningthebroadernuclearindustriessectorinIdaho.

3.ThedutiesoftheCommissionaresolelyadvisoryinnature.4 ThemembersoftheLINECommissionshallbeappointedbyandserveatthepleasureoftheGovernorMemberswill

include,butarenotlimitedto:

a.TheadministratoroftheOfceofEnergyResources(OER)orhisdesignee;

b.TheDirectoroftheDepartmentofCommerce(DOC)orhisdesignee,

c.TheDirectoroftheDepartmentofLabororhisdesignee;

d.Thepresidentsoftheuniversitiesofthestateortheirdesignee(s);

e.AmemberoftheIdahoHouseofRepresentatives;

f.AmemberoftheIdahoSenate;

g.Amayor;

h.Acountycommissioner;

i.ArepresentativeofthecurrentR&DcontractoratINL;

j.Arepresentativefromaprivate-sectornuclearindustriescompany;and

k.Amemberofthepublic.

5.TheGovernorwillappointthechairorco-chairsoftheLINECommission.

6.TheCommissionwillbestaffedbytheOfceoftheGovernor.

7.TheCommissionmayrequestconsultation,informationandtechnicalexpertisefromDirectorsortheirdesigneesof

thestateagenciesregardingenvironmentalrequirements,statenaturalresources,transportation,emergencyresponse

andlawenforcementissues,includingbutnotlimitedtotheDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality(DEQ),theIdaho

DepartmentofWaterResources(IDWR),theIdahoDepartmentofFishandGame(IDFG),theIdahoDepartmentofTransportation(IDT),theIdahoDepartmentofLands(IDL),theIdahoBureauofHomelandSecurity(BHS)andthe

IdahoStatePolice(ISP).

8.TheCommissionMayrequestcomments,informationandtechnicalexpertisefromtheAmericanIndianTribesof

Idahoandfederalagencies,includingbutnotlimitedtotheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy(DOE)andtheU.S.Navy.

9.TheLINECommissionwillprovideitsrecommendationstotheGovernornolaterthanJanuary1,2013.

INWITNESSWHEREOF,IhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedtobeafxedtheGreat

SealoftheStateofIdahoattheCapitolinBoiseonthis1stdayofFebruaryintheyearofour

LordtwothousandandtwelveandoftheIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesofAmericathe

twohundredthirty-sixthandoftheStatehoodofIdahotheonehundredtwenty-second.

C.L.“BUTCH”OTTER

GOVERNOR

BENYSURSA

SECRETARYOFSTATE.



44

ORGANIZATION OF THE LINE

COMMISSION’S SUBCOMMITTEES

TohelpdeveloprecommendationsfortheGovernor,the

LINECommissionformedvesubcommitteestofocuson

specicissuesofdirectimportancetotheCommission’s

missionandscopeofwork.Eachsubcommitteewaschaired

byaLINECommissionmemberandincludedCommission

membersaswellasoutsideexpertswithspecializedknowledge

andexpertiseinparticularsubjects.Thevesubcommittee

topicswere:

• SafetyandEnvironment

• Technology:Current&Future

• EducationandWorkforce

• Infrastructure

• NationalandGlobalLandscape

Eachsubcommitteepreparedareportthatincluded

background,ndings,andrecommendations

forconsiderationbythefullCommission.These

recommendationswerepresentedtothefullCommission.

Thespecictopicsandquestionscontainedineach

subcommittee’sscopeofworkarelistedbelow.

SAFETY AND ENIRONMENT

• Summarizethecurrentstrengthsanddecienciespresent

inthenationalandglobalnuclearindustryasitrelatesto

safetyandprotectingtheenvironment.

• Identifythecurrentstrengthsanddecienciespresent

intheStateofIdahoasitrelatestothestate’sabilityto

supporttheexpansionofitsroleinnuclearenergy.

• Outlinethepotentialenvironmentalandsafetyrisksthat

currentlyexistintheStateofIdahoasitrelatestothe

eventualcleanupofexistingnuclearwaste.

• Summarizethepotentialenvironmentalandsafetyrisks

thatmaycurrentlyorpotentiallyexistasitrelatestothe

continuingnuclearresearchinIdaho.Recommendsteps

theStateofIdahocouldtaketomitigateand/oreliminate

theserisks.

APPENDIX II: SUBCOMMITTEE SCOPE

• Identifypotentialpublic/privatepartnershipsorrolesthe

statecanplayinsupportingandstrengtheningINL’ssafetycapabilities.

• Identifyanyadditionalrecommendationsorobservations

thatwouldbeimportantforthestatetoconsiderinits

effortstomaintainandstrengthenitscommitmenttosafety

andenvironmentalstewardships.

Subcommittee Members:

• SylviaMedina–NorthWind(CO-CHAIRMAN)

• Dr.MarkRudin–BoiseStateUniversity

(CO-CHAIRMAN)

• Dr.RobertBreckrenridge-IdahoNationalLaboratory

• Dr.RichardBrey-IdahoStateUniversity

• RogerChase-ClearviewConsulting;IdahoStateWaterBoard

• SharonDossett-IdahoNationalLaboratory

• DonGlenn,Jr.-Unionrepresentative

• ScottGoodwin-Unionrepresentative

• PeggyHinman-NorthWind

• AmyLientz-IdahoNationalLaboratory• BrianOlmstead-TwinFallsCanalCompany

• WilliePreacher-Shoshone-BannockTribes

• SusanStiger-Bechtel

• TomWood-IdahoNationalLaboratory

TECHNOLOGY: CURRENT & FUTURE

• Identifycurrentand/orfuturetechnologiesthatwilllikely

determinethedirectionofnuclearenergyinthenation.

• Summarizethosetechnologiesandtheirpotentialinuence

onthenuclearenergyindustry,theirpotentialroleinthe

industryandtheexpectedtimingfortheirdevelopment.

• IdentifythestrategicopportunitiesforIdahotoparticipate

in,inuence,and/orbenetfromthosetechnologies.



4

• IdentifypotentialopportunitiesforIdahotoleadthe

developmentorimplementationofthetechnologiesina

nationalandglobalenvironment.

• RecommendstepsIdahocouldtaketoinuence,promote

andeffectivelyparticipateinthesedevelopmentsinamannerthatpromotesthemissionandcompetitivepositionofINL

andIdaho’sfutureeconomicopportunities.


• JohnGrossenbacher–IdahoNationalLaboratory

(CHAIRMAN)

• Dr.GeorgeImel-IdahoStateUniversityCollegeof

Science&Engineering

• SteveLain-InternationalIsotopesInc.

• Dr.PetePlanchon-ArgonneWest(Retired)

• Dr.JohnSackett-ArgonneWest(Retired)

• SusanStiger-Bechtel

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

• IdentifyIdaho’scurrentstrengthsanddecienciesinthe

quality,availabilityandquantityofthenecessaryskilled

workforcetosupportINLanditsroleinnuclearenergy.

• Summarizethechallengesrelatedtoageofexistingnuclear

workersandimpendingretirementsinbothcivilianand

defenserelatednuclearestablishments.

• Summarizetheabilityofdomesticeducationalprogramsto

producequaliedgraduatesandreviewanyopportunities

and/orrequirementsassociatedwithexpandingthenumber

offoreignworkersaspartofthenuclearworkforce.

• SummarizehowIdaho’sprograms/institutionscompareto

otherstateandfederaleducationprogramsorinstitutions

thataddressworkforcetrainingforthenuclearindustry.

• Recommendstepsthatneedtobeundertakentocorrect

anydecienciesoropportunitiesthatmayexistto

strengthenIdaho’scompetitivenessindevelopingworkforce

solutionsfortheindustry.

• OutlineopportunitiesforINLtoenhancethedevelopment

ofnewnucleartechnologiesinconjunctionwithIdaho’s

universities.


• Dr.DuaneNellis–UniversityofIdaho(CHAIRMAN)

• BenBaker-IdahoStateUniversitynuclearengineering

student

• Dr.HaroldBlackman-BoiseStateUniversity

• RichardHolman-IdahoNationalLaboratory

• Rep.JeffThompson-IdahoHouseofRepresentatives

• RogerMadsen-IdahoDepartmentofLabor

• Dr.RobertSmith-IdahoStateUniversity

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Identifythecriticalelementsrequiredtoeffectivelysupport

theexistingandfuturegrowthofnuclearenergyinthestate.

• Outlineanyexistingoranticipateddeciencies withinIdaho’scurrentinfrastructureandprovide

recommendationsforcorrectingthosedeciencies.

• Recommendanystrategicopportunitiesthatmayexistto

complete,developorbuildadditionalinfrastructurethat

wouldenhancetheuniquecapabilitiesofINL.

• ReviewINLsecurityprotocolsinresponsetoglobal

threatsandprovideasummaryofINLcapabilitiesor

recommendationstomaintainthefocusonsecurityasa

highlevelpriority.

• ReviewcurrentscopeofadditionalINLresearchareas(i.e.nationalhomelandsecurity,energyresearch,andother

technologicalresearch)andoutlineanyimportantfuture

infrastructureneeds.


• SenatorBartDavis–IdahoStateSenate(CHAIRMAN)

• SethBeal-ButteCountyCommission

• JohnChatburn-Governor’sOfceofEnergyResources

• Dr.DavidHill-IdahoNationalLaboratory

• MayorJaredFuhriman-CityofIdahoFalls

• BrianNess-IdahoTransportationDepartment

• JohnSheldon-URS

• Dr.ArthurVailas-IdahoStateUniversity



46

NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LANDSCAPE

• Identifyandsummarizethenationalandglobaltrendsthat

currentlyorareanticipatedtoinuencethedirectionof

nuclearenergy.

• Addressthesocial,political,nancialandregulatoryimpedimentstofuturenuclearexpansion.

• Summarizethenationalpoliticalactivitiesthatinuence

thedevelopmentoforrestrictionoftheuseofnuclear

energyinthenation’senergypolicyandfuture.

• Identifyandsummarizespecicactivitiesthatotherstates

areinitiatingorcontemplatingthatcouldinuencethe

futureofINLanditsmissions.

• Outlinetheglobaltrendsinnuclearenergyandidentify

opportunitiesforIdahotocompeteintheglobalarena

andmarkets.• Identifyanystrategicopportunitiestoinuencefuture

researchopportunitiesinallareasofINL’smissionsand

research.

• Summarizeandreviewthe1995SettlementAgreement,

milestonesalreadymetandprogresstowardfuture

milestonesundertheAgreement.

• Summarizeandreviewtherole/impactoftheAgreement

onfuturecleanupactivities,futureresearchactivities,andotherpotentialopportunitiesamidstthenationaland

globaltrendsthatmayimpactINL.


• SenatorLarryCraig–Retired,UnitedStatesSenate

(CHAIRMAN)

• LaneAllgood-PartnershipforScience&Technology

• RobertEdmonds-AREVA

• JohnKotek-BlueRibbonCommissiononAmerica’s

NuclearFuture/GallatinPublicAffairs• Dr.HaroldMcFarlane-IdahoNationalLaboratory

• TomPerry-OfceoftheGovernor



4

APPENDIX III: LINE COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE AND AGENDAS

AGENDA

Saturday, April 7, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Idaho Department of Labor (1515 E. Lincoln Rd., Idaho Falls)

Time Agenda Item Owner

9:00-9:05 Welcome JeffSayer,Chairman9:05-9:15 Introductions Roundtable

9:15-9:30 OverviewofExecutiveOrderandCharter JeffSayer

9:30-10:30 OrganizationoftheCommission JeffSayer

•CommissionProtocol

•FutureMeetingDates

•Presentations

•Tours

•SubcommitteeOrganization

•ObtainingPublicInput

•ScheduleofRecommendationDevelopment •LogisticsandAdministrativeNeeds

10:30-12:00 OverviewoftheIdahoNationalLaboratory(INL) JohnGrossenbacher

Director,INL

12:00-12:30 LunchprovidedforCommissionmembers

12:30-1:00 FutureoftheNuclearIndustry JohnGrossenbacher Director,INL

1:00-1:30 Overviewof1995SettlementAgreementandIdahoDept. SusanBurke ofEnvironmentalQualityOversight INLOversightCoordinator,DEQ

1:30-2:00 StatusofClean-upatIdahoNationalLaboratorySite RickProvencher Manager,DOE-Idaho

2:00-3:00 OverviewofBlueRibbonCommission JohnKotek

3:00-4:00 ActionforNextMeeting JeffSayerandCommission

•SubcommitteeAssignments

•NextMeetingGoalsandObjectives

•MediaandOutreach–websiteandemailforpublicinput

•Speakerinvitations

4:00 Adjourn

April 7, 2012 – Idaho Falls



48

LINE COMMISSION TOUR OF INL

Wednesday-Thursday, May 16-17, 2012

Attire:Sturdyshoeswithclosed-toeandclosed-heelarerequired.Mustwearlong,naturalberslacks(cotton)duetothesensitivityofINLpersonalcontaminationmonitorsandtheirabilitytoreadnaturallyoccurringradon,whichisattractedtosyntheticber(i.e.,polyester).

JeffSayer,Chairman

JohnChatburn

SenatorLarryCraig

JohnGrossenbacher

JohnKotek

DwightJohnson(Departingatnoonon5/17)

SylviaMedina

Dr.RobertSmith(Onlyon5/17)

Rep.JeffThompson

Dr.RichardJacobsen

TomPerry

BrianWhitlock

MeganRonk

CoreyTaule(Onlyon5/17)

MikeWebster(Onlyon5/17)

Wednesday, May 16 2012

Hilton Garden Inn

08:00 DeparthotelforAdvancedMixedWasteTreatmentProject............ INLTransportation/BrianWhitlock

AMWTP, INL Site

09:00 Tourcontrolroom,compactorfacility,briengonfuturemissions.................................. RickDale

Director, AMTWP Communications

10:30 Departfortourofsubsurfacedisposalarea... RickDale

10:45 DrivearoundexteriorofSDA’s,arriveatARPfortourofprocessingfacilities....... INLTransportation

11:45 DepartforNavalReactorsFacility.. INLTransportation

NRF, INL Site

12:15 ArriveatNRF,boxlunchwithNavalNuclearPropulsionProgramOverviewlunch.................JohnMcKenzie

12:50 TourNRF

2:00 DepartforIdahoNuclearTechnologyandEngineeringCenter............... INLTransportation

INTEC, INL Site

2:15 TourCPP-666spentfuelbasin,CPP-691,drivingtourofTMI...................................................................KenBrewer(666),JimmySpells(691),RandyElwood(TMI),andBillLloyd(IWTU)

CWI Employees

4:00 DepartINTECforIdahoFalls... INLTransportation

Hilton Garden Inn

5:00 ArriveHiltonGardenInn

6:15 INL-hosteddinner...............JohnGrossenbacherINL Laboratory Director



4

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Hilton Garden Inn

08:00 DeparthotelforINLsite......... INLTransportation

ATR Complex, INL Site

09:00 Arrive,badgeintoATRComplex........... DonMileyINL Tours

ATR

09:15 TourAdvancedTestReactoroorandstoragecanals.................................. DonMileyandMikeLove

Director, ATR Programs

10:15 DepartforTREAT................. INLTransportation

TREAT, INL Site

10:45 TourTREATFacility..........................DanWachs

Fuel Performance and Design

11:45 DepartforMaterialsandFuelsComplex........................................................ INLTransportation

MFC, INL Site

11:50 ArriveMFC,Badgein......................... DonMiley

MFC, L&O Conference Room

12:00 INLhostedlunchwithNationalandHomelandSecuritydiscussion........................... BrentStacey

Associate Laboratory Director, National and Homeland Securit y

1:00 TourHotFuelExaminationFacility........ DonMiley

2:00 WalkingtourofIMCLconstructionswithdiscussionofMFCCapabilities......DaveHill/SteveMarschman

Hill, Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and TechnologyMarschman, Science and Technology

2:45 DepartforIdahoFalls............. INLTransportation

Hilton Garden Inn

3:30 Arriveathotel....................... PersonResponsible

Snow Eagle Brewing, 455 River Parkway

7:00 OptionalEvent:IdahoSectionofAmericanNuclearSocietyhostingareceptionforparticipantsoftheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencyConference

DOE Participants:

AMWTP:BillLattinSDA/ARP:DougPruittINTEC:KenWhitham ATRComplex:DarynMoormanMFC:GregBassIMCL:StevenSorrell

Additional INL Participants:

EthanHuffman(5/17)DaveHill(5/17)DonMiley(5/17)

Additional NRF Participants:

JohnMcKenzieBradyHaynesChristopherHenvit(May16only)



50

AGENDA - REISED

Friday, june 29, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Idaho State Capitol Auditorium (700 W. jefferson, Boise, Idaho)

Time Agenda Item Presenter

8:30 ContinentalBreakfastforCommissionMembersandPresenters CapitolDiningRoom

9:00-9:50 WelcomeandReview JefferySayer,Chairman •RecapofLINECommissiontourtoINL

•UpdateonLINECommissionwebsite

•Introductionofsubcommitteemembership/staff

9:50-10:00 BREAK

10:00-11:30 GovernorsPanel GovernorCecilAndrus GovernorPhilBatt

11:30-Noon PresentationfromtheAttorneyGeneral AttorneyGeneralLawrenceWasden

Noon-1:00 LUNCH

1:00-1:30 PresentationfromSnakeRiverAlliance LizWoodruff,ExecutiveDirector1:30-1:35 PresentationfromIdahoConservationLeague RickJohnson,ExecutiveDirector

1:35-2:05 PresentationfromShoshone-BannockTribes NathanSmall,Chairman

2:05-2:15 BREAK

2:15-3:15 PresentationfromCenterforAdvancedEnergy Dr.RaymondGrosshans–CAESDeputy

Studies(CAES)onNuclearEnergyEconomics Director,IdahoNationalLaboratory

andOpportunities

Dr.DarrylButt–CAESCo-Associate

Director,BoiseStateUniversity

Dr.JasonHarris–CAESAssociate Director,IdahoStateUniversity

Dr.GeoffreyBlack–Chairman,Dept.of Economics,BoiseStateUniversity

3:15-4:00 PublicComments JefferySayer NextSteps Adjourn

june 29, 2012 – Boise



5

AGENDA

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

9:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Idaho Education Network Teleconference

NOTE:ThisspecialmeetingwillbeconductedviateleconferencesupportedbytheIdahoEducationNetwork(IEN).

Commissionmemberscanparticipateinthismeetingatthefollowinglocations:

BOISE: Idaho State Capitol WW55 – Garden Level (700 W. jefferson)

IDAHO FALLS: Eastern Idaho Technical College, Alexander D. Creek Building (Bldg. 5), Room 581 (1600 S. 25th East)

MOSCOW: University of Idaho College of Education Room #301 (921 Campus Drive)


9:45a.m. IntroductionandOpeningRemarks JefferySayer,Chairman

10:00 Presentation–U.S.DepartmentofEnergy Dr.PeterB.Lyons Asst.SecretaryforNuclearEnergy OfceofNuclearEnergy U.S.DepartmentofEnergy

11:30 Adjourn

AdditionalInformation:EITClocationmap:http://www.eitc.edu/campus_maps-5.cfm

August 7, 2012 – Boise/Teleconference

http://www.eitc.edu/campus_maps-5.cfm

http://www.eitc.edu/campus_maps-5.cfm



52

AGENDA

Friday, August 10, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Idaho State Capitol Auditorium (700 W. jefferson, Boise, Idaho)


8:30 ContinentalBreakfast CapitolDiningRoom

9:00 WelcomeandReview JefferySayer,Chairman

9:05 PresentationbyAREVA,Inc Dr.FinisSouthworth ChiefTechnologyOfcer

RobertEdmonds,Jr.,PE Director,BusinessDevelopment

10:00 PresentationbyTheBabcock&WilcoxCompany JohnFerrara,P.E. DirectorofBusinessDevelopment

11:00 PresentationbyNuScale BruceLandrey VicePresident,ExternalAffairs& InternalSales

12:00 LUNCH

1:00 PresentationbyOfceofEnergyDevelopment SamanthaJulian,Director

1:30 PresentationbyOfceoftheGovernor RobHurless StateofWyoming EnergyStrategyAdvisorto GovernorMead

2:00 PresentationbyPartnershipforScience&Technology LaneAllgood,ExecutiveDirector

2:30 PublicComments JefferySayer NextSteps Adjourn

August 10, 2012 – Boise



5

AGENDA

Friday, September 21, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Hilton Garden Inn (700 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, Idaho)


8:30 ContinentalBreakfast


9:10 PresentationNuclearEnergyInstitute MarvFertel PresidentandCEO

10:15 PresentationbyU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommission KristineL.Svinicki Commissioner

10:45 NuclearIndustryPerspectives Charles“Chip”PardeeSr.VP/COO ExelonGeneration

JimLemons GeneralManager TVA,ReactorEngineeringandFuels

JeffDeshon ProgramManager EPRI,FuelReliabilityProgram

JohnGoossen VPofInnovationandSMRDevelopment Westinghouse

12:30 LUNCH

1:30 PresentationBabcock&Wilcox JeffCrater VicePresident,GovernmentRelations

2:15 PresentationbyLaborUnions DavidFry UnitedSteelWorkers

NateMillward PocatelloCentralLaborCouncil

2:45 PublicComments JefferySayer NextSteps

3:30 Adjourn

September 21, 2012 – Idaho Falls



54

AGENDA

Friday, October 19, 2012

12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

La Quinta Inn & Suites – Sawtooth South Room (539 Pole Line Road, Twin Falls, Idaho)



12:35 OverviewoftheDynamicsofDryStorage RodneyMcCullum

Director,FuelCyclePrograms NuclearEnergyInstitute

1:30 TransportationofNuclearMaterialsand RussellNeely EmergencyPreparedness ChiefOperatingOfcer EdlowInternationalCompany

2:30 PresentationbyIdahoDepartmentofEnvironmental GerryWinter Qualityre:SnakeRiverAquifer Hydrogeologist,DEQ

3:00 HighBurnupFuels SteveMarschman Manager,IdahoNationalLaboratory

3:15 IdahoIndustryPanel SteveLain

President&CEO,InternationalIsotopes NathanMcMasters President,DiversiedMetalProducts

KevinPoor Director,Portage

DougSayer President&Founder PremierTechnology

4:15 PublicComments

5:00 NextSteps

Adjourn

October 19, 2012 – Twin Falls



5

AGENDA

Friday, November 16, 2012

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Pacic Time)

University of Idaho – Student Union Building & Commons – Silver & Gold Rooms (709 Deakin Street, Moscow, Idaho)



1:05 UniversityofIdahoShowcase: Dr.VivekUtgikar

OverviewofGraduateNuclearEngineeringProgram AssociateProfessorofChemical Engineering Dept.ofChemical& MaterialsEngineering

1:30 DiscussiononOpportunitiesforPartnership JohnA.Heaton withCarlsbad,NewMexico Chairman CarlsbadMayor’sNuclearTaskForce

2:30 PublicComments

3:00 NextSteps Adjourn

**NOTE:VIDEOCONFERENCECONNECTIONSAREAVAILABLEFORTHOSEUNABLETOATTENDTHEMEETINGINMOSCOW

Boise:IdahoWheatCommission–IdahoGrainsConferenceRoom(821WestStateStreet)

IdahoFalls:UniversityofIdaho–IF1/TingeyAdministrationBuilding,Room350(1776ScienceCenterDrive)

November 16, 2012 – Moscow



56

AGENDA

Friday, january 25

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Idaho State Capitol Auditorium (Garden Level – 700 W. jefferson, Boise, Idaho)


9:00 OpeningRemarks JefferySayer,Chairman

9:05 SummaryofPublicCommentstoLINEProgressReport JefferySayer

9:45 UpdateontheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy’sresponse JohnKotek totheBlueRibbonCommissionReport

10:15 OverviewofProposedRecommendations JefferySayer

SixProposedLINECommissionRecommendations:

1)ContinuetoworkcooperativelywiththeU.S.DepartmentofEnergytoaddressremainingenvironmentalrisksattheINLsite

2)ExerciseleadershipastheU.S.formulatesfederalenergyandnuclearwastemanagementpolicies

3)CapitalizeonIdaho’snucleartechnologycompetenciesbysupportingthegrowthofexistingnuclearbusinessesandattractnewnuclearbusinesses

4)InvestinresearchinfrastructuretoenableINLandIdahouniversitiestosuccessfullycompeteforU.S.andglobalresearchopportunities

5)DevelopandpromotetheCenterforAdvancedEnergyStudiesasaregional,nationalandglobalresourceforenergyresearch

6)Strengthenandexpandnucleareducationandworkforcetrainingofferings

11:30 Adjourn

january 25, 2013 – Boise



5

Steve Laflin

Amy Lientz

Dr. Harold McFarlane

Carlo Melbihess

Brian Ness

Cal Ozaki

Tom Perry

Dr. Pete Planchon

Willie Preacher

John Reisenauer

John Revier

Louis Riepl

Contributors

Lane Allgood

Ben Baker

Seth Beal

Dr. Harold Blackman

Jennifer Blanton

Dr. Robert Breckenridge

Dr. Richard Brey

Roger Chase

Rick Dale

Sharon Dossett

Hank Ebert

Robert Edmonds

Commission MembersJeffery Sayer - Director, Idaho Department of Commerce (CHAIRMAN)

John Chatburn - Interim Administrator, Governor’s Office of Energy Resources

Larry Craig - Retired, United States Senate

Bart Davis - Majority Leader, Idaho State Senate

Jared Fuhriman - Mayor, City of Idaho Falls

John Grossenbacher - Director, Idaho National Laboratory

John Kotek - Staff Director, Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear

Future; Partner, Gallatin Public Affairs

Jay Engstrom

Don Glenn, Jr.

Scott Goodwin

Gordon Graff

Dave Haar

Dr. David Hill

Peggy Hinman

Richard Holman

Dr. George Imel

Dr. Richard Jacobsen

William Jenson

Dwight Johnson

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Roger Madsen - Director, Idaho Department of Labor

Sylvia Medina - President, North Wind

Dr. Duane Nellis - President, University of Idaho

Dr. Mark Rudin - Vice President for Research & Economic Development,

Boise State U niversity

Nathan Small - Chairman, Fort Hall Business Council, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Jeff Thompson - Member, Idaho House of Representatives

Dr. Arthur Vailas - President, Idaho State University

Commission Staff

Brian Whitlock Megan Ronk

Kayla Ruiz

Dr. John Sackett

Bill Shaw

John Sheldon

Erik Simpson

Dr. Robert Smith

Susan Stiger

Marika Tatsutani

Mike Webster

Tom Wood



w w w . l i n e . i d a h o . g o v

Documents

LINE Full Report