nuclear-news

US NRC Meeting on Monday “To discuss Holtec International’s (Holtec) technical details and proposed plans to perform peening of dry shielded canisters (DSCs) welds for Holtec’s dry cask storage systems. 11/14/16 2:00PM – 4:00PM, Contact Jose Cuadrado 301-415-0606”

The discussion appears to be about peening already filled spent nuclear fuel canisters. In short, Holtec apparently wants to move Areva-Nuhoms canisters from their sideways storage to Holtec’s upright system at an “interim” storage place. Thus, this also seems to involve turning waste canisters designed to be on their side in Areva-Nuhoms casks to upright position in Holtec casks – a position which they weren’t designed for and which presumably would change stresses. Furthermore, the moved canisters must be within their 20 year design-license life, meaning that they could be, for instance, 19 years old. And, then what?

“Peening will induce a higher hardness into the weld and this…