The Shoreham to Limerick Fuel Transfer Project

In September 1993 the first of thirty-three intermodal barge/rail shipments of slightly used nuclear fuel departed the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station (Long Island, NY) and arrived 3 days later without event at the Limerick generating station in Sanatoga, Pennsylvania. The team approach from the onset of this major project was the key to overcoming the obstacles in commencing one of the last major milestones in the decommissioning of the Shoreham nuclear power station. The Transfer Project was completed in mid-1994. This article traces some of the major phases of the fuel removal process and obstacles that were overcome up to January 1994. Topics include: intermodal transfer; proven shipping casks; fuel packaging; marine transportation; government and community relations; railroad agreement; regulatory compliance; shipment cycle.