Doses from spent-fuel handling, storage, and transportation

Radiation doses from the storage and transportation of spent fuel in the US have been reasonably low in the past because of the relative infrequency of shipments and reliance on pool storage. The trend toward on-site dry storage and the eventual shipments to a repository will increase doses received by personnel during these activities. Attention to as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) principles can reduce these doses, especially in the handling of casks within reactor facilities. Examples of such principles are provided.