Ensuring Safe Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The spent nuclear fuel storage canisters at SONGS have a service life of 100 years or more. A key aspect of maintaining that longevity of safety is to conduct periodic inspections of the exterior of the canisters, as well as the concrete storage modules. These inspections are part of what's called an Aging Management Program approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Southern California Edison and Orano, the manufacturer of the TN-NUHOMS dry fuel storage system at SONGS, recently conducted the baseline inspections for the AMP (see the video below).

The inspections found no signs of degradation of the inspected canisters, which have been in storage 17 and 18 years, respectively. Read more here.