U.S. Department of Energy Shows Abilene, TX How They Transport Waste

摘要

The U.S. Department of Energy was recently in Abilene to show first responders and the public how they transport radioactive material. They use specially designed casks to carry transuranic material on Interstate 20 through Texas and then to their final destination in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Transuranic material is leftover radioactive waste that comes from nuclear weapons. When the material arrives to New Mexico it is put into a salt formation 2,150 feet underground. More than 1,700 shipments have been taken through Texas since they started the shipping route in 2001. According to Bobby St. John, the Public Information Officer of The Nuclear Waste Partnership, the containers are designed to be able to withstand a great amount of force.