Dominion has proposed a change to the decommissioning plan for its Kewaunee nuclear plant in Wisconsin that would begin the transfer of spent fuel to dry casks as soon as possible.
The utility recently told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that it now hopes to complete the transfer by the end of 2016. The single-unit plant stopped operating last year and will be maintained under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's SAFSTOR process for up to 60 years. Dominion said the move to speed up the spent fuel transfer came in response to criticism from nearby residents about the length of time it will take to fully decommission the plant.
NAC International holds the contract to provide the casks and conduct the transfer. In addition to Dominion's request to change its decommissioning schedule, the utility is also seeking permission from the NRC to transfer a small amount of fuel that has been in the spent fuel pool for less than four years. The decommissioning budgets examined by the Journal Sentinel showed that the new plans would reduce the plant's original $919 million decommissioning cost estimate by $35 million.