ABSTRACT In less than a year, up to 12 canisters of TMI-2 reactor fuel debris were loaded into each of 28 Dry Storage Containers (DSCs), and placed into interim storage at an Irradiated Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFSI) at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Draining and drying the canisters, loading and welding the DSCs, shipping the DSCs 25 miles, and storing in the ISFSI initially required up to 3 weeks per DSC. Significant time efficiencies were achieved during the early stages, reducing the time to less than one week per DSC. These efficiencies were achieved mostly in canister draining and drying and DSC lid welding, and despite several occurrences that had to be resolved before continuing work. The ISFSI has been operated without issue since, with the exception that license basis monitoring has indicated an unusual pattern of season-and position-dependent hydrogen generation. This paper discusses some of the innovations and storage experiences for the first ISFSI designed for the storage of severely defected fuel. INTRODUCTION In the mid-to late 1980s the TMI-2 debris was packaged, transported to the INEEL, and stored in a water pool. Approximately 340 canisters of debris were removed from water storage, dried four at a time in a separate furnace, packaged into 29 larger steel canisters, and transported to the ISFSI. The TMI-2 ISFSI was the second operated by DOE, the first being the Fort Saint Vrain ISFSI near Denver. Preparation and storage of the TMI-2 fuel presented special challenges. First, the TMI-2 was required to be stored in the ISFSI before May 2001 as part of an INEEL fuel consolidation plan. Only one of the 29 Dry Storage Containers (DSCs) had been stored prior to June 2000. Most of the TMI-2 fuel debris consists of beds of porous chunks, granules, powders, and partial rods and assemblies packed within canisters lined with lightweight concrete, making the debris very difficult to dry. The ISFSI was positioned approximately 25 miles from the water pool where the canisters were stored. Structural considerations limited transport during cold weather and ISFSI loading during high winds. Long, cold winters and high winds are common at the INEEL. This paper describes the means by which these challenges were met and the unplanned occurrences were managed during the shipments. Finally it describes interesting monitoring results from the stored fuel, which suggests that some of the original design assumptions dealing with radiolysis were not realistic
