| Future routing for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel will be preceded by detailed risk assessments to ensure that the best possible route is chosen based on minimizing risks to workers, members of the public, and the surrounding environment.;The assessment of potential alternative routes was simplified through the use of six comparative risk factors evaluated using detailed, route-specific data. The route and environmental attributes varied strongly with location and were developed from national, state, and local sources. The six comparative factors were risk measures of incident-free transportation radiation exposure, radiological accident population exposure, nonradiological accidents, contamination of environmentally sensitive areas, environmental justice for minority populations, and environmental justice for low-income populations.;The route data and evaluation were managed through spatial analysis tools using a geographic information system. Following the determination of the risk factors from route attribute data, a total risk figure was established for each route to allow comparison to the other routes. The route with the lowest overall cumulative risk figure was considered the most favorable route. The risk factors were evenly weighted and locale specific, therefore, results for other locations may change.;An assessment of four real North-Central Florida routes provided a sample implementation of the analysis tools and risk factors. The assessment routes, consisting of common beginning and end locations, included an interstate highway, a rural highway, a mostly urban highway, and a combination interstate highway with rural bypass.;This route comparative assessment study predicted that the interstate highway, despite a higher population density, greater traffic volume, and greater number of vehicular fatality accidents, would present the lowest cumulative risk. On the contrary, the rural highway route, characterized as having the lowest population density, minimal vehicle traffic volume, and the lowest percentages of minority and low-income populations, displayed the highest cumulative risk measure. Factors contributing to the high risk for the rural highway route included greater route length, higher vehicular fatality accident rates per vehicle mile traveled, and the close proximity to environmentally sensitive areas. |
