The first phase of a fuel transfer plan at Indian Point came to a close Friday as the first of three dry casks filled with spent fuel rods was moved to a specially designed pad.

The transfer began on Dec. 31. During the 12-day process, workers moved 32 fuel rod assemblies, which can no longer generate electricity, into the first cask. The cask is designed to provide a high degree of shielding and protection for the used fuel.

In less than a hour Friday, a specially built transporter moved the 180-ton concrete and steel cask to a pad next to the plants. Once on the pad, the casks are cooled by the natural circulation of outside air.

The first three casks to be transferred will be from Indian Point Unit Two. Then, Entergy officials will remove spent fuel from Indian Point Unit One. They say the goal is to completely clean out all of the spent fuel by the end of this year.

The casks will remain on the pad until the government begins accepting fuel at its Yucca Mountain facility. The Department of Energy is expected to start accepting fuel in 2019.

Related Information:Dry-Cask Storage Update