Agencies to hold mock train crash with simulated nuclear fuel

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Federal, state and local agencies will get together Wednesday for an exercise that simulates a vehicle crashing into a moving railcar carrying spent nuclear fuel in Moberly.

The exercise will involve a vehicle hitting an empty railcar that is meant to simulate a car carrying spent fuel used by the Navy, the Moberly Police Department said in a news release. The exercise will take place in the Norfolk Southern Moberly Railyard, which will be closed to the public.

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has periodically held such exercises since the mid-90s, according to the release. Spent fuel shipments are carried in reinforced containers and accompanied by armed couriers on their way to a laboratory in Idaho.

Shipments have taken place since 1957 without releasing radioactivity and with no injuries.