Radioactive Waste Transportation
With contributions from by:
Prof. John Poston, Sr (Texas A&M University)
Brian Wolf (Purdue University)
Alex Elman (Purdue University)
1
History
• First regulations by U.S. Post Office in 1936.
• IAEA regulations on safe transport issued in 1973.
• Adopted by the Department of Transportation on July 1,
1983.
• Adopted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on
September 6, 1983.
2
Regulatory Organizations
• Department of Transportation Act of 1966.
• Transportation Safety Act of 1974.
• DOT has regulatory authority on all modes of
transport in interstate and foreign commerce.
– Exception are postal shipments – U.S. Postal
Service .
– Non-interstate or foreign shipments are subject to
state control.
3
Regulatory Organizations
• Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission has
responsibility for safety in the possession and
use, including transport, of by-product, source
and special nuclear materials.
• These regulations are found in 10CFR71.
4
Sources of Federal Regulations
5
10CFR 71 Transport of Radioactive
Materials
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•
•
•
•
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Subpart A-general
B-Exemptions
C-general licenses
D-Applications
E- approvals
F-packages
G-Operation procedures
H-QA
Transport Regulations
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•
•
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Place primary responsibility on packaging
Shipper is primarily responsible
Carrier is less responsible
Packaging requirements are commensurate
with hazards
7
•
HAZMAT Transportation Classes
There are nine (9) classes of hazardous cargo as defined
by the DOT:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Explosives
Gases
Flammable Liquids
Flammable Solids
Oxidizing Materials
Toxic & Infectious Materials
Radioactive Materials
Corrosive Materials
Misc. Dangerous Goods
8
DOE Shipments
www.ntp.doe.gov/ question_answers.html
9
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•
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Materials Transported
Uranium ores
Nuclear fuel assemblies
Spent fuel
Radioisotopes
To Medical
Institutions
61.50%
(research, defense, commercial)
• Radioactive waste
To Manufacturing
Facilities
19.50%
To Storage and Disposal Sites,
6.50%
To Nuclear
Power Plants, 4.20%
To Research
Facilities, 0.70%
To Industrial
Facilities, 7.60%
Summary of Radioactive Shipment Destinations
(Excluding weapons and weapons components)
Data taken from: Tranportation of Hazardous Materials
10
How is it transported?
Trucks
Railcars
Barge
Ships
Air- some medical isotopes
that are short-lived require
fast travel to a destination,
but most waste is not
transported in this manner.
11
Regulating Agencies
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•
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U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Postal Service
State Agencies
12
Yucca
Mountain
http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/states/us.htm
13
Where is it going?
http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/states/us.htm
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Preparation
• The shipper
 Prepares materials
 Classifies and packages materials
 Marks and labels packages
 Prepares shipping papers
 Signs papers certifying correct information
• The carrier
 Examines certification papers
 Checks packages for proper labeling
 Placards vehicle
 Secures packages
15
Factors Determining Packaging Requirements
1) Type of waste: >0.002 цCi/g? 2 nCi/g? 74 Bq/g?
2) Quantity of radionuclides: Total activity in Bq?
3) Forms of the radionuclides
– Special form
– Normal form
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Types of Packaging Containers
• De minimus
– Below threshold – no regulation.
• Type A – Low to Modest Activity Waste
– A1 – Special Form (non-dispersible)
– A2 – Normal Form (dispersible)
• Type B - High activity waste
– Spent nuclear fuel
– High Level Waste
• TRU Waste
– TRUPACT-II
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TRUPACT II
(for TRU Waste)
More on this later
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De minimus Requirements
• Lowest transportation category
– Specific activity < 2 nCi/g (< 74 Bq/g).
– Poses no radiological safety problems.
– Essentially “unregulated”
• Limited quantities
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–
–
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Specified allowable package activity.
Allowable quantities in 49CFR 173.425.
No exterior marking or labeling required.
Packages containing less than one-tenth of these quantities are
“mailable.”
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Type A Shipping Containers
• Contain Low Specific Activity (LSA) Waste
• Pose low risk and are “inherently safe”
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–
–
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Low activity solids
Tritiated water
Certain naturally occurring materials
Surface contaminated objects (SCO)
• Designed to withstand normal handling and minor
accidents.
– Fiberboard box
– Wooden Box
– Steel Drum
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Packaging Requirements
• Type A quantity limits
– Rely only partially on package integrity.
– Considers the radiation exposure from an
unshielded source.
– Considers the possible uptake of radioactive
material.
– Packages are designed to withstand certain test
and environmental conditions.
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Type A1 ad A2 Defined Activity Limits
• A1 is “nondispersible” after release from package
– Limits defined assuming an emergency exposure for 3 hours not
exceeding 1 rem/h at 3 meters from the source.
• A2 limit is for material assumed to be “dispersible”
– Assumes 0.1% of package contents is released.
– Assumes 0.1% of the amount released is taken into the body.
– Limits intake to one-half allowable intake values.
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Special /Normal Form
- Special form source
- double encapsulated
- Has to undergo specific tests for pressure,
penetration, submersion
- Source has certificate
- Normal form
- Any source that does not have this special form
certification
- Usually single encapsulated, Be window
Type A Package Quantity Limits for Selected
Radionuclides
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Activity Limits for Limited Quantities,
Instruments and Articles
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Type A
• Low level radiation materials
– radioisotopes
(medical, industry, agriculture, and
research)
• Small packages tested to withstand
rigors of routine transportation
(rain, rough handling, slight
mishaps)
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Industrial
• Low specific activity
materials
–
–
–
–
Contaminated tools
Mine waste
Medical isotopes
Waste from soil cleanup
• Ordinary strong industrial
packages
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DOT Spec. 17C Steel Drum
(55 gal)
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B-25 Container
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Steel Container Box
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Shipping Requirements - LSA
•
Non-exclusive use vehicles
– Low levels only.
– Individual packages are labeled.
•
Exclusive use vehicles
– Packages are excepted from specific packaging, marking and labeling.
– Specific requirements and administrative controls apply.
•
Exclusive use requirements
– “Strong and tight” packaging.
– Loaded by consignor and unloaded by consignee from transport in which originally
loaded.
– Packages blocked and braced to prevent movement.
– Vehicle must be placarded by consignor.
•
Exclusive Use Requirements
– Packages marked “radioactive LSA.”
– Specific instructions for maintenance of shipment must be provided by shipper to
the carrier.
– Higher package/vehicle radiation levels are allowed.
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Exclusive Use – Allowed Radiation Levels
• 1 rem/hour at package surface.
• 200 mrem/hour at vehicle surface.
• 10 mrem/hour at 2 meters from the lateral
surfaces of the vehicle.
• 2 mrem/hour in cab of vehicle.
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Type B Shipping Containers
•
Designed for the transport of very
radioactive material (e.g., spent fuel).
•
Meet all ‘A’ requirements
•
Must also withstand serious accident
conditions.
•
Certified by NRC to withstand severe
accident conditions.
•
Very strong – can weigh up to 125 tons
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Packaging Requirements
• Type B quantities are also called a “Highway Route-Controlled
Quantity”
• Formerly called “large quantity”
• Provide a high degree of integrity in a severe accident
• Involve SNF and HLW
• DOT regulations prescribe highway routes
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Type B Package Tests (examples)
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30 ft. drop on an unyielding surface
40 inch drop onto a 6 inch diameter steel pin
Thermal exposure at 1475 °F (800 °C) for 30 min.
Submersion to 3 ft. for 8 hours (fissile materials)
Submersion to 50 ft. for 8 hours
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Shipping Cask Tests
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“Crunch” Test of Package
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Schematic of Drop Test
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Free Drop Test
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Free Drop Test
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Impact from 30 feet
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Puncture Test
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Steel Spike
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Thermal Test
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Thermal Test
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Thermal Test
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Thermal Test Results
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Immersion Tests
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Crash Testing of Casks
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Crash Testing Sequence
(Rocket powered truck at impact)
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Crash Testing Sequence
(Truck - 120 mph impact on target)
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Crash Testing Sequence
(End of Test)
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Results of Crash Test
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Crash Testing
(Cask hit by train at 80 mph)
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The cask always wins!
web.em.doe.gov/ emprimer/emorg4.html
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Type B Packages
• NRC maintains list of certified package designs
• Shipper may use a container that meets the
license requirements
• Must have a quality assurance program
approved by the USNRC
• Must comply with 49CFR and 10CFR172
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Shipping Cask on Truck
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Radioactive Materials Packages Labeling Criteria
(CFR Title 49 Section 172.403)
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Identification Please!
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Markings on package indicate
shipping name, identification
number, and shipper’s name and
address
Labels applied to package identify
material, level of radioactivity, and
transport index
Transport index- indicates maximum
radiation level at 1 meter from
package
Markings on package must be visible
on all sides
Markings on package must indicate
what type of package it is
Placards are placed on front, rear and
both sides of vehicle
Detailed shipping papers carried in
cab of vehicle
Containers are labeled I (white), II
(yellow), and III (yellow)
Higher the number, the
greater the precautions
required for safety
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Radioactive I Label
• Radioactive I or RadWhite I is for materials in
which there is a low
external radiation level
Surface Radiation Level
>0.5 mrem/hr
Radiation Level at 1m
NA
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Radioactive II Label
• Rad-Yellow II indicates
that external radiation
levels require
consideration.
Surface Radiation Level
0.5-50 mrem/hr
Radiation Level at 1m
<1 mrem/hr
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Radioactive III Label
• Rad-Yellow III indicates
that radiation levels
should be closely
monitored and that the
vehicle MUST be
placarded “Radioactive”.
Surface Radiation Level
> 50 mrem/hr
Radiation Level at 1m
>1 mrem/hr
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Radioactive Vehicle Placard
• If any package on
the vehicle has a
Radioactive III
label, the vehicle
requires a
RADIOACTIVE
placard.
• 49 CFR 172.556
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Placards: More than Meets the Eye
• Emergency responders should know that only
the most hazardous condition is placarded.
• Perchloric Acid for example under 50%
concentration is placarded corrosive but
above 50% it’s placarded as an oxidizer.
• If a radioactive material has a non-radioactive
hazard greater than the radioactive hazard it
WON’T be placarded radioactive.
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Monitoring
• Transportation Communication
(TRANSCOM) uses communication
equipment and a satellite
positioning and reporting system
to track DOE shipments of spent
fuel, high-level waste, and other
radioactive materials.
web.em.doe.gov/ emprimer/emorg4.html
65
No Secrets.
• On all shipments of high-level radioactive waste and
spent fuel, State authorities are notified in writing in
advance of transporting through that State.
• This written notice includes the planned schedule, route,
shipment description, and carrier name and address.
• States and Tribal govenments can become authorized to
use TRANSCOM 24 hrs a day to observe movement of
shipments
66
Leak Testing
• Leak testing is used to determine if a sealed
source is damaged
• If it is damaged you may not ship it unless you
get approval
• Why would a source leak
– Damaged physically
– Damaged chemically
– Improper manufacturing
Leak Testing
• Leak testing is done by wiping the source with
a smear, wipe, Qtip, etc and counting it on an
appropriate instrument
• Instrument has to be able to “see” 50% of the
limit
• Limit for leak testing is .005 microcuries
Leak Testing
• When does a leak test need to be done?
– At time of manufacture
– Before shipping
– At time of receipt
– In the field
• Every six months for normal form sources
• Every six months or time period suggested by the
manufacturer (usually 3 years for special form sources)
• Any time the unit has been damaged
Questions?