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.

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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.

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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.

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Sources of Federal Regulations

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10CFR 71 Transport of Radioactive Materials

• Subpart A-general• B-Exemptions• C-general licenses• D-Applications• E- approvals• F-packages • G-Operation procedures• H-QA

Transport Regulations

• Place primary responsibility on packaging• Shipper is primarily responsible• Carrier is less responsible• Packaging requirements are commensurate

with hazards

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HAZMAT Transportation Classes• There are nine (9) classes of hazardous cargo as defined

by the DOT:1. Explosives2. Gases3. Flammable Liquids4. Flammable Solids5. Oxidizing Materials6. Toxic & Infectious Materials7. Radioactive Materials8. Corrosive Materials9. Misc. Dangerous Goods

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DOE Shipments

9www.ntp.doe.gov/ question_answers.html

Materials Transported• Uranium ores• Nuclear fuel assemblies• Spent fuel• Radioisotopes

(research, defense, commercial)

• Radioactive waste

To Medical Institutions

61.50%

To Manufacturing Facilities 19.50%

To Research Facilities, 0.70%

To Industrial Facilities, 7.60%

To Nuclear Power Plants, 4.20%

To Storage and Disposal Sites, 6.50%

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Summary of Radioactive Shipment Destinations (Excluding weapons and weapons components)

Data taken from: Tranportation of Hazardous Materials

How is it transported?TrucksRailcarsBargeShips

Air- some medical isotopes that are short-lived require fast travel to a destination, but most waste is not transported in this manner.

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Regulating Agencies

• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)• U.S. Department of Energy• U.S. Postal Service• State Agencies

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13http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/states/us.htm

Yucca Mountain

Where is it going?

14http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/states/us.htm

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

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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)

18More on this later

De minimus Requirements• Lowest transportation category

– Specific activity < 2 nCi/g (< 74 Bq/g).– Poses no radiological safety problems.– Essentially “unregulated”

• Limited quantities– 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”– 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

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• Low level radiation materials– radioisotopes

(medical, industry, agriculture, and research)

• Small packages tested to withstand rigors of routine transportation

(rain, rough handling, slight mishaps)

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

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• 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

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)

• 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!

55web.em.doe.gov/ emprimer/emorg4.html

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!• 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

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Containers are labeled I (white), II (yellow), and III (yellow)

Higher the number, the greater the precautions required for safety

Radioactive I Label• Radioactive I or Rad-

White I is for materials in which there is a low external radiation level

Surface Radiation Level Radiation Level at 1m>0.5 mrem/hr NA

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Radioactive II Label• Rad-Yellow II indicates

that external radiation levels require consideration.

Surface Radiation Level Radiation Level at 1m0.5-50 mrem/hr <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 Radiation Level at 1m> 50 mrem/hr >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.

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web.em.doe.gov/ emprimer/emorg4.html

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

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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?