NMC - Nuclear Facts - Safety - An American success story: The safe transportation of used nuclear fuel

n	Over the course of more than 35 years, the nuclear energy industry has safely completed more than 3,000 shipments of used nuclear fuel covering 1.7 million miles—with no injuries, no fatalities and no environmental damage because of the radioactivity of the cargo.
n	Accidents can happen, so scientists and engineers designed used nuclear fuel shipping containers to be among the safest on the road, and to protect the public against even the most severe accidents. The containers can withstand high-speed crashes, fires and submersion in water—all without breaking open.
n	Strict federal and state regulations for shipping used nuclear fuel also help to protect public health and safety. State government officials inspect shipping vehicles and enforce federal and state laws and regulations governing the safe transportation of radioactive materials.

Established record for safely transporting used nuclear fuel
Since 1964, the U.S. nuclear energy industry has safely transported more than 10,000 used nuclear fuel assemblies in more than 3,000 shipments covering 1.7 million miles. During this period, eight accidents involving used fuel containers have occurred—four on highways and four during rail transport. None of these accidents caused any injuries, fatalities or environmental damage because of the radioactive nature of the cargo.

In 1971, for example, a tractor-trailer carrying a 25-ton shipping container holding used nuclear fuel swerved on a Tennessee road to avoid a head-on collision, went out of control and overturned. The trailer, with the container still attached, separated from the tractor and skidded into a rain-filled ditch. The container suffered minor damage, but—as it was designed to do—prevented the release of radioactive material. This accident was the most severe of the eight involving used fuel transportation containers.

Used nuclear fuel rods are a solid material—not a liquid or a gas—and therefore cannot drain out of their container.

Specially designed containers protect the public and the environment
Transportation accidents can and do occur, which is why used nuclear fuel is transported in strong, vault-like containers. These specially designed containers weigh 25 and 40 tons for truck transport and 75 and 125 tons for rail shipments, including the weight of the used fuel.

The containers use multiple layers of steel, lead and other materials to confine radiation from the used fuel. Typically, for every ton of used fuel, there are about four tons of protective shielding.

Containers used to transport used nuclear fuel must be approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent federal regulatory agency charged with protecting public health and safety, and the environment. Before the NRC certifies container designs, they must meet rigorous engineering and safety criteria. In addition, the container designs must be able to pass a sequence of hypothetical accident tests involving forces greater than the containers would experience in actual accidents.

n	a 30-foot free fall onto an unyielding surface, which would be equivalent to a head-on crash at 120 miles per hour into a concrete bridge abutment
n	a puncture test allowing the container to fall 40 inches onto a steel rod 6 inches in diameter
n	a 30-minute exposure to fire at 1,475 degrees F. that engulfs the entire container
n	submergence of the same container under 3 feet of water for eight hours; containers also are subject to separate testing under 50 feet of water for eight hours.

In addition to the tests required for NRC certification, engineers and scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico conducted a wide range of tests on used nuclear fuel transportation containers in the 1970s and 1980s. These tests, which verified computer models used to design the containers, included:

n	running a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying a container into a concrete wall at 60 miles per hour
n	placing a container on a rail car that was driven into a concrete wall at 80 miles per hour
n	placing a container on a tractor-trailer that was broadsided by a train locomotive traveling at 80 miles per hour

In all cases, post-crash assessments showed that the containers—although slightly damaged—would not have released their contents.

Other Sandia tests evaluated a terrorist attack, subjecting a container to a device 30 times more powerful than a typical anti-tank weapon. The test resulted in a quarter-inch-diameter hole through the primary containment wall. The NRC estimates that the hole produced by the test would have resulted in the release of less than 10 grams—one-third of an ounce— of used fuel. The container’s protective shielding would prevent a large release of radiation.

In combination with actual testing, transportation container manufacturers use computer models or scale models to further evaluate the containers’ protective capabilities and verify—with a substantial margin of safety—that the containers meet NRC requirements.

Federal government, state and local agencies ensure safe transportation
The federal role—Two federal agencies play a major role in the safe transportation of used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants to a disposal facility.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates container design and manufacturing to ensure that the containers maintain their integrity under routine transportation conditions and during severe accidents. The Department of Transportation regulates a variety of activities, including: highway routing, packaging, labeling, shipping papers, personnel training, loading and unloading, handling and storage, as well as transportation vehicle requirements.

When a federal repository begins accepting used nuclear fuel, between 300 and 500 shipments per year are expected nationwide—or roughly one shipment per day somewhere in the United States. Most of these shipments are expected to travel by train to the repository.

Since 1953, there have been more than 900 rail shipments of used nuclear fuel in the United States—without injury or environmental consequences as a result of the radioactive nature of the cargo. There has never been a release of nuclear material from a rail transport vehicle. The railroad industry has taken steps to ensure the continuation of this safety record, by developing a performance standard based on the best available rail technology.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Transportation and the Energy Department—together with state and Tribal governments—can access satellite positioning/reporting systems to track truck and rail shipments through their jurisdictions.

The state role—States play a vital role in the safe transportation of used fuel through their jurisdictions. They work with local governments and federal agencies to minimize the possibility of an accident and provide emergency response if an accident does occur.

State programs for the transportation of used nuclear fuel include:

n	routing designations
n	the permitting of shipments bearing placards
n	inspections of vehicles, drivers and cargo
n	notification requirements
n	emergency response preparedness and training.

Route designation—States may designate alternative routes to the preferred routes established by the Department of Transportation. To do so, a state must carry out a routing analysis, which is evaluated and approved by the Federal Highway Administration. Many states already have designated routes for used nuclear fuel transportation.

Inspections—States use federal funds to carry out their inspection and enforcement activities that help ensure the safety of motor carriers. State rail inspectors may coordinate with, or supplement, inspectors from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. The administration requires twice yearly inspections of tracks, signals along routes, locomotives and cars that carry the used fuel containers as well as the compliance of the train crew with carrier operating rules.

Permitting—Permits are granted only after an evaluation of a carrier’s ability to operate safely. They include an examination of the carrier’s past safety compliance record, financial responsibility, inspection record and other factors.

Notification—The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that states be notified in advance of a shipment so officials have data for routing, safety planning and emergency response.

Emergency response—Local governments—and in some cases, state agencies—have principal responsibility for first response in the event of a transportation accident involving used nuclear fuel. The federal government provides funding for emergency response activities, including the training of responding personnel. State and local governments can request help from federal agencies, and state officials also can ask electric utilities for assistance during a transportation emergency involving radioactive materials.