IAEA/USA Interregional course on
Preparations to Ship Spent Nuclear Fuel (1997)
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
AND
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
PDF version available
DOWNLOAD full paper in PDF format.
Contact:
Mr. A. Francis DiMeglio
1207 Chalkstone Ave.
Providence, Rhode Island
Tel.: +1-401-272-4740
Fax: +1-401-354-5551
E-mail: [email protected]
IAEA/USA Interregional Training Course
Technical and Administrative Preparations Required for Shipment of Research Reactor Spent
Fuel to its Country of Origin
13-24 January 1997
Argonne, IL
MODULE 5
L.5.1
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
AND
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
by
A. FRANCIS DI MEGLIO
CONSULTANT
GENERAL COMMENTS
THIS DISCUSSION CONCERNS SHIPMENTS OF IRRADIATED FUEL IN THE US PERFORMED
PURSUANT TO USNRC RULES AND REGULATIONS.
IT MAY NOT APPLY TO SHIPMENTS OF IRRADIATED FUEL MADE IN THE US BY THE DOE.
IT IS BEING PRESENTED SINCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS PROCEDURE MAY BE USED IN
YOUR COUNTRY.
BACKGROUND
THE US IS A UNION OF INDEPENDENT STATES.
STATES ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THE WELL BEING OF THEIR
CITIZENS.
THEREFORE, STATE GOVERNMENTS INCORPORATE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION,
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC UTILITIES.
IN MANY CASES, CITIES (E.G., NEW YORK) HAVE THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
ETC.
EVEN THOUGH MANY NUCLEAR REGULATORY FUNCTIONS HAVE BEEN PRE-EMPTED BY THE
US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THESE JURISDICTION OFTEN MAKE RULES OF THEIR OWN
CONCERNING THE TRANSPORT OF IRRADIATED FUEL.
UNLESS THESE RULES ARE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS AND OVERTURNED, THEY MUST
BE OBEYED. A CHALLENGE WILL BE A LENGTHY AND COSTLY PROCESS.
TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHALLENGES. THIS MEANS THAT THERE ARE POTENTIALLY
50 SETS OF RULES. FORTUNATELY, BETWEEN THE SHIPPER'S STATE AND SRS OR INEL
THERE ARE FEWER STATES. FOR EXAMPLE, A SHIPMENT FROM THE RHODE ISLAND
REACTOR TO SAVANNAH RIVER MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF NINE STATES, THE
USNRC AND THE USDOT.
FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, SERVICES OTHER THAN STATE SERVICES ARE RARELY
AVAILABLE FOR THESE SHIPMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY STATE POLICE AND LOCAL
POLICE ARE USED FOR PROTECTIVE SERVICES. THE MILITARY IS NOT USED.
THE SITUATION IN YOUR COUNTRY MAY BE QUITE DIFFERENT. IF THE GOVERNMENT
IS CENTRALIZED, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY BE ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE JURISDICTION.
THIS PRESENTATION IS ONE OF SEVERAL FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES DEALING WITH
THIS TOPIC.
IF YOUR REGULATORY BODY DOES NOT HAVE EXISTING RULES, THESE PRESENTATIONS
WILL PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSIDERATION.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
THE MAIN REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS IN
THE US ARE PROMULGATED BY THE USNRC (10CFR) AND THE USDOT (40CFR)
THE NRC DEALS WITH PACKAGE APPROVAL, ROUTING, SECURITY, SEALS, ETC.
THE DOT DEALS WITH LABELING, PLACARDING, ETC.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE PLACED ON THE SHIPMENT BY THE TRANSIT STATES.
____________
FACILITIES SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR REGULATORY BODIES TO DETERMINE WHAT
RULES, IF ANY, ARE IN PLACE.
IF THEIR ARE NO RULES IN PLACE, IT MAY BE DESIRABLE FOR THE REACTOR FACILITY
TO RESEARCH THE SITUATION AND SUGGEST APPROPRIATE RULES TO THE REGULATORY
BODY.
ROUTE SELECTION
IN THE US, MOST SHIPMENTS MOVE BY TRAILER
TRUCK.
A ROUTE FROM THE FACILITY TO THE PORT OF EXIT SHOULD BE SELECTED BY THE
OPERATING ORGANIZATION OR ITS CONTRACTOR.
THE ROUTE WILL REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE REGULATORY BODY AND PERHAPS FROM
LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE POLICE AND OTHER SECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
ORGANIZATIONS.
TRANSPORT COMPANIES, BECAUSE OF EXPERIENCE, ARE HELPFUL WHEN SELECTING ROUTES.
IN THE US, THE NRC DRIVES THE ROUTE CHECKING SUCH THINGS AS COMMUNICATIONS,
POLICE RESPONSE TIMES, POPULATION CENTERS, COMMUNICATION DEAD ZONES, HAZARDS,
ETC.
THE NRC PRODUCES A STATE BY STATE DESCRIPTION OF CONDITIONS ALONG THE SELECTED
ROUTE. THIS INFORMATION IS SAFEGUARDED AND PROTECTED FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
AN EXAMPLE FOR THE STATE OF "UTOPIA" FOLLOWS.
(FICTITIOUS EXAMPLE)
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION
UTOPIA
PATROL COVERAGE ALONG THE 300 MILES
OF INTERSTATES 1 and 2 in UTOPIA, WHEN SUPPLEMENTED BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, IS CONSIDERED TO BE EXCELLENT. AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME ALONG THE
ENTIRE ROUTE, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT OVERALL MANPOWER TOTAL FOR THE UTOPIA
STATE POLICE IS LOW, IS GOOD AND SHOULD FALL WITHIN A 9-16 MINUTE TIME FRAME
DURING THE DAY SHIFTS AND UP TO 30 MINUTES FROM 2300 TO 0700
MOBILE TELEPHONES (MT) COVERAGE ALONG THE ROUTE IS QUITE GOOD WITH ONE EXCEPTION
FOR THE FIRST 20 MOUNTAINOUS MILES ALONG THE INTERSTATE.
THE UTOPIA STATE POLICE MONITOR CITIZENS BAND (CB) RADIO CHANNEL 9 AT THEIR
SUBSTATIONS. ALL PATROL CARS HAVE CB RADIOS WHICH MONITOR CHANNEL 9. EMERGENCY
CALLS WILL DRAW A RESPONSE FROM SP UNITS LOCATED AT WEIGH STATIONS. THE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ALSO MONITORS CB RADIO. THIS MONITORING CAPABILITY
IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REACT GROUPS WHICH ASSIST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
(LEA).
SAFE HAVENS
UTOPIA
a) TRUCK WEIGH STATION LOCATED ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES NORTH OF I-1, EXIT
6, AT MILE MARKER (MM) 127. MANNED TWENTY FOUR HOURS PER DAY BY EUTOPIA
STATE POLICE. WEIGH STATION IS TEN MILES SOUTH OF STATE POLICE SUBSTATION,
COUNTY A.
b) GULF TRUCK STOPS OF AMERICA, ETC.
c) EUTOPIA ROAD UNION AND TRUCK STOP. ETC.
d) etc.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING ADVANCED NOTIFICATION OF SPENT FUEL SHIPMENT PURSUANT
TO 10CFR73.37(f) IS __________________PHONE____________
NOTE: EUTOPIA STATE POLICE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS LOCATED ON I-1 SIX
MILES SOUTH OF INTERSECTION WITH I-5.
I-1 SOUTH, MM 4 STEEP GRADE FOR SEVEN MILES, HIGH HAZARD AREA, FALLING ROCKS,
AND SLIPPERY WHEN WET. RUNAWAY TRUCK RAMP AT MM 3.
SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION
UTOPIA
STATEWIDE EMERGENCY NO.:1-800 555 1212
(24HRS)
DISASTER RELIEF NO.: XXX 555 1213
STATE POLICE NO.: XXX 555 1214
MOBILE TELEPHONE: CHANNEL 9/19
REACT GROUP: CHANNEL 9/19
LEA SP SP SP SP
.
///MOUNTAIN DEAD ZONE// /////////// E ///////////
___ (a) _________________________________
MILES | COUNTY
A | COUNTY
B |COUNTY C | COUNTY
D |
IN JURISDICTION | 70 | 65 | 65 | 100 |
| | | | |
TOTAL MILES 125 195 260 325 425
300
KEY
. LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE CENTER
SP STATE POLICE
CH. NO. CHANNEL MONITORED
E ESCORT REQUIRED
R REACT GROUP
(a) SAFE HAVEN
insert bravo time strip
EMERGENCY PLANNING
THE OPERATING ORGANIZATION SHOULD INSURE THAT EMERGENCY PLANS EXIST ALONG
THE TRANSPORT ROUTE TO COVER TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS, RADIATION ACCIDENTS
AND OTHER EVENTS.
IN THE US, STATES HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES WHICH ARE TRAINED TO
RESPOND TO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING RADIOACTIVITY. THIS IS BACKED UP BY A US
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE UNIT.
IN YOUR COUNTRY, THIS TRAINING MAY EXIST IN SOME OTHER FAST RESPONSE AGENCY
SUCH AS THE REGULATORY BODY OR THE MILITARY.
IRRADIATED FUEL IS SHIPPED IN A TYPE B PACKAGE. IF THE PACKAGE IS PROPERLY
USED, THE PROBABILITY OF RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FROM THE CASK IS
EXTREMELY LOW BECAUSE OF DESIGN AND TESTING. MAKE SURE THE PACKAGE IS
PROPERLY USED.
THE DESIGNERS AND FABRICATORS OF THE CASK, WORKING WITH THE CASK CERTIFYING
AGENCY, HAVE USED THE NON-RELEASE OF THE CONTENT UNDER STRINGENT ACCIDENT
CONDITIONS AS THE DESIGN BASIS. DO NOT REPEAT THIS FOR THE PREPARATION OF
EMERGENCY PLANS.
TECHNICALLY, A TRUCK ACCIDENT WILL NOT BE MORE SERIOUS THAN A TRUCK ACCIDENT
WITHOUT THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL. POLITICALLY, IT WILL BE MUCH DIFFERENT.
BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN A COHERENT AND TRUTHFUL MANNER.
PROVIDE THE DRIVERS WITH INSTRUCTIONS (PROCEDURES) WHICH THEY WILL USE IN
EMERGENCIES. REVIEW THE INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE DRIVERS.
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION PLANNING ARE SOMETIMES TIED TOGETHER.
IF THIS HAPPENS, DISCUSSIONS OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE BECOME COMPLICATED BECAUSE
OF THE CLASSIFIED (UNDISCLOSED) NATURE OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION PLANS.
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
THE PHYSICAL PROTECTION PLAN AT THE FACILITY
MAY ALLOW FUEL ASSEMBLIES TO BE STORED ONLY IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
AN AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN MAY BE NECESSARY FOR STORAGE IN A SHIPPING CASK,
EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE REACTOR BUILDING.
_________
WHILE IN TRANSIT, SELF PROTECTING FUEL IS SUBJECT TO THE PHYSICAL PROTECTION
PROVISIONS OF 10CFR73.37. MOST FUEL SHIPPED IN THE US FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY.
SELF PROTECTING MEANS "A TOTAL EXTERNAL RADIATION DOSE RATE IN EXCESS
OF 100 REMS PER HOUR AT A DISTANCE OF 3 FEET FROM ANY ACCESSIBLE SURFACE
WITHOUT INTERVENING SHIELDING".
OBJECTIVES OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION ARE:
MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY FOR SABOTAGE ESPECIALLY IN HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS.
FACILITATE LOCATION AND RECOVERY OF SHIPMENTS WHICH HAVE COME UNDER CONTROL
OF UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS.
TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, THE PLAN:
PROVIDES FOR EARLY DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF ATTEMPTS TO GAIN UNAUTHORIZED
ACCESS.
PROVIDES FOR NOTIFICATION TO THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FORCE.
PROVIDES IMPEDIMENTS TO SABOTAGE WITHIN HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS OR ATTEMPTS
TO MOVE SHIPMENTS INTO HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS. (E.G., DISABLE TRUCK)
THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
A VARIETY OF NOTIFICATIONS.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND THEIR RETENTION.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH ESCORT FOR DEALING WITH THREATS AND THEIR RETENTION.
A STAFFED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WHICH WILL MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE SHIPMENT.
MAINTENANCE OF A WRITTEN LOG BY ESCORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
ARRANGEMENTS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONG THE ROUTE.
ADVANCED APPROVAL OF ROUTES.
AVOIDANCE OF SCHEDULED INTERMEDIATE STOPS
ONE ESCORT MAINTAINS VISUAL SURVEILLANCE WHEN SHIPMENT IS STOPPED.
ESCORTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TRAINING.
CALL TO COMMUNICATIONS CENTER EVERY TWO HOURS.
ESCORT REQUIREMENTS IN HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS.
ESCORT REQUIREMENTS OUTSIDE OF HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS.
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN TRANSIT STATES.
COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES OF TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND ESCORTS.
NRC APPROVED FEATURES THAT PERMIT IMMOBILIZATION OF TRANSPORT VEHICLE.
DRIVER IS CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTING IMMOBILIZATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER
SECURITY PROCEDURES.
MISCELLANEOUS
IN SOME CASES, THE IRRADIATED FUEL
ASSEMBLIES MAY BE SHIPPED IN ITS OWN CASK BUT ON THE SAME TRANSPORT VEHICLE
AS FOREIGN FUEL. THIS MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FROM COMPETENT AUTHORITIES.
IN SOME CASES THE IRRADIATED FUEL ASSEMBLIES MAY BE ADDED TO A CASK WHICH
ALREADY CONTAINS ASSEMBLIES FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY. THIS MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL
AUTHORIZATION FROM COMPETENT AUTHORITIES.