Key Issues
Transporting Radioactive Materials
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An Unparalleled Safety Record
Over the years, the nuclear energy industry has transported radioactive materials safely. When accidents have occurred, no one was harmed by the radioactive materials—neither members of the public nor transport workers.
Of the more than 45 million packages of radioactive materials shipped since 1971, about 3,500 were involved in accidents. Of these, only 197 packages containing low-level radioactive materials sustained damage or failed, and in some of these accidents, the packages released a small amount of radioactive material. But in every case, the levels of radioactivity were so low that they presented no hazard to the public or to the workers who cleared the accident scene. When higher levels of radioactivity are involved, this record is even more impressive—no accident has ever breached a used fuel container.
In 1971, a tractor-trailer carrying a 25-ton shipping container filled with used nuclear fuel swerved to avoid a head-on collision and overturned. The trailer, with the container still attached, broke away from the tractor and skidded into a rain-filled ditch. The container suffered minor damage but released no radioactive material.
This accident was the most severe of nine accidents involving the shipment of used fuel transportation containers. Four of the nine occurred during highway transport; the others happened during rail shipment. None caused any release of radioactivity.
Several factors contribute to the nuclear energy industry’s excellent safety record, including:
Emergency preparedness and planning requirements established by DOT and the NRC for radioactive material packaging ensure that—even in the event of a serious accident—the radioactive contents will cause no public health or environmental problems.
In the event of an accident, the carrier has responsibility for confining the spread of radioactive materials and for any cleanup. State and local government agencies, through their police and fire departments, normally are responsible for protecting people and property at the scene of an accident.
DOT has developed a comprehensive training program on handling emergencies involving radioactive materials shipments.
The Department of Energy operates a Radiological Assistance Program, with eight regional offices staffed by experts who are available for immediate assistance. If necessary, the police will summon these experts to handle the package and remove any radioactive material in the unlikely event that it may have released any.
In addition, the companies that operate nuclear power plants have entered into a voluntary mutual assistance agreement. Under this agreement, the company closest to the scene of a transportation accident responds on behalf of the one that shipped the radioactive materials, until emergency response personnel from the carrier and the company that owns the radioactive material arrive on the scene.
Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the NRC took aggressive steps to strengthen the security of radioactive materials while in transit. The agency has established a graded approach to its security requirements for shipments of radioactive materials, beginning with industrial standards and increasing to the highest levels for any type of shipment.
An Unparalleled Safety Record
Over the years, the nuclear energy industry has transported radioactive materials safely. When accidents have occurred, no one was harmed by the radioactive materials—neither members of the public nor transport workers.
Of the more than 45 million packages of radioactive materials shipped since 1971, about 3,500 were involved in accidents. Of these, only 197 packages containing low-level radioactive materials sustained damage or failed, and in some of these accidents, the packages released a small amount of radioactive material. But in every case, the levels of radioactivity were so low that they presented no hazard to the public or to the workers who cleared the accident scene. When higher levels of radioactivity are involved, this record is even more impressive—no accident has ever breached a used fuel container.
In 1971, a tractor-trailer carrying a 25-ton shipping container filled with used nuclear fuel swerved to avoid a head-on collision and overturned. The trailer, with the container still attached, broke away from the tractor and skidded into a rain-filled ditch. The container suffered minor damage but released no radioactive material.
This accident was the most severe of nine accidents involving the shipment of used fuel transportation containers. Four of the nine occurred during highway transport; the others happened during rail shipment. None caused any release of radioactivity.
Several factors contribute to the nuclear energy industry’s excellent safety record, including:
- strict requirements for packaging and handling of radioactive materials
- extensive testing of the shipping package under normal and accident transport conditions
- careful control over the radioactive material being transported
- an established system for dealing with any accident involving radioactive materials.
Emergency preparedness and planning requirements established by DOT and the NRC for radioactive material packaging ensure that—even in the event of a serious accident—the radioactive contents will cause no public health or environmental problems.
In the event of an accident, the carrier has responsibility for confining the spread of radioactive materials and for any cleanup. State and local government agencies, through their police and fire departments, normally are responsible for protecting people and property at the scene of an accident.
DOT has developed a comprehensive training program on handling emergencies involving radioactive materials shipments.
The Department of Energy operates a Radiological Assistance Program, with eight regional offices staffed by experts who are available for immediate assistance. If necessary, the police will summon these experts to handle the package and remove any radioactive material in the unlikely event that it may have released any.
In addition, the companies that operate nuclear power plants have entered into a voluntary mutual assistance agreement. Under this agreement, the company closest to the scene of a transportation accident responds on behalf of the one that shipped the radioactive materials, until emergency response personnel from the carrier and the company that owns the radioactive material arrive on the scene.
Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the NRC took aggressive steps to strengthen the security of radioactive materials while in transit. The agency has established a graded approach to its security requirements for shipments of radioactive materials, beginning with industrial standards and increasing to the highest levels for any type of shipment.
