WNU Summer Institute - Transport · • Radiation protection rules apply for workers and for the general public • Further restrictions may apply, such as the European Directive

WORLD NUCLEAR TRANSPORT INSTITUTE

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World Nuclear University

Summer Institute 2009

Transport of Radioactive Materials

Michel Hartenstein

TN International (AREVA group)

Oxford, July 15, 2009


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Warning and Take-aways

• Presentation not for specialists

• Not complete : exposure only

1. Transport is vital and must remain available

2. Transport within the current, stringent

regulations is safe as can be

3. Transport organisation is for specialists

4. Security is an issue : there are no fences

5. Facilities design must consider transport


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RAM Transport : where (everywhere)

• mines and mills

• conversion

• enrichment

• fuel

• power reactors

• reprocessing

• recycling

• waste storage

and also...

• research reactors

• hospitals

• factories

• building sites

• homes

No nuclear without transport

"Nuclear renaissance" means more transports


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RAM Transport

• the number of parcels is guestimated at 20 million per year worldwide

• definition : package, transport, shipment...

• this week's estimate for France : 900,000 packages/year, in 600,000 transports (source: IRSN.fr) , including a mere 15,000 for the nuclear fuel cycle


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The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

StorageWaste

We are the arrows !


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Front End transports

– 4 to 6,000 transports/year

– yellow cake, U3O8, natural and depleted UF6,

enriched UF6, fresh fuel

– 50,000 UF6 cylinders worldwide

– Thousands of fresh fuel casks

– (! UF6 is also corrosive and toxic)


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Sweden

France

Spain

United States

Russia and

former USSR

Republics

Germany

Belgium

Japan

Great Britain

Netherlands

naturalUF6

enriched

UF6

The Front End

UO2 fuel assemblyyellow cake


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Back End transports

• Mostly linked to reprocessing/recycling, some to storage

– More than 200 transports per year of spent fuel (France,

Europe, Japan) and vitrified residues (Europe and Japan)

– More than 200 Pu and MOX fuel transports (Europe)

– Domestic transports to fuel storage sites (Sweden,

Japan, Switzerland, Germany, China...)

– Since 1971, over 20,000 shipments of used fuel and

HLW (>50,000 tons, >30 million km) without any release

courtesy PNTL


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Back End transports


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Research Reactors and Laboratories Transports

• Materials transported:

– Low-enriched and high-enriched Uranium

– Fresh MTR and Triga fuel elements

– Irradiated MTR and Triga fuel elements

– Sources, fresh and irradiated samples,…

• On-going retrieval of HEU fuel by the USA and Russia ("gap material")


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Research Reactors

USA

Canada

Mexico

Venezuela

Peru

Chile

Japan

Uruguay

South Africa

Philippines

Indonesia

Finland

Sweden

Portugal

Spain

Greece

Thailand

Malaysia

Brazil

South Korea

Argentina

Columbia

Zaire

Taiwan

Iran

Pakistan

United Kingdom

Austria

Italy

France

Belgium

Netherlands

Romania

Russian Federation

Kazakhstan

Vietnam

China

Hungary

Libya

Egypt

FormerYugoslavia

BelarusUkraine

Bulgaria

Latvia

Poland

Morocco

Algeria

Jamaica

Jordan

Czech Republic

Slovenia

Turkey

Switzerland

Germany

North Korea

India

Australia

DenmarkFinland

Ghana

Indonesia

Bangladesh

Congo

Syria

Uzbekistan

Iraq

Nigeria


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RAM Transport

medical

• radioisotopes : large numbers, short half-life, urgent transport by air and road

• sources for sterilization or radiotherapy

• repetitive small incidents and many cases of denial, delay


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RAM Transport

industry

• radiography of welds, measurement...

• irradiators for food andsurgical ware

• ... smoke detectors...


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A Stringent Regulatory Framework

• UN Orange Book deals with transport of Dangerous Goods, in the form of model regulations; radioactive materials is Class 7, out of 9.

• IAEA is in charge of issuing specific regulations for Class 7

• modal regulations are derived for each mode of transport : road, rail, air, sea, inland waterways. These generally cover all classes.

• regulations must be implemented/enforced in national laws


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Regulatory development process

RECOMMENDATIONS

CODES,

RECOMMANDATIONS

INT

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INTERNAL LAW

STA

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REGULATIONS,

AGREEMENTS,

CONVENTIONS..

Legal value :

Compulsory text

Legal value :

optional text


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• modal regulations are prepared by international Bodies :

International Maritime Organisation, ICAO/IATA (air), RID

(rail in Europe), ADR (road in Europe)...

• States are member to those Bodies out of expediency more

than any other consideration or affiliation. Some countries

stand alone (US, Japan...)

• IAEA performs audits to verify implementation in volontary

member States. Such TranSAS missions in Panama, Brazil,

Turkey, United Kingdom, France, Japan have shown high

levels of excellence.


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• The « Safety in Depth » principle results from a consensus reached by the international community within IAEA's 144 Member States : package performance, compliance to requirements, emergency response

• Whenever possible, multiple barriers are engineered between the material and the environment


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• Additional rules apply against proliferation (IAEA’s INFCIRC 225 rev. 4, as enforced by national/regional laws)

• Maritime transport has specifics such as the INF Code

• Radiation protection rules apply for workers and for the general public

• Further restrictions may apply, such as the European Directive for the transport of radioactive waste

• Usual transport regulations also apply

• There are segregation rules for storage and transport with other dangerous goods, also for passengers, films...

• Any changes can be costly


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contamination

checks

4 Bq/cm² βγ

dose rate

measurement

2mSv at the surface

0,1 mSv at 2 m

RAM Transport : inspection before

departure, in transit and on arrival


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RAM Transport : package types(packaging aka. cask aka. flask = the'box' ;

package = includes contents)

• According to the nature, activity, physical state of the radioactive material, its fissile nature, several types of package are prescribed by IAEA regulations :

– excepted (typical: medical isotopes through the post)

– industrial (typical: natural U3O8 and UF6)

– type A (typical: fresh UO2 fuel)

– type B (typical: spent fuel, high-level waste)

– type C (intended for air, no known concept)

(additional regs

for fissile materials)


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RAM Transport : package types

• Further noteworthy items :

– exempted means not radioactive enough to be considered

– SCO Surface Contaminated Objects, LSA Low Specific Activity have less requirements

– Fissile materials roughly warrant a step above in package type

– only types B, C and fissile are supposed to withstand accidents


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RAM Transport : TI and CSI; segregation

• Packages have to be segregated from other packages, from other dangerous goods, from undeveloped films, from passengers ... (Check with a specialist !)

• Transport Index (TI) is used to prevent radiation exposure; it appears on a label affixed to the package (or the container)

• Criticality Safety Index is used to prevent any unsafe accumulation of fissile packages. It appears on a label affixed to the package (or the container).


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Labels 7C and 7E (details)

7C / category III - yellow

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CRITICALITY SAFETY INDEX

FISSILE

7E / fissile :

label to affix next to 7A (or 7B or

7C) on the sides of the pakage


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Orange placards front and rear ends(UN number added if single number applies

and exclusive use)(side placards may be required)

7D placards on both sides and rear end

Placarding of vehicles

N.B. : no placards if all packages are excepted


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RAM Transport : packaging functions

– Containment of material,

even after accident

– Prevention of criticality

– Biological protection

– Thermal dissipation

and of course

– maximum payload

– mass and dimensions

compatible with

installations and

conveyances


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Safety in depth : type B package tests

fire test

drop tests

200 meters


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Safety in depth : meeting

regulations, and more


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RAM Transport : conveyances


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Safety in depth: purpose-built ships


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Safety in Depth: Permanent tracking of Sensitive

Materials Transports

Transport

CompanyGround

Station


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RAM transport : strictly reserved to specialists

Shipping RAM will entail inter alia:

– planning with shipper and consignee

– securing the right packaging, checking/obtaining its approval

and validations, checking maintenance status and ancillary

equipment

– finding a route and carriers, checking lifting/transfer means,

making bookings, arranging port etc. assistance, escorts...

– obtaining all clearances, insurance, customs... for the planned

dates, notifying all official bodies in due time

– managing all disturbances

But you can help ! or you will be sorry :

– design installations with doors, cranes, space, roads...


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Crisis management: anything can happen

anytime

• Friday July 3rd, 2009 5 sea miles off Copenhagen, DK

• Tanker rammed into "our" freighter for no apparent reason

• 9 containers with natural uranium concentrates

• Euronews: "disaster narrowly averted as the tanker carriedmethanol" !


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Crisis management: appropriate resources

mobilisation

• Emergency preparedness is a requirement of theregulations: plans/procedures, organisation, technicalmeans

• This is usually country-specific; responsibilities forresponse vary (State taking over the incident site andresponse, or industry tasked to recovery andreinstatement...)

• Nation-wide crisis exercises essential


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RAM Transport : liability and insurance

• International Conventions (Vienna, Paris, and Brussels for maritime transport), but also Price Anderson Act etc.

• Channeling of strict 'no fault' liability to the Nuclear Operator

• Generally no nuclear liability for the carrier

• For transports under the Paris Convention, liability is limited to ~23 M€, soon to become a minimum of 80M€

• In spot cases, higher insurance may be imposed

• (Claims are always possible under civil laws)

• ? do such high amounts reassure or frighten carriers?

• ? is the insurance capacity enough for the renaissance?


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RAM Transport : opposition

Opponents to nuclear have identified RAM transport as Achilles' heel of nuclear

– transport is the blood system of the fuel cycle : stop transport, and everything grinds to a halt

– transport comes close to the public : fears are easy to create, with security the latest scarecrow

– there are no fences : transport is fairly easy to block

– image: floating Chernobyl, Chernobyl on wheels

– easy target ? Much depends on Authorities... who will/can help only a flawless transport industry


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RAM Transport : opposition

• Coastal States

– as opposed to Shipping States

– sometimes grouped in regional associations

– express concerns about shipments passing off their coastline, claiming risks for fishing, tourism

– many possess a nuclear research reactor and are also Shipping States...

– nonetheless, these States' concerns are to be addressed (Japan-Europe transports, San Onofre reactor vessel), directly or in fora


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RAM Transport : lobbying

• WNTI (www.wnti.co.uk)

– created in 1998, 49 members

– dedicated exclusively to the safe, efficient and reliable transport of RAM

– observer status at IAEA, IMO

– publishes information brochures on RAM transport

– very active ad-hoc working groups

– visits of nuclear sites for officials

– input, cooperation much valued by major Competent Authorities

• FORATOM (transport task force) for the EU

• WNA (transport task force)


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RAM Transport : Global Acceptance,

industry actions

• «Keep the routes open» : enable transports to be completed without opposition from States, media or the public, by implementing a transport Global Acceptance policy

• Coordinate government and industry information actions

• Prepare language and documents to counter disinformation actions

• Present transports to selected stakeholders the world over, organise site visits... Make contact, inform, reassure and demystify

• Manage the communication in a crisis context


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RAM Transport : current issues

• denial and delay of shipment (WNTI action)

– low volumes, high complications, perception of risks

– who decides: dock workers, railwaymen, unions; facilities' and carriers' managers?

– airline pilots

– waivers / preferential treatment for medical

– IAEA established a Steering Committee,with WNTI as a member; database started

– is information given by industry useful or scaring?

– is competition in nuclear transport a risk?


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• security

– security vs transport (complexity, payload...)

– security and safety (mixed regulations)

– security vs transparency

– heightened security vs carriers' anxiety

– megaport initiative (container screening)

• legal action by opponents

– France (foreign spent fuel, waste), US (Eurofab, YM)


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• stability of regulations (WNTI action)

– regulations are revised for no real benefit to safety

– IAEA 'revision cycle' now changed to 'review cycle'

• harmonisation of regulations (WNTI action)

– countries add their own requirements beyond international agreements

– competent authorities have different approaches to package approval study

– validations/additional approvals are required even for 'unilateral' approvals

– hope: mutual recognition of major competent authorities, as started by France, UK and Germany, US and Canada


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RAM Transport : impending issues

• Yucca Mountain (report from the National Academies)

– social acceptance is the biggest issue

– second is the response to security, to long-duration fires

• the case for dedicated vessels, aircrafts

– key to mobility or easy targets? high cost?

• volumes will augment with the "nuclear renaissance", with the opening of repositories, with the revival of reprocessing.

– Socially sustainable?

– Renewed activist actions?

•No other option than perfection


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This is the end

Thank you for your attention


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This is beyond the end

• appendices for nosy questions


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Types de packages / contents / transport conditions

contenu Conditions de

routine

Conditions normales

(CNT)

Conditions accidentelles

(CAT)

Colis exceptés 1/1000ème de

A1 ou A2

Colis industriels IP-1 LSA-I, SCO-I

Colis industriels IP-2, IP-3

LSA-I, II, III, SCO-II

Colis de type A A1 ou A2

Colis de types B(U), B(M),C*

> A1 ou A2

Colis de matière fissile : IF (pour IP-2 ou IP-3), AF, BF ou CF

Matière fissile ** ** **

* colis type C : nécessaire si transport aérien et + de 3000 A1(ou A2), et non LDM

** : épreuves à l’issue desquelles le maintien de la sous-criticité est vérifié (et en particulier pour

les Conditions Accidentelles de Transport que doivent subir les IF et les AF )

Activité du contenu radioactif :

A2 : cas général A1 : matière sous «forme spéciale» (indispersable, ou capsule scellée)


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classification of packages

Ac

tiv

ité

to

tale

Activité conduisant à

une dose effective de

50mSv en cas

d’exposition (A1-A2)

Activité conduisant à

des conséquences

négligeables (fraction

de A1-A2)

Activité répartie

(Bq/gramme)

B

excepté

AIPHors

règlement

Activité répartie faible conduisant à

des conséquences négligeables quelle

que soit la quantité relâchée (fraction

de A1-A2 /g)

C

Hors règlement


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classification for physical protection

* enrichissement

QUANTITES

2g 3g 5g 15g 400g 1kg 2kg 5kg 500kg

Uranium naturel ou appauvri, Thorium

Elément combustible irradié

MATIERES

Cat. II

Cat. II

Cat. II

Cat. II

Cat. II

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat. III

Cat.I

Cat.I

Cat.I

Cat.I

Cat. II Irradié

e* 20%

e < 10%

10% <e<20%

Tritium

Plutonium (tout isotope)

Uranium 233

U235

U235

U235

Lithium 6

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a) : PuO2 (FS47), Mox frais

(b) : combustibles UO2 frais

(c) : nitrate d’uranyle (citerne LR65)

(d) : irradiés et vitrifiés

Hors catégorie (ou cat. 0) : amont du cycle; déchets envoyés vers stockage de surface

(d)

Documents

WNU Summer Institute - Transport · • Radiation protection rules apply for workers and for the general public • Further restrictions may apply, such as the European Directive