The transport of radioactive materials, including irradiated fuel, is governed by an extensive international and national regulatory framework.
IAEA Transport Regulations (SSR-6)
The International Atomic Energy Agency publishes the Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (SSR-6), which form the basis for national transport regulations in most countries. SSR-6 establishes:
- A graded approach to safety requirements, proportional to the hazard of the material being transported
- Classification of packages into types: Excepted, Industrial, Type A, Type B (for high-activity materials such as irradiated fuel), and Type C (for air transport of high-activity materials)
- Design and testing requirements for each package type
- Activity limits, dose rate limits, and contamination limits for packages
- Requirements for quality assurance programmes covering design, manufacture, testing, and use of packages
Competent Authority Approval
In the UK, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) acts as the competent authority for the transport of radioactive materials. ONR’s role includes:
- Design approval of transport packages (Type B and fissile material packages require competent authority approval of the design)
- Shipment approval for certain high-consequence shipments
- Validation of compliance with IAEA SSR-6 requirements as implemented in UK law
- Inspection and enforcement during transport operations
Other countries have their own competent authorities (e.g. the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the USA, the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire in France).
Transport Documentation
Every shipment of irradiated fuel requires comprehensive documentation, including:
- Transport document specifying the contents, activity, package type, and transport index
- Emergency instructions (known as “Tremcards” in the UK) providing guidance to emergency responders
- Radiation survey records confirming that external dose rates and surface contamination are within regulatory limits
- Quality assurance records for the transport package
- Route approval documentation (for certain high-consequence shipments)
Route Planning and Emergency Arrangements
For movements of irradiated fuel in the UK:
- Route approval may be required from ONR, particularly for road movements of Type B packages through urban areas
- The police are notified of movements and may provide escort for high-profile shipments
- Emergency planning arrangements are coordinated between the carrier, the consignor, the police, and local authorities along the route
- RADSAFE is the nuclear industry’s cooperative transport emergency scheme, providing specialist radiological assistance in the event of a transport incident
- The transport operator must have a Radiation Protection Programme covering all aspects of the shipment
Key Point: The regulatory framework for transport of irradiated fuel provides multiple layers of protection: robust package design (tested to survive severe accidents), administrative controls (documentation, route approval), and emergency preparedness. The excellent worldwide safety record of irradiated fuel transport reflects the effectiveness of this comprehensive approach.