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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Shipments of nuclear fuel and waste: are they really safe

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5267968· OSTI ID:5267968
The safety aspects of shipping nuclear fuels and radioactive wastes are discussed by considering: US regulations on the shipment of hazardous and radioactive materials, types of radioactive wastes; packaging methods, materials, and specifications; design of shipping containers; evaluation of the risk potential under normal shipping conditions and in accident situations. It is concluded that: the risk of public catastrophe has been eliminated by strict standards, engineering design safety, and operational care; the long-term public burden of not transporting nuclear materials is likely to be higher than the risks of carefully controlled transportation, considering the various options available; and the likelihood of death, injury, or serious property damage from the nuclear aspects of nuclear transportation is thousands of times less than the likelihood of death, injury, or serious property damage from more common hazards, such as automobile accidents, boating accidents, accidental poisoning, gunshot wounds, fires, or even falls. (LCL)
Research Organization:
Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Environmental Control Technology
OSTI ID:
5267968
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV-0004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English