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Criticality Problems Unique to Certification of Radiological Material Packaging that Contains Fissile Material

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:5871919

Certification of radioactive materials containers is generally costly and time consuming. This is due to the many, complex engineering challenges, which are often difficult to resolve in order to meet federal packaging regulations. In some cases, the containers carry fissile materials, which necessitates additional evaluation or testing to ensure the materials remain subcritical during both the normal and hypothetical accident conditions outlined in the regulations. As a part of the transportation safety program administered by US Department of Energy headquarters, several training programs have been developed and provided to DOE and DOE-contractor employees to improve the quality and appropriateness of safety analysis reports for packaging (SARP) submissions. Specific to nuclear criticality safety involvement in the development of fissile material packaging SARPs is the review and approval process. Employees of ANL and LLNL as well as a specialized staff at Department of Energy headquarters perform the detailed nuclear criticality safety information reviews and confirmatory analyses. A packaging review guide developed by LLNL is also used by NRC reviewers.

Research Organization:
US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OSTI ID:
5871919
Report Number(s):
CONF-910603--
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 63; ISSN TANSA; ISSN 0003-018X
Publisher:
American Nuclear Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English