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[Fwd: Re: WIPP shipment through Albq. NM]
I took another look at the regs, and maybe I wasn't wrong on this.
(This is what I enjoy and Radsafe; the chance to test my knowledge and
learn.)
I think that you're referring to the requirements of 10 CFR 71.55,
"General requirements for fissile materials packages." Indeed, fissile
material packages (above exempt quantities) have to be tested to the
"hypothetical accident conditions" of 10 CFR 71.73, in addition to the
"normal conditions of transport", of 10 CFR 71. However, the acceptance
criteria for the the accident conditions tests are limited to: "...
under the tests specified in 10 CFR 71.71 ("Hypothetical accident
conditions") the package would be subcritical..." For the "Normal
conditions of transport" test, the acceptance criteria, in 10 CFR 71.43,
includes: "there would be no loss or dispersal of radioactive
contents..."
Thus, while Type A fissile packages must be tested to accident
conditions, they are not required to contain the material, only prevent
criticality. In fact, the dispersal of the material would be a good way
to prevent criticality.
While I'm not familiar with the specific test results for the packages
involved in the Springfield event, as far as I can tell there is no
regulatory requirement that they not disperse their contents under
accident conditions.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.om
-------- Original Message --------
From: William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com>
Subject: Re: WIPP shipment through Albq. NM
To: "Nardi, A. Joseph" <nardiaj@WESTINGHOUSE.COM>
CC: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
I stand corrected; thanx.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
"Nardi, A. Joseph" wrote:
> Bill Lipton wrote:
>
> "I remember a new fuel shipment, c.a. 1995, which had a head on
> collision
> with a drunk driver on I-91, in downtown Springfield, MA. There was a
> potential for the equivalent of a 'dirty bomb,' since the Type A packages
> containing the fuel were not designed or tested to survive an accident and
> fire. Fortunately, they held up."
>
> This statement incorporates a misunderstanding of the licensing of new fuel
> shipping containers. Although a shipment of low enriched new fuel contains
> a Type A quantity of radioactivity, under NRC regs it has a fissile quantity
> of uranium and must be shipped in a licensed container that meets the
> accident sequence for the design and licensing. It should not be confused
> with the normal understanding of a Type A package.
>
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