High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Operations and Routing Regulations: Friend or Foe?

Blalock, Larry G.; Daly, Fred H.; ,

High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Operations and Routing Regulations: Friend or Foe?

by Larry G. Blalock, U.S. Dep of Energy, Washington, United States,
Fred H. Daly, U.S. Dep of Energy, Washington, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1993

Abstract:

The process of shipping high-level wastes and its equivalents is a highly-regulated endeavor. Safety requires consistency and rationality thereby giving way to Federal preemption in the areas of operations and routing regulations. Inasmuch as the Department of Energy policy is to remain open to affected jurisdictions and publics there is some difficulty in accommodating all interests and meeting legal requirements. The safe, secure, efficient, and economical movement of these materials is ultimately the responsibility of the Federal government. The concerns about risk and consequences are shared by all effected parties. Numerous ideas have been advanced as to how these apparently conflicting interests can be melded together into a coherent shipping policy. With so many existing laws. protocols, agreements and understandings between the parties, it is suggested that a step back be taken and a fresh look be given to cooperatively making certain these shipments are as safe and secure as possible, while keeping the regulatory scheme as streamlined and understandable as possible. That is to say, keeping it user friendly.

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