Radioactive Waste Transport

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Agreement States, and Department of Transportation have oversight for the safe transport of radioactive wastes from the place of origin to the place of disposal. Within this oversight lie regulations regarding the proper packaging and labeling of shipments, proper loading and unloading, shipment manifests, and training for anyone who would package, label, load, unload, or transport the wastes. Packaging varies depending on the waste, but some of the packaging must have passed several tests for strength and toughness, including being put in a high-heat fire, dropped onto a steel spike, and even submersed in water. This packaging helps to assure that wastes are not dispersed in the event of an accident.