TRANSPORTATION SAFETY RISK FOR SOURCE RECOVERY VS. CONSEQUENCE OF LEAVING RADIOACTIVE SOURCES IN PLACE AND VULNERABLE DUE TO LIMITED TRANSPORT OPTIONS OR DENIAL OF SHIPMENT

This paper discusses potential risks associated with transportation safety of recovered radioactive sources in normal commerce versus latent risk of not recovering the disused radioactive sources due to limited transport options or outright denial of shipment. It is essential, during each phase of the recovery process, to ensure secure, timely, cost effective, and reliable means to return vulnerable radioactive sources to safe and protected locations by land, sea, and/or air transport. In some cases, only limited transport options exist or denials of shipment may occur that impede the recovery process. It is argued that the risks associated with normal transportation of recovered sources are significantly less than the risks related to leaving disused radioactive sources at their current location.