STATE SYSTEM ENSURING SAFE SHIPMENT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS BY AIR

The high-activity radioactive materials are rarely transported in Type B packages by air. It is a rather new mode of their shipment for all countries, including Russia. The ROSATOM State Corporation, that is a state competent authority on safe transportation, supervises each shipment preparation, justification and safety assurance as well as other authorities liable for state supervision of safe transportation of radioactive materials. The design and use of Type C packages for air shipments is the newest option and procedure taking into account the complexity and newness of packaging design, its safety justification and validation of compliance of packaging design and shipment procedure with applicable safety requirements both national and international. This paper describes the requirements, procedure peculiarities and results of work of ROSATOM and other authorities supervising and validating the safe air shipments of spent nuclear fuel from foreign research reactors performed under the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return Program both in Type B and Type C packages. It also demonstrates preparation and supervision of packaging design and manufacture, expert assessment of safe design and air shipment procedure, issuance of certificates of approval by ROSATOM and involved expert organizations and cooperation with other state supervisory authorities. The paper lists some conclusions and recommendations to similar activities in future.