Year
2010
File Attachment
Abstract
Each year, several thousand packages of radioactive materials are transported by road or rail safely, securely and efficiently in countries around the world. Land transport is used to move a large variety of radioactive materials, for the medical sector, industrial uses and at various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. It could even be said that every shipment starts and finishes its journey by being transported by land. International transport by road and rail is by essence regional. In some instances, national requirements reflect the provisions developed in regional agreements, such as the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), contracted by forty-six states; in South America, the Mercosul/Mercosur agreement regulates the transport of dangerous goods by rail and road. The World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) represents the collective interests of the radioactive materials transport sector, with member companies drawn from a wide range of industry sectors, including major utilities, fuel producers and fabricators, transport companies, and the supply of large sources. Through its semi-annual members meeting, WNTI members have been able to share their experiences of land transport; for example in Europe and North America. The land transport of radioactive materials faces issues specific to this mode, but which are not necessarily country or region-specific. This paper will present some of these issues which impact on transport operations and which have common features across the globe. With the North American experience as a case study, issues such as long distances through a varying landscape, driver shortages, the trade-off between road and rail, the emergency preparedness and response arrangements will be discussed, and suggestions for solutions will be given. Security and economic sustainability are also of important concern to those involved in the safe land transport of radioactive materials.