Pu/U SAFEGUARDS SAMPLES LICENSED FOR THE PAT-2 PACKAGE

A development program for a Lightweight Air-transportable Accident Resistant Container (LAARC), to be used for the timely transport of Plutonium or uranium safeguards samples to International Atonic Energy Agency (IAEA) laboratories, in support of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has resulted in the availability of the Plutonium Air Transportable Model 2 Package (PAT-2 Package). The PAT-2 can survive a severe aircraft crash and resulting fire, providing a virtually unassailable sealed pressure vessel that meets all statutory reauirements for Plutonium containment, shielding, and criticality. The package, 38l mm in diameter and 356 mm high, weighs 33 kg, and is now licensed for the shipment of certain defined safeguard samples. A U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Certificate of Compliance and a U.S. Department of Transportation IAEA Certificate of Competent Authority have been issued. These certificates (licenses) permit the transport of various isotopic compositions of plutonium, uranium, or mixtures, in the solid forms of oxide powder, pellets, or metal, in a form not to exceed 15 grams fissile fraction, not to exceed 120 grams total mass, and not to exceed 2 watts decay heat. Also, 3 grams of the salts plutonium sulfate tetrahydrate or plutonium nitrate dihydrate may be shipped. The licenses cite additional restrictions on packaging, handling, and transportation; compliance with these conditions is required by U.S. and IAEA transport regulations.