QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR PACKAGING OF RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

The Department of Energy (DOE) has required for many years that quality assurance programs be established and implemented for the packaging of radioactive and hazardous materials. This paper identifies various requirement principles and related actions involved in establishing effective quality assurance for packaging of radioactive and hazardous materials. A primary purpose of these quality assurance program activities is to provide assurance that the packaging and transportation of hazardous materials, which includes radioactive and fissile materials, are in conformance with appropriate governmental regulations. Applicable regulations include those issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DOE Order 5700.6A establishes that quality assurance requirements are to be applied in accordance with national consensus standards where suitable ones are available. In the nuclear area, ANSI/ASME NQA-1 is the preferred standard. Applicable Federal Regulations include: Nuclear Regulatory Commision Regulations - Primarily 10 CFR Part 71, \"Packaging of Radioactive Material for Transport, and Transportation of Radioactive Material Under Certain Conditions\". Department of Transportation Regulations - Primarily 49 CFR Parts 171- 199, \"Hazardous Materials Regulations\". Environmental Protection Agency - Primarily 40 CFR, designating regulated types of hazardous materials.