Status of Standardization Efforts for Packaging and Transportation of Spent Fuel and High-level Waste

This paper provides a current review of the status of efforts to develop standards and guidelines related to the packaging and transportation of spent fuel and high-level waste. An overview of each of the organizations and agencies developing standards and guidelines is discussed and includes the efforts of the N14 Division of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), NUPACK Committee of Section III of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy. This comparative overview identifies the scope and areas of application of each standard and guideline. In addition, the current or proposed standards and guidelines are considered collectively with commentary on areas of apparent or potential complimentary fit, overlap and incompatibility. Finally, the paper reviews initiatives now being taken within the N14 division of ANSI to identify where new standards development activities are required. This initiative is based, in part, on the changing market place for packaging and transportation equipment and services in view of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and Department of Energy's responsibility for transporting most of the spent fuel and highlevel waste in the coming decades.