Revision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is currently in the process of revising its Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations to incorporate the 2012 Edition of the IAEA’s Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. In addition, other changes are being considered to address issues that have been identified since the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations were last revised in 2004. These include proposed regulatory provisions relating to: radiation portal monitor alarms triggered by loads being monitored and found to contain a source of radiation which may or may not be subjected to the application of the regulations; the transport of large components; the requirements related to radiation protection programs of carriers; and event reporting. This paper explains the rationale behind those changes and outlines the work accomplished so far on the development of the revised PTNSR regulations.