Transportation Accidents/Incidents Involving Radioactive Material (1971 - June 1995)

The Radioactive Materials Incident Report (RMIR) data base contains information on transportation-related accidents and incidents involving radioactive materials that have occurred in the United States. The RMIR was developed at Sandia National Laboratories to support its research and development program efforts for the Energy Management and Restoration Division of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The RMJR database was established in 1981 to provide a computerized compilation of the accidents/incidents involving radioactive materials during transportation operations. Records for inclusion in the data base are obtained from the two Federal agencies which have regulatory responsibilities for the transport of radioactive materials: the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In addition to the accident/incident reports obtained from the DOT and NRC, the RMIR contains data from the DOE Unusual Occurrence Report data base, data from State radiation control offices and media coverage of radioactive transportation accidents/incidents. This paper addresses the following topics: background information on the Federal regulations for reporting a hazardous /radioactive materials transportation incident, a brief description of the types of packagings used for the transport of radioactive materials,