ML20080E668

Forwards Response to 830719 Request for Addl Info Re Transshipment of Spent Fuel from Surry Power Station.Meeting Requested

ML20080E668
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	09/09/1983
From:	Stewart W VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.)
To:	Harold Denton, John Miller Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
431, NUDOCS 8309140035
Download: ML20080E668 (24)

Text

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.c VINGINIA ELECTRIC AND Powna COMPANY RicnwoNI),VINGINIA 202G1 W.L.stswaar Vses Passammwr weci.... or. now. ' September 9, 1983 Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Serial No. 431 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation PSE&C/HSM/cdk/0002N Attn: _Mr. James R. Miller, Chief Docket Nos.: 50-338 Operating Reactors Branch No. 3 50-339 Division of Licensing License Nos.: NPF-4 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NPF-7 Washington,_D.C. 20555 Gentlemen:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROPOSED OPERATING LICENSE AMENDMENT NPF-4 AND NPF-7 NORTH ANNA POWER STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 He have reviewed your letter of July 19, 1983 which requested additional information regarding the transshipment of spent fuel from the Surry Power Station to'the North Anna Power Station Unit Nos. I and 2. The answers to the question in the enclosure to your letter are provided in Attachment 1. ,

If further information on.this matter is required, we would be pleased to meet with your staff at their convenience.

Very truly yours, l

H. L. Stewart Attachment cc: Mr. James P. O'Reilly Mr. M. B. Shymiock l Regional Administrator NRC Resident Inspector Region II North Anna Power Station l 'U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atlanta, Georgia 30303 I

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8309140035 830909 PDR ADOCK 05000338 l P PDR l l

-Question li Section 12.0, " Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action,: of " Summary of Information..." (Attac.hment 3 to VEPCO request for amendment dated July 13, 1982), is silent on the environmental impact of the transportation of spent fuel from Surry to North Anna. Add appropriate information on this topic. -

Answer:

It is Vepco's opinion that informaticn required by this question is

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contained in Table S-4, 10CFR51.20. This is discussed, in detail, in our answer to Question 2.

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Question 2:

Discuss the applicability of Table S-4, 10 CFR 51.20, to your plant for shipping fuel from Surry to North Anna.

Answer:

The environmental impacts of the transportation of spent fuel from Surry were considered during Surry's operating license stage and are described in the Surry Power Station Unit 1 Final Environmental Statement (May 1972) 1pages 128-139, snd the Surry Power Station Unit 2 Final Environmental

-- Statement (June 1972) pages 128-139.

In order'for environmental impacts to be reconsidered in this proceeding, a showing must be made that the new intervening circumstances arising from the present application bring into question the validity of the e3vironmental impacts already determined for fuel transport when Surry was licensed. No special circumstances of this nature exist here. If it is assumed that_the new intervening circumstances justify a reconsideration of Surry spent fuel transport impacts because of the present application, Table S-4, 10 CFR 51.20 should be used to assess those impacts.

As the NRC staff recognized in the Catawba proceeding, a case in which Duke Power Company sought to transship spent fuel to Catawba Power Station from other Duke Power Company facilities, Table S-4 was intended to provide a generic measure of fuel transport impacts. It was designed to eliminate the need for case-by-case, site specific development of transshipment impacts abse'nt a showing that the particular fuel transport contemplated involves distances, population exposures, accident probabilities, and other factors "much greater" than those assumed in l developing the Table S-4 impact values such that a waiver of application

! of Table S-4 is warranted pursuant to 10 CFR 2.758. In 40 Fed Reg 10005, 10907 (1975), the Statement of Considerations contemplates that Table S-4 applies even where the transshipment in question deviates from the assumptions made in the analysis in support of the rule (" Environmental

-Survey of Transportation of Radioactive Materials to and from Nuclear Power Plants," Wash - 1238, December 1972),- unless an exception to such applicability is, sought ,and a waiver is granted by the Commission.

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'In view of the fact that the Table S-4 values were based on an assumption

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that the spent fuel would travel 1000 miles in 3 days to a fuel reprocessing plant, the shorter trip of 177 (maximum) miles from Surry to North Anna would certainly not carry with it any significant increased risk of accidents. Similarly, Table S-4's value for exposure to transport workers would not be compromised by the shorter transshipments here. The transshipments will meet all the conditions of applicability of 10 CFR 51.20(g)(2).

Table S-4 is applicab1e to Vepco's proposed transshipment even though the*

spent fuel is destined for North Anna instead of the hypothetical reprocessing plant referred to in Table S-4. According to the.brief filed by the NRC staff in the Catawba proceeding, "(a) careful examination (s) of l

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the Commissions statement of considerations on the rule (Table S-4)

' indicates that although a reprocessing facility was assumed to be the ultimate destination of irradiated fuel, this assumption had no impact on the Commission's' evaluation of the staff's analysis performed in support -

_of the rule....The ultimate destination appears to have been considered immaterial, except for the purpose of estimating the average distance of irradiated fuel transport (1000 miles) and making assumptions about

' feasible methods.of transport. What was considered important in determining the applicability of the rule was.not the nature of the destination, but,rather, whether the generic assumptions used in deriving the impact value in Table S-4 are applicable.to.... the fuel transshipment in question. . (NRC Staff Position on Applicability of Table S-4 to Transshipment of Spent Fuel from Oconee and McGuire to Catawba). In the LCatawba proceeding, the ASLB held that Table S-4 applies to the

-transportation of. spent fuel irrespective of whether a re' processing plant is in fact the destination of the spent fuel, noting that the impacts would substantially be.the same and therefore, that Table S-4 values would apply. The ASLB reiterated this conclusion in' subsequent orders in the Catawba proceeding.

-In summary, Vepco believes that the original FES for Surry adequately

. described and accounted for the environmental impact of spent fuel shipments. In lieu of this, however, Table S-4 would also be applicable

, and would envelope the environmental impacts of the transport of spent fuel from Surry to North Anna.

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a Question 3:

If Table S-4 does not apply, specify the average popuiation density along each of the proposed routes, maximum irradiation level (burnup) of the spent fuel-to be transshipped to North Anna, and the maximum number of shipments per year. .

Answer:

Table S-4 is appl.icable. This is discussed, in detail, in our answer to

_. Question 2.

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Question 4:.

How much, if any, of the Surry fuel stored at North Anna will eventually .

be returned to the Surry facility?

Answer:

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l The current Vepco plan for Surry spent fuel shipped to North Anna is for  !

this fuel to remain at North Anna in interim storage until a Federal I monitored retrievable storage facility or permanent repository is l available. The Sutry spent fuel at North Anna would then be shipped to the Federal facility. i

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v Question 5:

M. Provide a description of the Vepco emergency plan for responding to spent M fuel transportation accidents. >

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% Answer:

[eyi AsdescribedinAppendix14ofTransportalionAccidentsofthe si.A - Commonwealth of Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan, the

[if.4 responsibi.11ty for responding to a transportation accident generally fails

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to the state and local government. A copy of Appendix 14 is attached.

W . ',; - Based on this policy, Vepco's spent fuel transportation emergency plan

^* will provide for radiological assistance to State and local governments NN during the initial phases of an accident. The plan provides for Vepce,to 3

take.a lead role in (1) recovering the transport vehicle, (2) ensurint the X],4 ' shipment is completed in a timely manner, and (3) restoring the accic .nt '

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f site, if appropriate.

$N The Vepco Spent Fuel Transportation Emergency Plan utilizes the existing W.'t corporate and nuclear-power station emergency response structure.

(Reference Vepco Corporate Emergency Response Plan and Surry and North y: Anna Power Stations Emergency Response Plans.) However, since_this activity involves offsite_ transportation of radioactive materials, this structure is being supplemented as outlined below.

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1. A Vepco recovery coordinator will travel with each shipment to ensure that, if an accident occurs, Vepco's response is properly coordinated g." . -and that accurate hazards information is provided to responding personnel from. State and local governments. Also, this coordinator

&o;C will ensure that Vepco management is provided with an accurate-ky assessment of the accident and provide recommendations to management

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- on the extent of Vepco's response.

2. 'A Vepco communications control center, established primarily for safeguards purposes,.will also provide a communications link between

-% an' accident , scene and State and local governments and Vepco

~< management. This center, manned continuously during each shipment, u, will ensure that all emergency notifications have been made and will

'- activate the Corporate and Station Emergency Response Plans, if appropriate.

0;.c e 3. - Vepco personnel and equipment from the Surry or North Anna Power h e ' ;, Stations will be made available at the accident scene to assist State and local governments in providing-an evaluation of the existing

. radiological conditions and recommendations on protective actions to

1. safeguard the_ general public.

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1 ' -~ 4. Vepco will'eake available equipment for cask recovery and site c restoration. *

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In addition, while riot part of the Vepco emergency plan, Vepco has prepared an information presentation for local emergency response personnel on spent fuel shipments from Surry to North Anna. Using films, slides and U. S. Department of Transportation publications, this presentation provides information on radiation principles, shipping cask design, and general security provisions, and provides reference material with guidance for.first on the scene responders. This presentation was developed in coordination with State and Local government officials. It

'has-been given a number of times and is available on request to any locality along our NRC approved shipping routes. -

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Virginia Rcdiological.,Emargency Responne Plan' q'" ,

Appendix-14 -

Transportation Accidents 1

1.

REFERENCES A. Radioactive Materials Transportation Information and

! Incident Guidance, DOT /RSPA/MTB-81/4, U.S.. Department of Transportation, 1981.

B

'f' Hazardous Materials, Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT-P-5800.2), U.S. Department of Transportation, 1900.

C. A Review. of the . Department of . Transportation (DOT)

Regulations for Transportation of Radioactive Materials, U.S. DOT,' Washington, D.C., October 1977.

D. Guidance for Developing and Reviewing State and Local

- Radiological Emergency Response Plans for Transportation Accidents, FEMA / DOT, 1982 (draft).

Regulations for Transportation of Hazardous Radioactive E.

Materials, Commonwealth of Virginic, State Beard o'f Health, February 15, 1980.

II. DEFINIyJonS A. See Appendix 15 of this Plan.

B. See Sect'on 2.00,. Reference I.E.

III. MISSION '

'The mission of the State and local governments is to ' plan rer.ponse to transportation

. . for, prepare for, and conduct

. accidents involving radioactive materials. .

IV. SITUATJON A. Radioactive materials may be tr'ansported wi t hin the Stato by any of. four- basic. modes--air, water, highway, or

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railroad. The majority of radioa ct.ive materials, however, will move by motor vehicle over existing road ,

nets. The concepts and procedures delineated for i transportation accidents emphasize th3 c modo but are equally-applicable for.the other modes.

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B. . Although the shipper and carr3er bear the primary responsibility for assuring tha t- ra diodctive: natorials 4

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d Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan 14-2 Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents are safely packaged and transported, responsibility for responding to a transportation accident generally falls to the State and local governments. About 70 hazardous

radioactive material shipments, exceeding Type B quantities, per' year transit Virginie (SeeprocessedA for Tab packaging requirements,) . These are in accordance with the . procedures contained at Reference -

I.E.

C. A transportation accident involving radioactive materials 4

. poses a potential biological _. hazard not only to those

.. , involved in the accident, but also to emergency services the near vicinity of the and the public in

' personnel accident. Locally-available trained radiological monitors are used initially to determine the extent of

- radioactive contamination to protect emergency services personnel 'in"olved. Padiological health personnel who respond late'r provide follow-on advice and response.

D. See Tab A for excerpts of pertinent publications which address the transportation of -radioactive naterials.

V. ELS20BS1LU1TJES The followir.g responsibilities supplement the detaiJed listing at Appendix 1, Task Assignments.

A. State' Agencies

1. Board of Health, State

a. Serves. as the governing body of the State l

Department of Health.

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b. Develops.and updates regulations governing- the transportatien of certain hazardous radioactive materials in and through the State.

c. Defines hazardous radioactive materials which may l

a significant potential . danger to the

! constitute citizens of the State in the event of . accidental '

spillage or release.

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2. -Health, Department of i a. . Acts 'for the Board when it is not in sessiob.

!' Provides technical assistance and adviscs on b.

radiological matters.

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c. Dispatchen the .Radiologica) Emergency Henponue ra di ologica.1 attrii nt ance and i,4[

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,. Team- (RERT) for 3

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14-3 Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan *  ;

,ggy Appendix'14, Transportati,on Accidents response to the accident sibe. .

d. Receives applications to transport radioactive materials within Virginia, issues registration ,

certificates, and provides registration information to the Office of Emergency services.

- 3. Emergency. Services, Office of'.

a. Monitors the transportation of hazardous radioactive materials within the state.

information about shipments and

b. Disseminates 4

' changes to local law enforcement agencies.-

Coordinates emergency response actions and c.

communications of Federal, State, and local t

. governments.

d. Submits a. report summarizing the activities carried out under the regulations included at Reference I.E. to the Department of Health, the and the General Assembly at Governor's Office, ~

least annually.

B. Local Governments 1.. Respond to radiological transp'ortation accidents using . locally available. resources. Request u

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assistance directly from State agencies or the State EOC which will obtain assistance from other State (except HDOE agencies and the Federal government monitoring and assessment) and coordinate the overall response.

2. Negotiate agreements with the political responses subdivisions states addressing to of contiguous incidents-in.close proximity to a common border.

existing plan which

3. Develop a plan or annex to an responds to transportation accidents involving radioactive. materials.

C. Feder'al Government .

1. Department of Energy .

response to Coordinates and directs the Federal peacetime accidents in which radiological monitoring This f']- - -

and assessment capabilities under assistance is provided are required.

DOE's Federal iiy Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Plan (FRMAP).

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Virginia 'Radiologica'l Emergency Response Plan 14-4 Appendix 14, Transportation-Accidents i h., i' i 2. Federal Emergency Management Agency g:

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Coordinates and directs the Federal response to M .r.

f J TJ accidents for which a Presidential declaration (emergency or major disaster) has been made under r#,fw! Public Law 93-288. FEMA also coordinates the Federal P/2t response to nuclear weapons accidents, hjf.[' .

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Joint Nuclear Accident Coordinating Center (JNACC)

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nuclear If a transportation accident involves b,'d ,.

or- devices, State or local L, '

military. materials

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government should immediately notify the nearest tv::#

military installation which will notify the JNACC.

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VI. OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS AND PROCEDilBES

.~r- A. Concept of Operations

- 1. Response Local government officials of the political di $ a.

jurisdiction in 'which the accident occurs are

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.n responsible for the overall response as it affects the general public. Technical guidance 7 '"" and assistance in the radiological aspects will E4h.jI be provided by the. State Department of Health.

The overall State respense will be coordinated by

'. - the State Office of Emergency Services.

4. transportation accident

' b. Immediate response to a

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involving radioactive materials should be limited

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to:

. T" h 4 - (1) Aiding the injured.

(2) Preventing access to the area surrounding the'

. . -. ~ . . accident.

(3) Determining action required to prevent further hazard, including evacuation of people from the immediate ' area if fire is involved or explosion appears likely.

(4) ' Reporting the accident in accordance with u

,,i.; , . paragraph VI.A.2.a. below. .

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Follow-on response should be in accordance with

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' a9if.: c. Health recommendations from Radiological

- .- - personnel of the State Department of Health.

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14-5 Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan'

. Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents lll .

2. Requests for Assistance

&~% For technical assistance and advice concerning

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" - the radiation aspects: ,

%s, :3.c.' 5:00 p.m.) ,

(1) During duty hours (8:15 a.m. -

g'_:PA Monday. through Friday, call Bureau of

,,f- Health, State Department of "1

Radiological Health, telephone (804) 786-5932 or 786-4265.

(2) During off-duty hours or holidays, call Radiological Health Duty Officer,

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Bureau of

' e' telephone (804) 323-2300.

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For, other assistance, call the Ste e

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Emergency Services, telephone (804) 323-2300 (day

"~ or night).

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B. ' Procedures

1. Response

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a. Initial response until it has been determined t-6ES?.

41T02 that no radiation hazard exists: '

.13 lifesaving first aid has i'

$ (1) Conventicnal" in the management of absolute priority

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persons injured in' a transportation accident.

Do NOT move vehicles, shipping containers, or wreckage except to rescue people.

(,2) Key items identifying a potential Such radiation 5 .' t accident- should be looked for. items include RADI0vehicles, ACTIVE transport placards RADIOACTIVE shipping attached to labels attached to containers, or information ,

'obtained from the driver or victims. atUnless the prevented by hazardous conditions accident site, emergency response personnel the should examine the shipping papers from transport vehicle prior to making calls for technical assistance. These papers provide valuable information about the nature of the ,

involved an'd may be  ;

-- ' . radioactive material needed to provide for a proper response to a s

.... transportation accident.

clothing should be removed (3) Contaminated by victim's medical <

except when prohibited condition, adverse weather, etc. If it to is the necessary to send an. individual J,'1 inform ambulance and other.

hospital,

ViEginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan 14-6 f

. Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents .

ggg transportation personnel who will be in  ;

contact with the ' individual of the  !

possibility of . radioactive contamination. l Also ensure that the hospital or medical '

f acility is apprised of this fact.

.' scene.

(4) Isolate..and secure the accident Prevent access to the surrounding area for as large a distance as practical in all directions. Keep the public at least 200 feet away from the wreckage and associated i: . . . debris. .

s (5) Evacuate to a 1,500-feet distance if fire ~

is  ;

involved or an explosion is likely.

monitoring and possible t (6) Detain for persons who may have been decontamination  :

exposed to radiation or at least obtain their t

names, addresses, and . destinations if they cannot be persuaded to stay at the accident 1 scene. -

?; radiological (7) Locally-available trained .

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monitors may be used to determine the extent 1 of radioactive contamination as necessary to protect emergency services personnel at the scene.

no action until advised by l (8) Take further 1

radiological health personnel.

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paragraph F, Tab A, for additional (9) See

'T actions to be taken by response personnel at involving transportation accidents -

radioactive materials.

Tab B for response organization for  !

(10)See transportation accidents.

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b. Follow-on Bureau of Radiological Health (BRH) personnel or consulta'nts to the State Department of Health will provide to local government authori. ties n.

technical assistance and advice on the radiation

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hazard, methods of protection, decontamination, and disposition of the radioactive materials involved. The Radiological Emergency Response g.  !

Team .(RERT) and/or Mobile Laboratory will be SA-. dispatched if necessary.

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irginia Radiological,, Emergency Response Plan 14-7 Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents

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j'. c. Transportation of Hazardous Radioactive Materials-fi The provisions of Title 44, Chapter 3.3, Section 44-146.30 of Authority I. A.1, Regulations for the Hazardous Radioactive jy' Transportation of Materials, were implemented on February 15, 1980.

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.The coordinator 0ffice of Emergency Services, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by

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the Board of Health, monitors the transportation

, jf, C within the Commonwealth of those radioactive materials, as defined by the Board of Health,

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r; which may constitute a significant potential

' danger to the citizens of the Commonwealth in the spillage and release.

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_ )- event Persons shipping of accidental or transporting hazardous 9 radioactive materials within the State shall p/;'

register these shipments with the Department Upon of r

pf Health 30 days prior to the shipment date.

receipt of a complete application form, the Commissioner will issue a registration certificate. Registration information will be o The provided to the Coordinator, OES.

' , :;; Coordinator has. developed implementing procedures gelg for monitoring the transportation of hazardous gght State. The n.N radioactive materials State in the OES, telephone (804) 9.i)2 Operations Division, the set 323-2300, performs this function within y Commonwealth.

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,' 2. Requests for Assistance

a. Requ'ests for assistance should include:

's (1) Place

• and time of the accident.

(2) Type of accident (air, rail, motor vehicle, a ." '

ship).

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(3) Quantity and chemical and physical form of

radioactive materials involved. This information may be obtained by examining the bill of lading

- or manifest. The vehicle operator may provide I this'information also.

'-- - (4) Damage to packaging of radioactive material's and, f known, any information about possible

' if releases, r ,

(5) Response procedures underway and actions taken to isolate *and secure the accident scene.

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telephone. number (or communications (6) Name' and of individual in charge channel- identification) -

i-at the accident scene.

V .<' ' - (7) Assistance required.

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reporting should

b. Additional information to have for

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" includes lifesaving assistance (1) Injured persons requiring

' and other medical care.

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' (2) Weather conditions a't the accident scene.

event (3) Prognosis of worsening or termination of L,i~. " based on current information.

a continuing

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(4) Upgraded information provided on basis.

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3. Federal Assistance'

}gg- accident

-Military Accidents. If a transportation the

$?lb devices, a.

involves- military materials or (804) 5 ",. .- s ' Division, State OES, telephone

.s._ Operations 323-2300, should be notified immediately. The military State

' j* EOC will notify officials at the Nuclear nearest and' the Joint Accident

installation Coordinating Center (JNACC) at Kirtland L Air Force JNACC Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, (505) 844-4667. deployment of will _ n'otify and coordinate the to Unless it- is necessary

- specialized teams. weapon to ' rescue injured c- " approach a nuclear individua.ls, first-on-the-scene. responders at such zone with ana ,

accident should establish an exclusion l

' radius of 2,000 feet.

Situations. The presence of

b. Multiple Hazard of the highest mixed-cargo hazardous materials shipments. is Toxic l concern in regard to rail and flammable agents than can chemicals, biohazards concern present. problems of more immediate (Chemical radioactive materials. CHEMTREC d' . _s .

Transportation Emergency Center) is a 24-hour service f advice to those at the . scene of c

to provide involving ' chemical i transportation emergencies '

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The toll-free number is

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hazardous materials.

' 1-800-424-9300. '

As a back-up to State and local

c. Other Assistance.

. emergency response efforts, response teams consisting E-v of Federal and contract personnel are located at most h:

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14-9 Appendix.14, Transportation Accidents USDOE laboratories and at laboratories and offices of other Federal agencies across the country. USDOE I will coerdinate the Federal response upon-request to provide.information,. advice, or assistance through

, the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Plan. The State EOC can contact the USDOE. Regional Coordiniting Office ' at the Oak' Ridge Operations Office, (615) 576-1005 or (615) 525-7885, for radio' logical assistance.

TABS -

s A - Transportation Accidents Involving Radioactive Materials D - Response Organization for Transportation Accidents J

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14-10 Virginia Radiological E'mergency Response Plan Appendix-14, Transportation Accidents Tab A to Appendix 14 Transportation Accidents Tnvolving Radioactive Materials A. Historical Experiences ,

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During the . period 1971-1975, more' than. 32,000 hazardous

- materials incident (HMI) reports were filed with the U.S.

Of this total, 144 reports Department of Transportation. involved shipments of radioactive materials.

Of(1/2the 144 shipments, 36 indicated release of radioactive of it) analysis and

,, materials from -the container.. that . Accident the most commonly statistical surveys indicate involves Type A packages in transit encountered problem loading or unloading

. via highway or mishandling As duringof early 1981, there have been no known operations. deaths, disabilities, serious injuries, or major property damage resulting from radioactive material involved in a j

transportation accident.

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(( B. Classification of Accidents

1. Transportation accidents can with behigh generally classified probability and into .

high two types: low . hazard hazard ,with high 8

hazard with low probability. The . low h

probability accident generally involves Type Aofanddangerous Type B

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packages and would not result in--a releaseThe high hazard with of radioactive asterials.

amounts Type B l low probability accident involves Large Quantity might be damaged with releases of l

packages which Type A L

radioactive materials in very severe0.001 accidents.

to 20 curies, packages contain no more than depending upon the radionuclides, degrees andof must be designed stress. Structural to c

withstand only . moderate for Type B packaging are more

- design- requirements Type B packages generally contaiu 20 stringent, whereby case, the radiological to 50,000 curies. In either would probably be limited. to the immediate (0

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impact vicinity of the accident.

C. Packages and Casks

-- - 1. ' Packaging , requirements These are based on type of radioactive material form, specific activity, and fissile quantity,

. properties. .There are five general categories:

y

a. . Limited Quantity Materials 4 .

e* ,,-,~ne-, ,---.-r, ,.,e---ear-~-w,,n-.as-, .m-,,-,,,-, , , - , - . - - - - - - - - , , , - - - - n,_ , , ~ , . . , , ,,n--- - - , , - , . .

~ 14-11 Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan. g ['

Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents requirements specified in Exempt from -most Federal Regulations. No requirement for use of outside warning labels or markings for shipment.

Most are shipped through the U'.S. Postal Service or common carrier. They include smoke detectors, luminous dials, and some medical diagnostic kits.

b. Low Specific Activity Low limits of radioactivity with minimalaccident. risks if

'were dispersed in an contents Shipments may be by. Type A packages ~ or " strong packages". They include uranium tight

"' concentrate, natural uranium, and low level

- waste.

c. Type A

' Designed to withstand the stress of transit under non-accident conditions (e.g. , roughofhandling) material Because of the smaller quantities permitted in Type A packages, accidents causing to damages to such packages would be unlikely They 0

result in serious raf:ation hazards. and must i constitute the majority of shipments only withstand ~ moderate degrees of stress for cold, reduced air such conditions as heat,

[f pressure, vibration, impact, water, drugs, Includes penetration, and compression.

radiopharmaceuticals, research, industrial P

sou'rces, and some fuel cycle materials. ,

1:

d. Type B .

-c Designed for transport of much In addition greatertoquantities meeting'

~

of radioact!ve saterials. they h.ust

~

standards la Type B packages, thermal, and water withatnd d?1p, puncture, posses that might be experienced immertisG transportation under act w 'or hypothetical and

' accident conditions. They include research and certain fuel cycle industr-lal sources

. materials.

• Type B Large Quantity

- e. s .

Designed to withstand thi sameTheyhypothetical may contain accident stresses as Typecould B.

d:

and cause serious thousands of, curies packages are breached. They 4

health effects if

, '. include research and industrial sources and spent

~C nuclear' fuel.

. ..e ,

---

wr, , , . - -m. . --,4-,,.--,.--,--...,--.,-..-ww.-.,-,..-..-.--..-..-.-w...?,.m-,,-....-c.-.m.,

%.,,-,,w-,,-,,e-,...e.-,w. .,,,.w,-y,+.y-w..me,',- -e-.-,-

m .. - - -

~

Virginia Radiological- E$ergency Response Plan 14-12 Appendix'14, Transportation Accidents i

2. Safety Tests Tests on spent fuel casks.were -performed by Sandia Laboratories and other agencies. These consisted of

~

mathematical analysis, scale-model testing, and actual.. accident scenario tests involving impacts of a - 60 to 80 miles per hour. All casks withstood the tests. To date, there~have been no reports of damage to Type B or special containers involved in transportation accidents that resulted in loss of material or loss of shielding. effectiveness.

L.

C.irWarning Labels and Placards .

l

1. Labels Three different labels are ~ used on the external surface of .p ackages forfradioactive material. The required label is usually determined by the external radiation level or by the type and quantity of radionuclides within the package. Package labels must specify the radionuclide (contents) and quantity (curies).

W Radiation Level Radioactive - White I Almost no radiation; EE E5 0.5 mR/hr maximum on surface.

& Radioactive - Yellow II Low radiation levels; 50 mR/hr maximum on surface,

/ t 7g -

YELLOW , . "

1 mR/hr maximum at 3 feet.

1. Higher radiation Radioactive - Yellow III levels; 200 mR/hr L i hf-maximum on surface,

[

10 mR/hr maximum at 3 feet and for large shipments.

~ ~ ~ ~

2. Placards' -

Motor vehicles, rail cars, and freight c'ontakners carrying large quantities or potentially hazardous

.- -amounts of radioactive material display RADIOACTIVE

- warning'p1'acards. All four sides of the vehicle must be placarded. These alert response personnel to possible radiation risks. In an accident, labels and

.e5 placards may be obliterated or destroyed. Response

c -

_=.=2 = ,

~ . ,

14-13

• ' Virginia Radiological Emergency Response Plan

-Appendix,14, Transportation Accidents l) should then query the driver, check -

personnel area to determine

-shipping papers, and monitor the

' radiological conditions. .

D. Shipping Papers must be Every shipment: of radioactive material l accompanied. by _ properly completed and shipper-certified lading or cargo shipping papers (e.g., ' bills of required on the shipping manifests). The .information personnel in properly

[

papers will assist emergency as for requesting responding .at the scene, as well be taken when assistance. Caution in response. should

'e there is likelihood that radiological materials are being 4

4-  : hipped with other hazardous materials.

Il j E.- Special Nuclear Materials and Weapons i;j! Special . nuclear materials (e.g. , - reactor fuel, plutonium,

[- and nuclear weapons components) present higher a great potential specific J -

radiological hazard because . of, their j- activity and radiotoxicity. They generally are y transported with an' armed escort in separate vehicles, y require special attention. Because of

- Nuclear _ weapons highly

,M 31'

- the required sequence of arming and firing,

.weapon it is involved in a unlikely that a naplear

$1 The risks transportation accident would detonate.

LQ 99 consist.of conventional high explosives and plutonium and procedures and their exposure- to fire. Normal precautions' applicable to fires should be taken. could If a

-1;

"?

fire occurs and the explosives detonate, plutonium

<r spread and constitute a serious ~ hazard if inhaled absence of _a need to or jf ingested into the body. In the

?; . recover injure'd ' personnel, no attempt should nuclearbe made

' weaponto

m extinguish fires or otherwise approach.a The- first involved in ~a transportation accident. with; a-responders should establish an exclusion zone 2N 4-radius of 2,000 feet and immediately notify the the State State EOC which will activate at -(804) 323-2300 f7~ Radiological ' Emergency ' Response Team and notify the Joint - -

Nuclear Accident Coordinating Center (JNACC) .

F. Emergency Response

~ -- - Persons _ seriously injured in any accident need immediate

~ emergency medical care, possibly lifesaving first aid, Radio &ctive s and transportation to a _ hospital.

skin is not likely to be

- 1 contamination of_ a wound or victim and immediately life-threatening to the accident even less likely to interfere with rescue and first aid.

transportation An appropriate sequence-for responding tofollows, emergency per accidents l . *

= . * ,

~ ,

f

..~ 14-14

.Virginic R2diologic21 E;3rg ncy Rtcponga Plan '.

- Appendix 14, Transportation Accidents 1er -

the scene will take those actions within their capability.

1. Park emergency vehicles upwind. .

2. Examine the accident scene and the surrounding area.

3. Treat victims.

4. Fight fires and other hazards.

5. Determine if shipment involv'es radioactive materials (placards, labels, shipping; documents).

E6. Notify local and State EOC's'on the extent of the accident, actions being taken, and assistance required.

7. Conduct preliminary survey for radiological contamination.

8. Move victims away from contaminated area, when conditions permit. Remove contaminated clothing and attach disaster tag.

2; 9. Keep unnecessary persons awa'y from the area.

10. Avoid direct contact with radioactive material where possible. ,

11. Conduct detailed monitoring of the area.

12. Monitor all response personnel and decontaminate if necessary..

13. Monitor, decontaminate, and control all personnel, clothing, and equipment.

14. Record and report all activities to supervisors when time permits.

! 15. Have available and use protective clothing, if appropriate. ,

16.'Use plastic bags to collect contaminated items. Note locations where samples originated (label bags on l e

source and contents).

!. 17. Do not allow cating, drinking, smoking, or other Ds.

(~) activities within contaminated areas that might lead

~

to intake of radioactive materials.

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