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Waste storage and transport

The Nevada Test Site serves as a 'Yucca Mountain' of sorts for nuclear waste from DOE and DOD operations. Actually DOE nuclear waste created at locations outside the NTS (or 'offsite') first started arriving at the NTS for burial in 1978.  And by the early 1990s (1991 through 1996), 99% of the waste received and disposed at the NTS came from off-site.   The waste is trucked on both highways and state routes and placed in shallow burial in trenches, pits and collapsed (subsistence) craters on the test site.  (This is completely unrelated to the proposed Yucca Mountain depository.)  This waste storage process is run by the DOE's Environmental Management (EM) division, which is separate from the NNSA.   

The nuclear waste shipments, also called 'waste streams,' involve low-level waste (or LLW) and mixed low-level waste.  LLW can include radioactive contaminated materials from hospitals, or machinery or nuclear power plant parts coated with plutonium, uranium, thorium and other transuranic isotopes with very long half-lives and high toxicity.   It turns out that any radionuclide included in HLW can also be included in LLW.   LLW can also be as radioactive as High-Level Waste (HLW) and even toxic concentrations - when stuffed into a small volume, all legal according to the NRC regulations - of LLW can provide lethal doses in under an hour without proper shielding!  (Read more at the NIRS page titled '"Low-level" radioactive waste is not low risk.')  Mixed low-level waste is LLW mixed with hazardous materials, heavy metals, asbestos and organic compounds (i.e. wastewater sludge).    Some types of hazardous materials actually can become more hazardous over time when remained mixed with nuclear waste, and nonhazardous waste can turn into hazardous waste upon irradiation.  According to the NTS Ten Year Site Plan, DOE EM received just over 700,000 cubic feet of LLW in 811 shipments and about 35,000 cubic feet of mixed LLW in fiscal year 2008.  The NTS, in that timeframe, received 18 fuel rods shipped from a DOE site in Idaho.  The NTS also is the interim facility for 'transuranic mixed waste' (from LLNL) destined for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.   A new mixed LLW facility that the DOE is pushing for - to replace an older, soon-to-be-closed one dubbed 'Pit 3' - in Area 5 would have the volume of a football field filled 15 feet high!  

There are two types of dangers with nuclear waste transport.  One is accidents.  A simple though rare accident-scenario may involve a propane or gas truck collision with a tractor trailer carrying nuclear material - in that event, a fire or burst rupture could spread radioactive material and gases in a cloud that could severely poison and/or possibly kill everyone it touches.   MSN Auto published an article in 2008 that put the Nevada's Interstate-15 in the top 10 "Highways of Hell," or most accident-prone highways in the U.S.  In 2005 MSNBC Dateline called I-15 the most dangerous high speed road in the nation.   Accidents - spills, explosions, burns - of nuclear waste shipments on the road can happen anywhere and anytime.  

The other danger of nuclear transport is radiation exposure.  Trucks hauling nuclear waste stop wherever you do (mostly) - at rest stops, at stop lights, and at hotels, but the shielding in waste 'casks' aren't 100% effective at preventing release of gamma and neutron emitting radiation; and some types of LLW radioactive waste are 'exempted' from DOT LLW packaging requirements!   (Typical shielding material for high-level waste includes lead and DU in a gamma shield; and borated water for a neutron shield.  However, federal regulations allow a low level of radiation to emanate from the casks.)   Gamma radiation, which emanates from all sorts of nuclear waste, even LLW, once it leaves the shielding of the cask, goes through metal and materials of the trucks' walls and also your car doors.   There probably isn't anybody who hasn't been exposed by a nuclear waste truck in their lifetime!  Although we receive gamma exposure from residual fallout and natural sources of radiation from the cosmos and from some 'daughters' of uranium in our food and building materials, the gamma exposure from nuclear waste transport is unnecessarily adding to our society's cancer burden.

How much radiation comes from these trucks?  In a study done for the DOE in 2005, 1,012 trucks were measured for gamma radiation at a distance about 3.3 feet from the truck's walls and 5 feet above ground.  Of those 1,012 trucks, 59 trucks measured over 800 microRems per hour, which is also written 800 urem/hr.  That's a pretty high reading compared to background radiation levels which normally are about 20 urem/hour!  Because of a failure of the radiation devices (PICs) used in the study to measure over that amount of 800 urem/hr (a problem that might also extend, or had extended, as the study accidentally implies, to the CEMP radiation monitoring network - is that why the Milford PIC gamma readings went off the charts in July 2007?), radiation data on those 59 trucks had to be calculated from data recorded outside the confines of the study.   Other deficiencies of the study were that too few radiation detectors were used (in the 'PIC array') to measure the trucks' radiation levels and that neutron radiation from shipping containers weren't measured.

The highest value in the study was 11,970 urem/hr, or about 1,197 times higher than normal radiation background levels (assuming 10 urem/hr).  If a citizen parked at a rest stop very close to this truck (that was emitting - let's round down to - 10,000 urem/hr) and slept there for 8 hours, he or she would get 80,000 urems (or 80 millirems ) of radiation exposure, or about 1/4 of their yearly dose (of 360 milliRems)!  A gasoline attendant servicing about 600 nuke-waste trucks would get about the same dose.  Don't get fooled though: even if you park, or you're stuck in traffic, 10 meters away (about 30 feet) from that truck, the gamma rays still retain some power to irradiate you and you'd get 16% of the dose (or 1,600 urem/hr at 10 meters) than if you stood at 2 meters from the truck.  

True story: In April 1997, Bonnie Urfer, an anti-nuclear activist participating in a highway protest near the Nevada Test Site, put up her Geiger counter next to one of the nuclear waste-hauling trucks stopped by the activists' blockade and noted in her article 'The Road to Nuclear Nevada' in the Nukewatch Pathfinder newsletter (Summer 1997): 'Two radioactive waste trucks headed for the Test Site were stalled in the traffic jam.  My Geiger counter read the highest at the seams in the scary trailer's metal.'   

Even across a parking lot from that 'nuclear truck' at a distance just over a football field length away, you would still get irradiated at the exposure rate of 10 urem/hr (0.01 millirem per hour), which is the same as background levels of radiation in some areas (you'd be getting twice 'background levels') .  Truck drivers themselves get cumulative doses that sometimes are life-threatening, however this pertains to waste - usually high-level waste - that is more radioactive .   Interestingly, the National Research Council has found that an average of 800 cancer deaths are expected per 1 million person-rem of exposure, or 1 cancer death is expected per 1,250 person-rem.  To put this into a real life example: for every 100,000 people exposed cumulatively for one hour during their lives as they walk, idle or drive by a truck emitting about 12 millirems per hour (like the 'worst' case truck in the DRI study), one of those people will be doomed to die of cancer.  (Of course, the National Research Council's ratio may be, and probably is, way, way too low and more cancers would then ensue.)  Now consider that in 2008 the DOE put forward an impact statement studying the impacts of doubling the nuclear power usage in the U.S. and that as a result of all of the truck-hauling-high-level waste (for reprocessing and burial) if a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) alternative is chosen, the public would receive 1.36 million person-rems of exposure of gamma radiation that would result in 816 latent cancer fatalities. (source)

YUCCA Nuclear waste routes by state (pdf files) IL, KY, TN, LA, MS, Northeast except CT+RI, MN, WI NV, UT, WY, OK, TX, Carolinas, NJ, PA, Dakotas, MT, MO  CT, RI, NY, Greater DC, FL, IA, ID, Northwest, IN, MI, OH AL, GA, AR, AZ, NM, CA, CO, KS, NE View the Yucca petition

Getting back to the DOE study, most of these high-radiation-(gamma)-emitting trucks travel along Route 6 (Tonopah and Ely) and down Route 95 to Mercury, Nevada. (See map of transportation routes to the NTS; note these are the array of 'preferred' routes that truckers can choose from.) In studies completed by the State of Nevada, persons remaining long periods of time per day at a distance of 6 to 40 meters of a waste route carrying high-level waste (HLW) could receive yearly doses equal to their exposure to average annual doses.  When considering that statement, note that (1) some LLW can be as irradiating as HLW and (2) Route 6 actually is Main Street in many Nevada towns.  Although there is no standard set for gamma radiation exposure from transporting or shipping low-level nuclear waste, the DOT has a shipping dose exposure standard set at 2 meters from the cask surface for a whopping 10 mrem/hr.  The population exposure from all of this truck-hauling waste that 'streams' through Central Nevada's small towns might result in several premature deaths in one community's generation.  Anywhere a truck stops - at a stop light or cafe - may be a radiation hot spot and some trucks might be hotter than the hottest truck in the DRI study.  (How would you know without a Geiger counter?)  Also consider that the truckers in the study participated voluntarily and that's part of the reason why only half of the truck shipments during the study's timeframe were measured.  Also, of the 18 DOE and DOD 'waste generators' that supply nuclear waste to the NTS, eight of them didn't participate in the study.  Could it be possible there might have been truckers or waste generators that had, and still have, hotter waste in their trailers?  

We ought to also consider that some of the waste going to the NTS contains isotopes of uranium (and plutonium) that spontaneously emit neutrons.  Neutron rays are even worse than gamma rays because they will convert the atoms in your skin and innards into radioactive isotopes, mostly radioactive carbon compounds! 

What to do?  Whether you're on foot or in your car on the streets of your town or roads of your state, keep on the lookout for trucks with DOT placards (see pic) that have nuclear waste signage; and stay away, especially when you're stuck in gridlock or bumper-to-bumper traffic!  However, not all waste shipments are identified by placards and, also, shipments with 'extremely low levels of radioactivity' are excluded from labeing requirements.  

The best solution is tell the DOE to stop transporting nuclear waste through your towns!   Even as far back as 1998, surrounding communities such as North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Clark County were concerned about the potential accidents from nuclear waste transport and passed resolutions against shipping low-level radioactive - from or to the NTS - through their communities, main streets and highways.  The Clark County's resolution, passed in 1998, states that 'the continued transportation of these wastes ... through the rapidly increasing population in the Las Vegas Valley provides a greater opportunity for accidents which not only pose risks to the public health and safety of our citizens, but could adversely affect the State's tourist based economy.'    Every city and town ought to pass this resolution!!!  

Nuclear Waste Transport Incidents to and from the Nevada Test Site for fiscal years 2001-2008 (fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 of the previous calendar year)

Disclaimer: spelling, punctuation and formatting may deviate from the original version; consult DOE reports from FY 2001-2008 at:
http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/Environmental/Forms/AllItems.aspx

50-yr long dose to persons from a hypothetical severe-truck accident involving nuclear waste in Las Vegas - map

2001
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load shift, or a
leaking/breached package occurring during transportation. During FY 2001, there were no
carrier vehicular accidents and one incident associated with radioactive waste shipments. That
incident occurred on a shipment from the West Valley Demonstration Project, which experienced
a breached package in transit. No radioactive material was released as a result of this incident.
The breached package was returned to the generator at the point of discovery of the breach. The
rest of the shipment continued to the NTS without further incident.

All LLW and MLLW shipments are made in accordance with applicable DOE, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC), United States Department of Transportation (DOT),
Environmental Protection Agency, state and local regulations and requirements. Generators are
responsible for evaluating and selecting motor carriers used for transportation of radioactive
waste. Generators are also requested to notify the NNSA/NV Assistant Manager of
Environmental Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or inadequate
performance is identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency situation occurs. BN
personnel control waste receipt and disposal activities at the NTS and are responsible for
notifying appropriate DOE personnel regarding any non-compliant or refused radioactive waste
shipments. BN personnel also immediately notify generators in the event of any shipping paper
discrepancies.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
Only one of the 934 total (inbound or outbound) shipments experienced an incident (West
Valey). No carier vehicular accidents were reported. Al other generator-shipping campaigns
were considered successful.

2002
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load shift,
or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during transportation.

Generators are requested to notify the NNSA/NV Assistant Manager of Environmental
Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or inadequate performance is
identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency situation occurs.

Bechtel Nevada personnel control waste receipt and disposal activities at the NTS and are
responsible for notifying appropriate DOE personnel regarding any non-compliant or refused
radioactive waste shipments. Bechtel Nevada personnel also immediately notify generators
in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies.

In FY 2002, no transportation incidents occurred as defined above. However, there were
four package related discrepancies identified by Bechtel Nevada personnel during offloading
operations. These isolated discrepancies were reported to both NNSA/NV as well as the
appropriate generators. Corrective actions were implemented by the generators, with no
further occurrences noted or reported during FY 2002.

· Four successive British Nuclear Fuels Inc., Ltd. shipments (received in the same
week) contained breached supersacks. The breaches did not result in loss of the
material.
· Two British Nuclear Fuels Inc., Ltd. shipments had holes in tarps covering the
packages.
· One Princeton Plasma Physics Lab shipment had two holes in one tarp covering
packages.
· A small hole was detected in the bottom of one drum in a Fernald shipment.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
None of the 1,643 of site inbound and outbound shipments experienced an incident while in
transit. No carrier vehicular accidents were reported. All generator-shipping campaigns
were considered successful.

2003
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load shift,
or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during transportation.

Generators are requested to notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of Environmental
Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or inadequate performance is
identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency situation occurs.

Bechtel Nevada personnel control NNSA/NSO waste receipt and disposal activities at the
NTS and are responsible for notifying appropriate personnel regarding any non-compliant or
refused radioactive waste shipments. Bechtel Nevada personnel also immediately notify
generators in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies.

No transportation incidents occurred in FY 2003. However, below is a list of issues
observed during unloading operations during FY 2003. These issues are reported to the
generators who then implement appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

• Four delivery vehicles were found to be contaminated. The contaminated parts were
removed from the trailers and buried with the shipments.
• Two drums were found to have bulging lids. No breach or contamination detected.
• Two shipments contained drums with holes in their sides, no contamination detected.
• Metal banding on four separate packages was broken, no breach or contamination
detected.
• A trailer dropped of the5th wheel at the NTS causing load to shift, however no breach
or contamination was detected.

Additional clerical errors were also observed and reported to generators.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
None of the 2,405 of site inbound/outbound shipments experienced an incident while in
transit. Al generator-shipping campaigns were considered successful.

2004
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load
shift, or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during transportation.

Generators shal notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of Environmental Management
whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or inadequate performance is identified; or if a
transportation incident or emergency situation occurs.

Bechtel Nevada personnel control NNSA/NSO waste receipt and disposal activities at the
NTS and are responsible for notifying appropriate personnel regarding any non-compliant
or refused radioactive waste shipments. Bechtel Nevada personnel also immediately notify
generators in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies.

Two transportation incidents occurred in FY 2004. In October, 2003 an intermodal
shipment from Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant traveling South on US-95 near Beaty,
Nevada was sideswiped by another commercial motor vehicle. The contents of the sealand
container remained intact. However, as a result of the damage incurred by the tractor and
trailer the container was transported to the NTS on another carrier vehicle. The driver was
transported to a Las Vegas, Nevada area hospital and then released. The driver of the other
commercial motor vehicle was cited for several safety infractions and continued on to his
destination. Despite this incident, the shipment arrived on the originally scheduled delivery
date.

In January 2004, a British Nuclear Fuels shipment from Oak Ridge, Tennessee was
involved in single vehicle accident on I-40 near mile marker 80 in Arkansas. The package
was not breached and the shipment was returned to origin and inspected prior to
transportation recommencing.

Below is a list of issues observed during unloading operations during FY 2004. These
issues are reported to the generators who then implement appropriate corrective actions to
prevent recurrence.

• Four delivery vehicles/packages were found to be contaminated. The contaminated
parts were removed from the trailers and buried with the shipments.
• One drum was found to have a loose lid. No breach or contamination was detected.
• A single 55-gallon drum was observed with three holes in the drum lid. No radioactive
contamination nor unexpected radioactive dose, no personnel injuries, and no damage
to equipment or structures resulted from this event. The event was caused by the use of
inappropriate drum moving equipment at the generator site.
• A waste box was knocked of a trailer during offloading. No damage to the box
resulted, and no contamination was detected.
• A wooden box was found to be in very poor condition and not in compliance with the
NTS Waste Acceptance Criteria. The package did not breach and was not leaking at the
time it arrived at NTS.
• A Paducah waste stream was suspended due to difficulties offloading intermodals.

Additional clerical errors were also observed and reported to generators.

A non-transportation related incident involved the possibility that non-conforming items
were included in shipments to the NTS. In September 2004, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion
Plant notified NNSA/NSO of potential non-conforming items that may have been included
in some of their FY 2004 LLW shipments. Discussions between Paducah and NNSA/NSO
are ongoing and this issue has not been resolved as of this date.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
Two of the 2,433 of site inbound/outbound shipments experienced incidents while in
transit to the NTS. Al generator shipping campaigns were considered successful.

2005
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load
shift, or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during transportation.

Generators are instructed to notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of Environmental
Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or inadequate performance is
identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency situation occurs. There was one
transportation incident reported in FY 2005.

On July 18, 2005 a CH2M Hill Mound shipment was involved in a minor traffic accident
near Winslow, Arizona. There was no damage to the trailer, or breach of the containers.

Bechtel Nevada personnel control NNSA/NSO waste receipt and disposal activities at the
NTS and are responsible for notifying appropriate personnel regarding any non-compliant
or refused radioactive waste shipments. Bechtel Nevada personnel also immediately notify
generators in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies.

Below is a summary of issues observed during waste receipt and disposal activities in FY
2005. These issues are reported to the generators who then implement appropriate
corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

• A broken drum ring was discovered on 55-gallon drum. No contamination detected.
• A BN Heavy Equipment Operator backed a front-end loader into, and breached, a sealand 
container containing LLW. There was no release of removable contamination, no injuries, and 
no equipment damage aside from the breached sealand as a result of this event.
• On one shipment, barcode labels had fallen off three of the five packages.
• Various minor clerical errors were observed and reported to generators.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
One of the 1,422 off site inbound/outbound shipments experienced incidents while in
transit to the NTS. All generator shipping campaigns were considered successful.

2006
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a
load shift, or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during
transportation.

Generators are instructed to notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of
Environmental Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or
inadequate performance is identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency
situation occurs. There were no U.S. Department of Transportation reportable
transportation incidents in FY 2006.

National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), formerly Bechtel Nevada, personnel
control NNSA/NSO waste receipt and disposal activities at the NTS and are
responsible for notifying appropriate personnel regarding any non-compliant or
refused radioactive waste shipments. NSTec personnel also immediately notify
generators in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies.

Below is a summary of issues observed during waste receipt and disposal activities
in FY 2006. These issues are reported to the generators who then implement
appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

• Contamination was found on the trailer floor after off-loading a shipment. The
trailer was decontaminated to meet DOE release limits. External
contamination was found on a box. There as no visible breach in the box.
• There were two instances where boxes were found to have dose rates higher
than the rates listed on the Package, Storage, and Disposal Request (PSDR).
• Two shipments arrived with only the 540 and 541 manifests. PSDRs and
Certification Statements were not with shipping paperwork. After a pre-entry
survey was done, trailer was opened and Certification Statements and PSDR’s
were found inside the trailer.
• Two shipments were received with leaking drums. Both trucks were
decontaminated and released. Packages were determined to have small
breaches and were diapered and then disposed.
• A shipment arrived on site with no PSDR.
• A shipment arrived with three packages missing NV-211 labels (Package
Certification Labels) and NTS barcode labels.
• A shipment was received with no manifest numbers recorded on 14 of the 20
PSDR’s.
• A significant radionuclide was not listed on the PSDR for a package.
• An incorrect PSDR was sent with shipment paperwork.
• A shipment arrived with box numbers transposed on the Certification
Statement.
• Three shipments arrived without Certification Statements.
• A shipment arrived with the NV-211 (Package Certification Label) stickers
missing.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS
None of the 972 off-site inbound or 15 off-site outbound shipments experienced
incidents while in transit to/from the NTS. None of the 157 on-site transfers
experienced incidents while being transported on the NTS. All generator shipping
campaigns were considered successful.

2007
INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a load shift, 
or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during transportation.

Generators are instructed to notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of
Environmental Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or 
inadequate performance is identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency
situation occurs.  There were two (2) U.S. Department of Transportation reportable
transportation incidents in FY 2007.

• On February 6, 2007 at I-40 Mile Marker 68 outside of Clinton, OK, after being

        struck by another vehicle, a flatbed truck transporting LLW from Gore, OK to 

        the NTS rolled onto its side.  The container was damaged but did not sustain a

        breach.  The package was returned to its origination point, where the drums 

        were repackaged and eventually shipped to the NTS.

• On February 9, 2007, during offloading operations of a cargo container,

        contamination was found on the trailer floor.  Upon further investigation, liquid

        was found coming out of the bottom of the cargo container.  The trailer was

        decontaminated and released.  The appropriate notifications were made to the

        National Response Center pursuant to 49 CFR, §171.15 and §171.16.

National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec) personnel control NNSA/NSO waste 
receipt and disposal activities at the NTS and are responsible for notifying
appropriate personnel regarding any non-compliant or refused radioactive waste
shipments.  NSTec personnel also immediately notify generators in the event of
any shipping paper discrepancies.

Below is a summary of issues observed during waste receipt and disposal activities
in FY 2007.  These issues are reported to the generators who then implement 
appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

• A package was received with two 4"x6" holes in the lower front side of the soft-

sided waste container. No contamination was detected.

• After arrival, a cargo container was observed leaking liquid.  No radiological

contamination was detected in the leaking liquid.  The container was returned

to the generator.  The vehicle driver contacted the National Response Center 

pursuant to 49 CFR, §171.15, however it was not a DOT reportable event.

• A shipment arrived at NTS and drivers indicated that they took a route that took

them through the Las Vegas valley via the northern portion of Clark County -

215 to US-95 North.

• A shipping manifest contained a discrepancy between the label on one (1)

waste a package and the shipping manifest.  The manifest list a Transport

Index (TI) of 5.8, while the waste package label listed a TI of 4.2.  The correct

TI for the package was 4.2.

• Discrepancies between dose rates listed on the Package, Storage, and

Disposal Request (PSDR) and actual dose for shipments were observed during

our pre-entry and offloading surveys.  Contact dose readings listed on the

PDSR [sic] were much lower than what those measured.

• A shipment arrived without a hardcopy of the PSDR.
  
• A PSDR for a shipment listed incorrect number of packages.
  
• Shipping papers did not contain the PSDR or LLW Certification Statements.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS

Two of the 1,136 off-site inbound and none of the 11 off-site outbound shipments
experienced incidents while in transit to/from the NTS.  None of the 130 on-site
transfers experience incidents while being transported on the NTS. All generator
shipping campaigns were considered successful.

2008

INCIDENT/ACCIDENT DATA

For the purpose of this report, an incident is defined as a traffic-related accident, a 
load shift, or a reported leaking/breached package which occurs during 
transportation. 

Generators are instructed to notify the NNSA/NSO Assistant Manager of 
Environmental Management whenever a discrepancy, non-compliance, or 
inadequate performance is identified; or if a transportation incident or emergency 
situation occurs. There was one U.S. Department of Transportation reportable 
transportation incident involving LLW or MLLW being transported to the NTS in FY 
2008. 

• A vehicle transporting LLW to the NTS was involved in a single vehicle 
  accident on the ramp from North-bound Interstate 15 and Nevada State 
  Route 160. The tractor and trailer rolled on to its side at slow speed. 
  The package retained its contents. After the scene was released by law 
  enforcement, the package was transferred to another vehicle (same carrier) 
  and was delivered to the NTS without further incident. 

NSTec personnel control NNSA/NSO waste receipt and disposal activities at the 
NTS and are responsible for notifying appropriate personnel regarding any non-
compliant or refused radioactive waste shipments. NSTec personnel also 
immediately notify generators in the event of any shipping paper discrepancies. 
Below is a summary of issues observed during waste receipt and disposal activities 
in FY 2008. These issues are reported to the generators who then implement 
appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence. 

• A shipment arrived with contamination detected on the floor of the van 
  trailer and outside of the package. The trailer was detached from the 
  tractor for decontamination. A Corrective Action Request was issued to 
  the generator and the package was initially refused for disposal. 
  The package was ultimately returned to the generator (in FY 2009). 
• A shipment arrived with the bottom of the Intermodal container 
  breached and a small amount of liquid on the trailer floor. No 
  contamination was found and the generator was issued a Corrective 
  Action Request and the package was repackaged and shipped back to 
  the generator in FY 2008. *
• Four shipments arrived missing the LLW Certification statement. 
• Two shipments arrived before the electronic Package, Storage, and 
  Disposal Request (PSDR) files were received 
• Two packages arrived without the proper U.S. Department of 
  Transportation marking. 
• Shipping papers were received with Transport Indexes incorrectly 
  assigned. 
• A packaged received was marked with a shipping name other than what 
  it was assigned on the shipping paper. 
• A shipment arrived missing the hard-copy PSDR. 
• Three shipments were transported prior to PSDR errors being corrected. 

*Believed to have been a Perma-Fix Northwest Richland plant waste shipment to the Nevada Test Site that was stopped in summer of 2008 after contamination was found on the exterior of a box. The box met DOT standards but not standards for acceptance at the NTS.

EVALUATION OF SHIPPING CAMPAIGNS 

One of the 1,320 of-site inbound and none of the six of-site outbound shipments 
experienced incidents while in transit to/from the NTS. None of the 48 on-site 
transfers experienced incidents while being transported on the NTS. Al generator 
shipping campaigns were considered successful. 

---

Idealist's public document archives: 1. 2.

U.S. NUCLEAR tests: 128 A + 899 U in NV,
1 A in NM, 10 U (in NM, CO, AK, MS, central NV),
100+ A, U in Pacific, 3 A in S. Atlantic
(A=aboveground; U=Underground)

'The greatest irony of our atmospheric nuclear testing program is that 
the only victims of U.S. nuclear arms since World War II have been our own people.' 
- Forgotten Guinea Pigs Report, 1980

In 1986, the U.S. Dept. of Energy used the cover of the Chernobyl fallout cloud over the United States to release huge amounts of radiation into the air from a failed underground Nevada nuclear test. It was called Mighty Oak.

learn more on our global fallout page

 

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