Development of training course on transport security of radioactive materials

Abstract

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne), with the support of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Packaging Certification Program, has developed a week long training course on security for nuclear and other radioactive materials during transport. The course focuses on USA domestic and international requirements and recommendations for transport security. A review of applicable US Department of Transportation regulations, recently issued US Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations, DOE orders and manuals, and relevant international modal regulatory documents relating to transport security was conducted. The review disclosed that existing International Atomic Energy Agency security training materials could be incorporated into a training course on security requirements for US domestic shippers. Development of training materials for such a course was initiated in late 2012, and the first course was convened in early December 2013 at Argonne. The course also incorporated training and hands on transport security applications of the ARG-US Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for monitoring the state of health of packages of radioactive and other hazardous materials and for tracking the location of the packages and conveyances during transport and in transit storage. Participants of this initial course obtained insight into both US and international security measures needed for transport and for in transit stopping and storage; gained experience in preparing transport security plans (TSPs) for specific shipments, in performing readiness reviews based on those TSPs, and in identifying needed corrective actions and taking steps to correct deficiencies; and learned by hands on exercises how to apply the ARG-US RFID system to enhance transport security.

Keywords:

• Transport Security, Training

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the US DOE’s Packaging Certification Program, Office of Packaging and Transportation, Office of Environmental Management. The submitted manuscript has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (‘Argonne’). Argonne, a US DOE Office of Science laboratory, is operated under contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid up non-exclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public and perform publicly and display publicly by or on behalf of the Government.