FAQ
    
    AGREEMENT STATES
    
    Facility Locator
    
    What's New
    
    Site Help
    
    Index A-Z
    
    Contact Us
    
    Email Updates
      
      
      
      
       
      Report a Safety Concern
                  Search
        Nuclear Reactors
  
  Power Reactors
Research & Test ReactorsOperating Reactors
New ReactorsOperator Licensing
Research ActivitiesNuclear Reactor Quick LinksNuclear Materials
  
  Types of Nuclear Materials
Fuel Cycle Facilities
Medical, Industrial, & Academic UsesUranium Recovery
Materials TransportationMaterials Environmental Reviews
National Materials ProgramNuclear Materials Quick LinksRadioactive Waste
  
  Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
Low-Level Waste
Waste Incidental to Reprocessing
High-Level WasteUranium Mill Tailings
Low-Level Waste Disposal
High-Level Waste DisposalStorage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Research ActivitiesRadioactive Waste Quick LinksNuclear Security
  
  Domestic Safeguards
Information Security
Radioactive Material SecurityRequired Reporting for Clearance Holders
Insider Threat Program for Licensees
CybersecurityCriminal History & Firearms Checks
Contact UsPublic Meetings & Involvement
  
  The NRC Approach to Open Government
About Meetings Open to the Public
Conferences & SymposiaDocuments for Comment
NRC Rules and Petitions
Facilitating Stakeholder InvolvementNRC Information Quality Guidelines
Subscribe to E-mail UpdatesCommission Schedule
Public Meeting ScheduleAdjudications (Hearings)
Adjudicatory SubmissionsNRC Library
  
  Basic References
Document Collections
ADAMS Public Documents
Public Document Room
LSN LibraryFOIA & Privacy Act
Photos & Videos
Records Management
Training CoursesFAQ Index
Get Copies of Documents
Withholding of Sensitive Information
Controlled Unclassified Information Program (CUI)Electronic Hearing DocketAbout NRC
  
  The Commission
Organization & Functions
Governing Legislation
Plans, Budget, & Performance
Locations
History
Values
Direction-Setting & Policymaking
Research Activities
Radiation ProtectionFire Protection
Safety Culture
How We Regulate
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Public Affairs
Congressional Affairs
Enforcement
International Programs
State & Tribal ProgramsAlternative Dispute Resolution Programs
Privacy Program
Civil Rights Program
Contact Us
Career Opportunities
Contracting Opportunities
Small Businesses
Grant Opportunities
Generic SchedulesOther Links
  
  FAQ
Glossary
Facility Locator
What's NewSite Help
Index A-Z
Contact Us
Email UpdatesNRC Facebook
NRC Twitter Feed
NRC Linkedin
NRC Youtube Channel
NRC Flickr Gallery
NRC Blog Archived
NRC Email Subscriptions - GovDelivery Home
          NRC Library  Document Collections  NUREG-Series Publications  Brochures Prepared by NRC StaffTransporting Spent Fuel: Protection Provided Against Severe Highway and Railroad Accidents (NUREG/BR-0111)

On this page: Publication Information IntroductionDownload complete document NUREG/BR-0111 (PDF - 2.81 MB)Publication Information **Date Published:**March 1987 **Author:** William R. Lahs Division of Regulatory Applications  Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Introduction This report summarizes the results of a study conducted for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to determine the level of safety provided during shipments of spent fuel from U.S commercial nuclear power plants. The study focuses on the protection provided for shipments that may be involved in truck or railroad accidents. During shipment, the cask and the form and structure of the spent fuel being shipped provide the primary physical means for containing radioactivity and for limiting radiation levels outside the cask. These functions must be maintained at acceptable levels even under the wide range of forces the cask and fuel could be subjected to during an accident. Spent fuel shipments are regulated by both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NRC. The NRC evaluates and certifies the design of the shipping casks used to transport spent fuel, while DOT regulates vehicles and drivers. Current NRC regulations require that shipping casks meet certain performance standards. The performance standards include normal operating conditions and hypothetical accident conditions a cask must be capable of withstanding without exceeding specified acceptance criteria that (1) limit releases of radioactive material and radiation levels outside the cask and (2) assure that the spent fuel will remain subcritical (that is will not undergo a self-sustaining nuclear reaction). The study, conducted by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL),* began with an assessment of the possible mechanical and/or thermal forces generated by actual truck and railroad transportation accidents. The magnitudes of forces from actual accidents were compared with forces attributed to the "regulatory-defined" hypothetical accident conditions. The frequency of the accidents that can produce defined levels of thermal or mechanical forces was also developed. With this information, the study results show that for certain broad classes of accidents, spent fuel casks provide essentially complete protection against radiological hazards. For extremely severe accidents, those that could conceivably impose forces on the cask greater than those implied by the hypothetical accident conditions, the likelihood and magnitude of any radiological hazard were conservatively calculated. The study also contains an evaluation of the radiological risk from transportation accidents. Risk represents the summation of the products of the magnitude and likelihood of all accident outcomes. The purpose for making the risk calculations was to compare the resulting values with those previously used by NRC in judging the adequacy of its regulations. The purpose of this summary, prepared by the NRC staff, is to present the results of the LLNL study to a broad range of readers who may possess varying degrees of knowledge on the technical subjects covered in the LLNL technical report. As a result, this summary focuses on the overall approach and major results of the study. Although this summary describes many important assumptions and insights, a complete understanding of the scope and meaning of the LLNL work would require, as a minimum, frequent reference to the main LLNL report and its supporting appendices. For the reader interested solely in the results of the LLNL study, the figure on the next page, the foldout on page 29, and the discussion under "Summary of Objective and Results" should be consulted. Readers wishing to understand the logic of the approach and the basis for major assumptions should refer to the main body of this summary report, which presents a step-bystep explanation of the separate tasks required to meet the study's objectives. * "Shipping Container Response to Severe Highway and Railway Accidents," NUREG/CR-4829, February 1987. This report underwent peer review by the Denver Research Institute. The LLNL report and documentation resulting from peer review are available for inspection and copying at the NRC Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Formal NRC reports are available for purchase through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, D.C. 20013-7082. 
      
      Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, March 24, 2021  Home
NEWS RELEASES

EVENT REPORTS

ADAMS

OPEN GOV

DIGITAL GOVERNMENT

THE STUDENT CORNER

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

FOR DEVELOPERS
        About Us
STRATEGIC PLAN

BUDGET & PERFORMANCE

AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT

LICENSE FEES

HISTORY OF THE NRC

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

NRC ETHICS

AGENCY STATUS

CONTACT US
        Popular Documents
INFO DIGEST

FACT SHEETS & BROCHURES

FORMS

ELECTRONIC SUBMITTALS APPLICATION

ADJUDICATORY SUBMISSIONS

NRC REPORTS - NUREG

NRC REGULATIONS - 10-CFR

INSPECTION REPORTS

PLAIN WRITING

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

RULEMAKING

GLOSSARY
        Stay Connected
    
    
    
    
    United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    
    
    
    
    Regulations.gov

USA.gov

FOIA

Whistleblower Protection

No Fear EEO

Inspector General

Site Map

Accessibility

Privacy Policy

Site Disclaimer

For Employees