Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A modular container system for radioactive waste comprising:a plurality of enclosure envelopes each of which defines a cavity configured to receive radioactive waste; anda plurality of modular shielding inserts configured to be positioned in the cavity of each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes;wherein each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes has approximately the same size cavity;wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements;wherein the different grades of the plurality of enclosure envelopes differ structurally from each other; andwherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts include different grades of shielding inserts having different thicknesses and/or being made of different material to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste. 2. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the enclosure envelope, wherein the lids for the plurality of enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements. 3. The modular container system of claim 2 wherein the different grades of the lid vary structurally from each other. 4. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the enclosure envelope, wherein an interior side of the lid is coupled to a shielding insert and wherein the shielding insert can be decoupled from the lid from an exterior side of the lid. 5. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of stainless steel. 6. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of carbon steel. 7. The modular container system of claim 1 comprising:a plurality of modular containers each of which includes a different grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes; anda reusable transport overpack sized to enclose any of the plurality of modular containers during transport. 8. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a first enclosure envelope configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second enclosure envelope configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 9. The modular container system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a third enclosure envelope configured to be used with a third class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the second class of radioactive waste. 10. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts includes a first set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a first activity level and a second set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a second activity level that is greater than the first activity level. 11. The modular container system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts includes a first set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 12. A modular container for radioactive waste comprising:a main body;a lid coupled to the top of the main body, the lid and the main body forming an enclosed cavity configured to receive radioactive waste; anda plurality of modular shielding inserts configured to be positioned in the cavity;wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts include different grades of shielding inserts having different thicknesses and/or being made of different material to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste; andwherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts are separate from any support frameworks used to hold radioactive waste that may be present in the modular container. 13. The modular container of claim 12 comprising a shielding insert coupled to an interior side of the lid, wherein the shielding insert can be decoupled from the lid from an exterior side of the lid. 14. The modular container of claim 12 wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts includes a first set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a first activity level and a second set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a second activity level that is greater than the first activity level. 15. The modular container of claim 12 wherein the main body is made of stainless steel. 16. The modular container of claim 12 wherein the main body is made of carbon steel. 17. A modular container system comprising:a plurality of the modular containers recited in claim 12 each of which includes a different grade of the lid and the main body to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste; anda reusable transport overpack sized to enclose any of the plurality of modular containers during transport. 18. A modular container system for radioactive waste comprising:a plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes having different grades that differ structurally from each other to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements; anda plurality of modular shielding inserts configured to be positioned in the cavity of each of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes;wherein each of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes defines a cavity configured to receive radioactive waste;wherein the different grades of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes define approximately the same sized cavity; andwherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts include different grades of shielding inserts having different thicknesses and/or being made of different material to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste. 19. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein each of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the standardized enclosure envelope, wherein the lids for the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements. 20. The modular container system of claim 19 wherein the different grades of the lids vary structurally from each other. 21. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the standardized enclosure envelope, wherein an interior side of the lid is coupled to a shielding insert and wherein the shielding insert can be decoupled from the lid from an exterior side of the lid. 22. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes is made of stainless steel. 23. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes is made of carbon steel. 24. The modular container system of claim 18 comprising:a plurality of modular containers each of which includes a different grade of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes; anda reusable transport overpack sized to enclose any of the plurality of modular containers during transport. 25. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a first enclosure envelope configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second enclosure envelope configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 26. The modular container system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a third enclosure envelope configured to be used with a third class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the second class of radioactive waste. 27. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts includes a first set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a first activity level and a second set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with radioactive waste having a second activity level that is greater than the first activity level. 28. The modular container system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of modular shielding inserts includes a first set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second set of modular shielding inserts configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 29. A modular container system for radioactive waste comprising:a plurality of enclosure envelopes each of which defines a cavity configured to receive radioactive waste;wherein each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes has approximately the same size cavity;wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements;wherein the different grades of the plurality of enclosure envelopes differ structurally from each other;wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the enclosure envelope, an interior side of the lid being coupled to a shielding insert; andwherein the shielding insert can be decoupled from the lid from an exterior side of the lid. 30. The modular container system of claim 29 wherein each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the enclosure envelope, wherein the lids for the plurality of enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements. 31. The modular container system of claim 30 wherein the different grades of the lid vary structurally from each other. 32. The modular container system of claim 29 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of stainless steel. 33. The modular container system of claim 29 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of carbon steel. 34. The modular container system of claim 29 comprising:a plurality of modular containers each of which includes a different grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes;a reusable transport overpack sized to enclose any of the plurality of modular containers during transport. 35. The modular container system of claim 29 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a first enclosure envelope configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second enclosure envelope configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 36. The modular container system of claim 35 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a third enclosure envelope configured to be used with a third class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the second class of radioactive waste. 37. A modular container system for radioactive waste comprising:a plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes having different grades that differ structurally from each other to accommodate different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements;wherein at least one grade of the plurality of standardized enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the standardized enclosure envelope, an interior side of the lid being coupled to a shielding insert; andwherein the shielding insert can be decoupled from the lid from an exterior side of the lid. 38. The modular container system of claim 37 wherein each of the plurality of enclosure envelopes comprises a lid forming at least part of the enclosure envelope, wherein the lids for the plurality of enclosure envelopes have different grades to accommodate the different activity levels of radioactive waste and/or containment requirements. 39. The modular container system of claim 38 wherein the different grades of the lid vary structurally from each other. 40. The modular container system of claim 37 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of stainless steel. 41. The modular container system of claim 37 wherein at least one grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes is made of carbon steel. 42. The modular container system of claim 37 comprising:a plurality of modular containers each of which includes a different grade of the plurality of enclosure envelopes;a reusable transport overpack sized to enclose any of the plurality of modular containers during transport. 43. The modular container system of claim 37 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a first enclosure envelope configured to be used with a first class of radioactive waste and a second enclosure envelope configured to be used with a second class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the first class of radioactive waste. 44. The modular container system of claim 43 wherein the plurality of enclosure envelopes includes a third enclosure envelope configured to be used with a third class of radioactive waste that is more radioactive than the second class of radioactive waste.