Transport of NORM Contaminated Materials

Transport Regulations IAEA Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material 1996 (As amended 2003) Most countries have their own regulations but these, for historical reasons, do not always, address NORM.

Purpose of the Regulations Protect persons, property and the environment during transportation by Containment of radioactivity Control of external radiation level

Packaging Must be suitable to contain the radioactive material and prevent the spread of radioactivity during any incident which might occur during the transportation. Type will depend on Activity of material Radionuclides present Form of material – liquid, gas, solid

Types of Package Excepted package Industrial package (3 types) Type A container Type B container (U or M) Type C container

Low Specific Activity material Material which by its nature has limited specific activity or radioactive material for which limits of estimated average specific activity apply. LSA-I, LSA-II, LSA-III Applies to sludges, waxes and contaminated sand from spills

Surface Contaminated Objects Solid object which is not itself radioactive but which has radioactive material distributed on its surfaces 2 groups SCO-1 and SCO-2 depending on levels of fixed and unfixed contamination

Marking and Labelling Marking UN number Consignor and consignee Other requirements of package type Labelling Transport index Hazard labels (include secondary hazards)

Documentation Dangerous Goods Declaration Shipping certificate This includes information on the consignor and consignee, a description of the radioactive material, any additional safety information required.

UN numbers 2910 Excepted package – limited quantity of material 2911 Excepted package – instruments or articles 2912 Radioactive Material Low Specific Activity LSA I (LSA II 3321, LSA III 3322) 2913 Surface contaminated objects SCO- 1 and SCO-2

Transport Index Maximum Doserate one metre from the package (µSv/h) divided by 10

Labelling Requirements White Label I Dose rate on surface must not exceed 5µSv/h Yellow II Dose rate on surface must not exceed 500 µSv/h Transport index must not exceed 1 Yellow III Dose rate on surface must not exceed 2000 µSv/h Transport index must not exceed 10

Transport of NORM/LSA Contaminated Items These can be moved as: 1.Excepted Packages 2.SCO 1,2 Packages (Surface Contaminated Objects) 3.LSA II

SCO I A solid object on which- The non-fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300cm 2 does not exceed 4Bq/cm 2 for beta gamma emitters and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 0.4 Bq/cm 2 for all other alphas. The fixed contamination on the accessible surface, averaged over 300 cm 2 does not exceed 4x10 4 Bq/cm 2 for beta gamma emitters or……………………

LSA II Material in which the activity is distributed throughout and the estimated average specific activity does not exceed A 2 /g for solids Ra x 10 5 Bq/g Ra x 10 6 Bq/g

Excepted Packages Doserate on surface to be less than 5 µSv/h Must not contain more than 3 MBq of Ra-226 or 4.5 MBq Ra-228 UN Number 2910 Transport documentation describes package as: Radioactive Material Excepted Package Limited Quantity of Material and gives Name and Address of Consignor and Consignee. Double Package No labels on outside of package except the UN number Dangerous Goods Certificate completed.

SCO 1 Packages Labelled with White I or Yellow II labels Proper transport documentation UN Number 2913 Vehicle with placards on either side and rear Adequately packaged or contained to ensure no loss of radionuclide during transit Description of content written as SCOI Radionuclide content is not required but estimate of activity is required

Questions How is a full picture of movements maintained? Who is responsible for filling in the paperwork and collecting it?