Emergency planning and the transportation of irradiated nuclear fuel in Canada

An accident during the movement of irradiated fuel differs from any other transportation accident only to the extent that a radiation hazard may exist. It follows that an emergency response plan for this type of accident will be similar to any other transportation emergency response plan except that provision must be made for early radiological assessment at the scene of an accident, for the management of radiation injuries and for the clean-up of radioactive contamination if this is found to be present. During the past twenty years, irradiated nuclear fuel has been transported on a small scale in Canada. The numbers of such shipments will increase during the next twenty-five years and thought has been given to the augmented emergency response planning which will be necessary. World experience indicates that the release of radioactivity is an unlikely result of an accident involving the shipment of irradiated fuel. It is, however, necessary to consider the actions to be taken if such an event should occur. These actions relate to the management of casualties, the assessment of radiation and contamination, the restoration of normal traffic and final decontamination. Planning is discussed in the contexts of the Canadian nuclear power program and the Canadian transportation system. It is concluded that an accident of the type described could produce logistic problems but that these are amenable to solution by suitable advance planning. (author)