Regulations for the transport of nuclear fuel material in Japan

As of the end of July 2001, nuclear power generating capacity totaled about 45,000 MW in Japan, with 51 commercial power reactors in operation. And nuclear power accounted for about 35% of total generated electricity in Japan. Fresh fuels and spent fuel are transported between nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel cycle facilities by land and sea. MOX fuel transportation from Europe to Japan was started in 1999. Vitrified high level waste (HLW) is transported from Europe periodically. Low level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants are transported to LLW burial site. Nuclear fuel materials and nuclear wastes of total amounts 2,050 tones were 180 times transported within Japan in 2000. In accordance with the reform of Japanese administrative authorities on January 6, 2001, competent authorities for transportation of radioactive materials have been changed. Competent authorities are Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). Japanese competent authorities revised domestic regulations based on laws for transport of radioactive materials by June 15 in accordance with 1996 edition of IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (ST-1), and those regulations have become effective since July 1, 2001. (author)