Alternative risk-based criteria for transportation of radioactive material on the United States Department of Energy Hanford Site

The Westinghouse Hanford position on equivalent safety for onsite transportation is based on a regulation-based risk acceptance approach. The acceptance criteria based on conservative regulatory individual dose limits have been verified to be less than the iso-risk lines corresponding to the operational risk at normal conditions of transport. An uncertainty study is being initiated to estimate the magnitude of the uncertainty, especially for low-probability events at frequencies less than 10-6/yr. This paper documents a Westinghouse Hanford approach to deal with equivalent safety for onsite transportation. Also included are the relevant technical bases, which will be reviewed and revised, if necessary, as soon as the radioactive health effect study is updated by the authoritative national or international agencies. A procedural methodology for applications to onsite transportation activities is also discussed