Safety of Spent Fuel Transportation (NUREG/BR-0292)
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Date Published: March 2003
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the nuclear materials cycle from beginning to end. This cycle begins with the mining of uranium. It continues through the manufacture of fuel, its use in reactors, any temporary storage, and (ultimately) with permanent geologic disposal.
The NRC is dedicated to maintaining public health and safety, protecting the environment, and ensuring our national security in ways that increase public confidence in the agency. The NRC plans to achieve these goals by making its activities more effective, efficient, and realistic, and by reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on all those involved in the use, handling, transport, and disposal of nuclear materials.
The NRC believes that proper handling of nuclear materials will help to ensure the safety of the public and plant workers. Toward that end, the NRC works with other agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
This booklet relates to the NRC's role in the safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants. Specifically, the NRC oversees the design, manufacture, use, and maintenance of containers for these radioactive shipments.