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Packaging University Courses


Listed below are courses developed by staff of the DOE Packaging Certification Program and includes current contact information. 

  • NP 604 – Radioactive Material Packaging QC/QA: Part 1 Welding/NDE Quality Control, & Part 2 Software Quality Assurance, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY25 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA:  This course is delivered in two parts.  Part 1 provides background and detailed guidance into the review and evaluation process of Safety Analysis Reports for Packaging (SARP) relative to welding and nondestructive examination (NDE).  The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel code is highlighted as the metric to quantify the welding and NDE safety requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 71 (10CFR71).  Detailed coverage of the ASME Code Sections II, III, V, VIII, and IX is included relative to SARP preparation and review.  Also, provided are presentations and demos regarding welding and examination technology; terms/definitions; examination of metals/weldments for common defects; and qualification of welding/NDE procedures and personnel.  Quality Assurance (QA) information relative to the requirements of 10CFR71, Subpart H, and ASME Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) is presented.  (Part 1 is 2.5-days)

    Part 2 of the course addresses Software Quality Assurance (SQA) relative to Radioactive Active Material Packaging, including applicable regulatory documents, as well as the consensus standards that serve as metrics to meet safety requirements.   SQA fundamental concepts are covered in the following sessions: terminology, requirements management, risk management, configuration management, and testing techniques.   Also covered is an overview of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASME NQA-1 sections relative to SQA, as well as practical descriptions of NQA-1 compliance details regarding commercial grade dedication of software, supplier evaluation/audits, and corrective actions.   Finally, a summary is presented of the quality assurance aspects verification and validation of finite element analysis (FEA) models and analyses.  (Part 2 is 2.5-days)

    The course will be delivered over a 5-day period, at the Livermore Valley Open Campus, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA.  Parts 1 and 2 of the course can be taken separately if desired.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Ashley Mata or Maria Postiglione at GS_AdminPackagingTeam@llnl.gov.        
         
  • NP 605 – Thermal Modeling and Testing of RAM Packages, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY25 by staff of Sandia National Laboratory:  The US Department of Energy (DOE) Packaging Certification Program (PCP) is sponsoring the 6th annual course on Thermal Modeling and Testing of RAM Packages.  This course provides a comprehensive overview on thermal modeling & analysis and testing practices used to evaluate radioactive material (RAM) packages for certification by the DOE or the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The course provides a technical discussion of the following topics:

       •   regulatory requirements,
       •   instrumentation, design and performance of thermal testing, including open pool fire, radiant heat, and furnace testing
       •   measurements, and uncertainty,
       •   heat transfer modeling,
       •   computational fluids dynamics (fire) modeling,
       •   phenomena identification and ranking technique (PIRT), and
       •   Safety Analysis Report for Packages (SARP) issues.

    The Course will be in person delivered over five days. The course is taught by staff actively engaged in package testing and analysis at Sandia National Laboratories. These instructors will also provide tours and videos of the Sandia test facilities, such as the Thermal Test Complex and Lurance Canyon Burn Site, and lead in-depth technical discussions of practices and lessons learned at these test sites and from many years of modeling experience. A final exam will be administered and reviewed at the end of the course. The course is open to US and non‐US Citizens. The number of participants is limited to 20.

    Prospective participants should be US DOE employees and contractors, and other agency and industry personnel who are responsible for designing, evaluating, and/or testing Type B and fissile material transportation packages, as well as those who prepare and/or review the associated safety analysis reports. Technical background is desired, but not required. More information on course delivery will be provided in future course notifications.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Victoria Zamora at (505) 205-4104 or vezamor@sandia.gov.        
  • NP 606 – Containment Analysis of Radioactive Material Transportation Packages, ($2100 tuition and course materials), August 25-29, 2025 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA:  This course addresses the requirements, guides, standards, calculations, quality assurance, quality control, components, and operations of Type B(U), Type B(M), and fissile material packaging containment / confinement systems.  The course includes detailed guidance on the calculation of containment vessel pressure, satisfaction of the regulatory requirements using guidance in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N14.5 standard, and operational considerations and cautions for containment vessel leakage rate testing.  Additionally, the course addresses flammable gas generation, approaches for limiting flammable gas generation and the concurrent deflagration and detonation hazards associated with flammable gas mixtures.  The course includes practical demonstrations of both: (1) nondestructive examination techniques used to evaluate the quality of containment vessels, as well as (2) leakage testing demonstrations with best practices and lessons-learned.  The course has a special focus on the hazards that can develop when Type B or fissile material transportation packages are used for interim storage of materials either prior to or after transport.  The concerns associated with using a transportation package for storage are discussed, including over-pressurization, the potential for generation of flammable gas mixtures, and methods for controlling contents to prevent these hazards.

    The primary audience for this course is individuals that design or evaluate Type B packaging containment systems or fissile material packaging confinement systems to demonstrate compliance with requirements of 10 CFR Part 71, Subpart E.

    The site is now live and registration at https://cvent.me/aEDAqV. Please contact the event coordinators, Ashley Mata and Marina Postiglione at GS_AdminPackagingTeam@llnl.gov for any questions.       

    NP 606 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2100 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 607 – Radiation and Nuclear Criticality Analysis of RAM Packages, ($TBD tuition and course materials), November 3-7, 2025 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN:  The course will provide detailed instructions on the radioactive material package criticality and shielding analyses needed by analysts/practitioners (i.e., safety analysts and/or technical reviewers) to prepare and/or review technical analyses for the SARP documentation. The course will provide an overview of applicable regulations and essential criticality and shielding fundamentals. Students will be presented with multiple SARP examples in which several important decision processes in the generation of a SARP will be demonstrated and discussed. A good portion of the class is dedicated to hands-on exercises using either the MCNP or SCALE code packages.  

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Bradley Loftin at (865) 241-4112 or loftinbm@ornl.gov.

  • NP 608 – Radioactive Material Package Operation and Leak Testing, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY26 at the Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC:  The objective of this one-week training course is to provide a basic understanding of the steps necessary to operate and prepare radioactive material packages for shipment as well as perform pre-shipment (post-load) leak testing and routine maintenance. Proper operating and leak testing of radioactive material shipping packages is integral to the safe shipment and transport of radioactive material shipping packages. The course combines the discussion of proper operations (opening, loading, closing, maintenance, and handling) along with discussion of leak testing of radioactive material shipping packages and hands-on experience with both operating and leak testing of radioactive material shipping packages. The course consists of technical presentations, discussions, applicable videos, examples, hands-on exercises, and team exercises; all with emphasis on practical approaches to the development, evaluation and implementation of programs for the operation and leak testing of radioactive material shipping packages.

    The primary audience for this course is individuals that prepare, load/unload, operate (open/close), and maintain Type B or fissile packages for shipment of radioactive materials, those that prepare procedures and documentation related to these activities, as well as supervisors and managers of these individuals. 

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact William Johnson at (803) 679-7026 or william.johnson@srnl.doe.gov.     
  • NP 615 – Facility Decommissioning and Facility/Site Closure, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may to be offered in FY26 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this one‐week course is to assist participants in gaining a complete working knowledge and understanding of the entire decommissioning process used for terminating site licenses at a variety of nuclear facilities. Steps in the process from final facility operations and shutdown through license termination and site/facility release will be presented. Details will be presented using lecture content on the various elements. This is supplemented with actual project case studies of various decommissioning projects to detail the steps in the process, key project decisions points, and other technical aspects. Lecture and case study details will address: history and fundamentals of decommissioning, the decommissioning community, project planning and management including risk management and cost estimation, environment, safety and health, waste management, characterization methods/final status surveys, and decommissioning technologies, namely decontamination options and dismantling options. Regulatory requirements, evolving technologies, environmental remediation, and international experiences will also be presented. Project experienced industry experts are utilized for teaching staff for this course. A tour of a facility on campus in preparation for decommissioning is planned. Key references and internet‐based resources will be shared for reference by attendees in their future decommissioning work.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov.  Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link

  • NP 621 – Fundamental of Cyber-Physical Security, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY25 at the University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the fields of physical and cyber security and their intersection - serving as an introduction to key concepts, terms, and approaches, that support efforts to improve the utilization of holistic security concepts in the protection of nuclear, radiological, and other critical assets. The course will include hands on exercises and is taught by subject matter experts from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Ed Smith at edward.smith@pnnl.gov or Brion Burghard at Brion.Burghard@pnnl.gov.

  • NP 625 – Transportation Physical Security, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY25 at the Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM:  This course provides Nuclear Packaging Design/Test Engineers and Transport Security Personnel with an overview of domestic U.S. and international design principles for Physical Protection Systems associated to transport of Nuclear and other Radioactive Material.  The course equips students to learn systems engineering approaches for designing and evaluating detection, delay and response components of transportation physical security.

    Student Learning Outcomes
    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
       •  Describe the contents of key International Atomic Energy Association and Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents and regulations as they specifically apply to
           the design requirements of Physical Security Systems for Transport.
       •  Review a Threat Assessment and describe its use in creating a Design Basis Threat to inform physical security system design and procedures.
       •  Describe the Design Evaluation Process Outline for physical security as it relates to transportation security, specifically detection, delay, and response.
       •  Construct a transportation security plan including, route selection, timing, evasion, and stops.
       •  Conduct a table top exercise modeling a transport event from start to finish.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Luke Gilbert at (505) 249-6225 or lgilber@sandia.gov
  • NP 627 – Explosives Analysis of Nuclear Packaging, ($2500 tuition and course materials), June 23-27, 2025 at Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM: This course provides Nuclear Packaging Design/Test Engineers and Transport Security Personnel with an introduction to explosive engineering fundamentals. The course equips packaging professionals to integrate and consider design features for enhanced robustness in explosive environment and aide transport professionals in optimizing security measures.

    Student Learning Outcomes
    Upon completion of this course, students will have a fundamental understanding of Coopers Explosives Engineering text through exploring the topics of:
       •  Basic Chemistry of Explosive Materials
       •  Thermodynamics of Decomposition
       •  Properties of Explosives Materials
       •  Shock Wave Theory
       •  Detonation Theory
       •  Initiation and Initiators
       •  Blast Effects

    The student who completes this course is not expected to become an expert in any topic, however, he or she should have a basic, working knowledge of the science and engineering of explosive materials.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Gary Rivera at (505) 844-5672 or wgriver@sandia.gov.

    NP 627 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 632 – Fundamentals of Nondestructive Assay, ($2,500 tuition and course materials), June 2-6, 2025 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN:  This course provides a comprehensive overview of the various aspects related to the nondestructive measurement and analysis of radioactive and nuclear materials for inspection and verification purposes emphasizing gamma and neutron measurement techniques.  State/Regional Authorities as well as the IAEA account for both quantity and enrichment of radioactive and nuclear materials by using methods that do not require chemical (destructive) analysis of the materials.  This course provides an overview of those methods along with hands-on demonstrations using modern instrumentation and techniques.  Topics include radiation interactions, instrument calibration, basic gamma spectroscopy, fundamental measurement corrections, and neutron counting.  Applications will focus on qualitative and quantitative measurement of uranium.

    Student Learning Outcomes
    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
       1.  Apply engineering research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
       2.  Describe the role of NDA in Nuclear Material Accountability and Control programs.
       3.  Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative measurement systems and applications.
       4.  Describe the origin of radiation and relevant properties of special nuclear materials.
       5.  Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts and considerations for setting up NDA measurements.
       6.  Demonstrate an understanding of the role of statistical uncertainty in nuclear material measurements.
       7.  Demonstrate an understanding of the role of Measurement Control programs.
       8.  Operate common gamma and neutron measurement NDA systems.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Robert Bean at (865) 341-0979 or beanrs@ornl.gov.

    NP 632 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 640– Nuclear Packaging Internships:  Supervised independent use of engineering skills for professional project planning, performance, and communications at a DOE National Laboratory or Site.

    NP 640 is offered for 3 unit(s) of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. 
  • NP 652 – Response to Radioactive Material Transport Emergencies, ($2,500 tuition and course materials), August 18-22, 2025 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this one-week course it to teach participants the principles, technical basis, and requirements for emergencies during the transport of nuclear and other radioactive material.  The course emphasizes the interaction between engineering controls and radiation protection in emergency preparedness and response in the context of both domestic and international requirements.  It expands on training such as the Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program (TEPP) by emphasizing the roles of technical experts working with all-hazards emergency response organizations to conduct package assessments and technical response actions.  The course includes lectures, case studies of past emergencies, selected equipment demonstrations, scenario-based discussions and exercises.  By the end of course, participants will be able to: Identify the aspects of consignments and packages that determine emergency planning requirements and the application of a graded approach; Describe the roles and responsibilities of emergency response organizations and how they integrate during emergency operations; Plan radiological surveys, recommend protective actions, and assess packaging safety functions for damaged packages on land and at sea; and describe likely future developments in packaging and transport of nuclear and radioactive materials and the impact on emergency planning requirements.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov. Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link          

    NP 652 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 655 – Packaging Structural Analysis and Testing of Radioactive Material Packages, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY26 at Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM:  The DOE Packaging Certification Program (PCP) is sponsoring a full pilot course on Structural Analysis and Testing of Radioactive Material (RAM) Packages. This course provides a comprehensive overview on structural modeling & analysis and testing practices used to evaluate Type B and fissile RAM packages for certification by DOE or NRC. The course provides a technical discussion of the following topics:

       •  Types of Packages and Package Safety
       •  ASME Codes Design Requirements and Applicable Design Guidance
       •  Certification Plan and Quality Assurance
       •  FEA Modeling
       •  Certification Testing

    The Course will be delivered over five days. Course activities include the certification analysis of RAM packages and exposure to instrumentation installation with field applications. The course is taught by staff actively engaged in package analysis and testing at Sandia National Laboratories. These instructors will lead in-depth technical discussions of practices and lessons learned at our test sites and from many years of modeling experience. A final exam will be administered and reviewed at the end of the course. The course is open to US and non‐US Citizens. The number of participants is limited to 20.

    Prospective participants should be DOE employees and contractors, and other agency and industry personnel who are responsible for designing, evaluating, or testing Type B and fissile material transportation packages, as well as for preparing or reviewing the associated safety analysis reports. Technical background is desired, but not required.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Gregg Flores at (505) 917-0800 or gjflore@sandia.gov
  • NP 658 – Use of Certified Type B and Fissile Packages ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY25, taught by staff of the Los Alamos National Laboratory at the Savannah River Site, Aiken SC: This course focuses on the compliant use of Type B and fissile certified packages. The course includes an overview of US Code of Federal Regulations and DOE Orders that govern the packaging and transportation (P&T) of Class 7 radioactive materials (RAM), and regulations and DOE Orders that govern operations in a nuclear facility. Package certificates of compliance (CoC) for Type B and fissile packages and the Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP) will also be discussed along with the quality assurance requirements for P&T activities. Attendees will be presented with a systematic approach for characterizing radioactive materials and selecting the appropriate packaging. They will also learn how to develop packaging procedures to comply with the applicable regulations for nuclear facilities and with the package CoC and SARP. Practical exercises with various Type BF and Type AF trainer units will be provided as part of the procedure development instructions. The target audience for this course includes shippers and receivers of Type B and fissile packages, personnel involved in radioactive material content characterization for compliance with the CoC, personnel that develop package operations procedures, managers of these employees, and regulators and certificate holders for these packages.  

    This course offering of NP 658 is only open to US citizens. Attendees should have a basic understanding of the US radioactive material regulations (see DOT guide at https://rampac.energy.gov/docs/default-source/dotinfo/dot_ramreg1.pdf).

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Doug Thacker at (505) 667-9536 or thacker@lanl.gov.     
  • NP 700 – ASME Pressure Vessel Code for Nuclear Transport and Storage, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY26 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this 4.5-day course is to help participants gain an understanding of the regulatory basis, current design practice, and engineering rationale for applying the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code to the packaging and transportation of radioactive material and the storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. Course highlights include lectures on the following: overview of federal regulations that govern (1) packaging and transportation of radioactive material and (2) dry cask storage systems for spent nuclear fuel; DOE Orders and NRC guidance documents, including standard review plans, regulatory guides, and NUREG reports; DOE/NRC lessons learned from certifying transportation packages and licensing dry cask storage systems; discussion of the ASME Code, with emphasis on Section III, Division 3, Containments for Transportation and Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Radioactive Material and Waste, and discussion of Section III, Division 1; Section VIII, Division 1; and Sections II, IX, and XI; code and non-Code materials, containment loadings, design considerations with emphasis on design-by-analysis rules, and design of internal support structures; fabrication, welding, examination, quality assurance, test requirements, design qualification by physical testing, and containment/confinement requirements for leakage rates; structural, thermal, containment/confinement; shielding and criticality safety analysis considerations; aging management programs and time-limited aging analyses; and inspection and monitoring technologies.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov.  Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link

    To read more about this course in a recent PATRAM 2022 paper, click here (link to the paper).     
  • NP 701 – QA for Radioactive Material Packaging, ($2,500 tuition and course materials), April 7-11, 2025 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this one-week course is to help participants gain a working knowledge of the quality assurance (QA) principles and methods for satisfying those regulatory safety requirements for packagings and casks used in the transportation and storage of radioactive material, including spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste.  Course highlights include the following: overview of federal regulations that govern (1) packaging and transportation of radioactive material and (2) dry cask storage systems for spent nuclear fuel; DOE Orders and NRC guidance documents, including Regulatory Guides, NUREG reports, and Standard Review Plans; ASME NQA-1 requirements on organization, quality assurance program, design control, inspection, test control, corrective action, and others; test requirements: ASME Code & 10 CFR 71/72 and Best Practices in Type B Packaging Testing; ANSI N14.5 Leakage Rate Testing; commercial-grade dedication and software QA; graded approach to establish QA requirements for components important to safety (small-group exercise); lessons-learned from QA audits and inspections at facilities using packagings and casks; DOE Quality Assurance Approval Program (QAAP) for transportation packagings; and DOE PCP packaging certification process and lessons learned.

    The site is now live and registration at https://cvent.me/BqxRMa. Please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov for any questions. Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link

    To read more about this course in a recent PATRAM 2022 paper, click here (link to the paper).

    NP 701 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 702 – Methods for Reviewing Safety Analysis Reports for Packages and Performing Confirmatory Analysis, ($2200 tuition and course materials), July 15-24, 2025 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA:  This course addresses the nine chapters of a Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP):

       1.  General Information
       2.  Structural
       3.  Thermal
       4.  Containment
       5.  Shielding
       6.  Criticality
       7.  Package Operations
       8.  Acceptance Tests and Maintenance Program
       9.  Quality Assurance

    The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has presented this Course since 1986.  This course has a focus on Type ”B” Radioactive Material Transportation Packages as defined in Title 10 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Part 71 (10 CFR 71).

    Prospective students should have a minimum of a B.S. in nuclear, chemical, or mechanical engineering, or equivalent education or experience.  

    The site is now live and registration at https://cvent.me/neqyWR. Please contact the event coordinators, Ashley Mata and Marina Postiglione at GS_AdminPackagingTeam@llnl.gov for any questions.   

    NP 702 is offered for 2 units of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2200 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 703 – Management of SARP Preparation, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered in FY26 at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC:  This course provides a basic understanding of the steps necessary to manage the development, submission, and utilization of a Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP).  This course covers: the regulatory requirements, guidance, and applicable codes and standards used during the development of the SARP; templates for the development of the SARP writing team and for estimating the scope, schedule, and cost associated with the development of the SARP; various ways to evaluate radioactive material packages as well as format and write the SARP; the internal and external reviews associated with a SARP, as well as interaction with the regulatory body that reviews the SARP for completeness; and the processes associated with renewals, exceptions, special permits, and decertifications.  Prospective participants include DOE and its contractors and other agency and industry personnel who are responsible for SARP management; SARP leads, writers, and developers; engineers and package designers; and others who support Type B and fissile radioactive material packaging and transportation operations.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact William Johnson at (803) 679-7026 or william.johnson@srnl.doe.gov.

  • NP 710 – Nuclear Security During US Domestic Transport, ($2,500 tuition and course materials), August 11-15, 2025 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this 4.5-day course is to help participants gain a detailed working knowledge and understanding of U.S.-domestic requirements, recommendations and guidelines for security during the transport of nuclear and other radioactive materials by all modes of transport.  In addition, the course will also provide an overview of related international requirements for security during transport, and will address procedures and methodologies that can be used to establish and enhance security during transport.  More specifically, it will address the domestic requirements for security during transport that arise from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) while also providing insights into regulations and recommendations emanating from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other relevant international and regional modal transport organizations.  The course will provide guidance on how to develop transport security systems by following a graded approach and applying modern technologies; how to establish safe havens and apply rules of engagement for escort, guard force and emergency response personnel; how to communicate amongst involved stake holders and public during emergencies; and how to develop transport security plans (TSPs) that satisfy regulatory security requirements.  The course will incorporate hands-on exercises involving TSPs, readiness reviews, and corrective actions; and a field exercise using the ARG-US remote monitoring system to track a mock shipment with “staged incidents.”  The course will also make extensive use of table top exercises (TTXs) to facilitate learning through role playing, discussions and group reports.  Two facility tours are included for the Nuclear Energy Discovery Exhibit and the ARG-US Command and Control Center.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov. Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link

    NP 710 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 
  • NP 711 – Nuclear Security During International Transport, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may  be offered in FY25 at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL:  The objective of this 4.5-day course is to help participants gain a detailed working knowledge and understanding of international requirements, recommendations and guidelines for security during the transport of nuclear and other radioactive materials by all modes of transport.  In addition, the course will also provide an overview of related domestic requirements for the U.S. and other countries, and will address procedures and methodologies that can be used to establish and enhance security during transport.  More specifically, the course will outline the risks posed by the transport of radioactive materials and the resulting need for security during transport.  It will address the international recommendations for security during transport that arise from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and international regulatory requirements and recommendations as set forth by relevant international and regional modal transport organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  The course will provide guidance on how to develop transport security systems by following a graded approach and applying modern technologies; how to establish safe havens and apply rules of engagement for escort, guard force and emergency response personnel; how to communicate amongst involved stake holders and public during emergencies; and how to develop transport security plans (TSPs) that satisfy regulatory security requirements.  The course will incorporate hands-on exercises involving TSPs, readiness reviews, and corrective actions; and a field exercise using the ARG-US remote monitoring system to track a mock shipment with “staged incidents.”  The course will also make extensive use of table top exercises (TTXs) to facilitate learning by role playing, discussions and group highlights.  Two facility tours are included for the Nuclear Energy Discovery Exhibit and the ARG-US Command and Control Center. 

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at (630) 252-7182 or jacksonm@anl.gov.  Learn more about the people of Argonne at https://www.anl.gov/we-are-argonne.External Link

    To read more about this course in a recent PATRAM 2022 paper, click here (link to the paper).  
  • NP 720 – Fundamentals of Nuclear Security, ($TBD tuition and course materials), may be offered later in the FY25 at Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM:  This course provides a comprehensive overview of the various aspects related to nuclear security—serving as an introduction to key concepts, terms and approaches that support both domestic and international efforts to improve nuclear security.

    Student Learning Outcomes
    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
       1.  describe the contents of key IAEA Nuclear Security Series (NSS) documents (NSS-13, NSS-25G, NSS-7).
       2.   explain the role of nuclear material accounting and control as an element of nuclear security and how it can be integrated with physical protection systems.
       3.  describe the recommendations for physical protection, accounting, and control against theft and sabotage.
       4.  discuss how attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs impact nuclear security effectiveness.
       5.  demonstrate an understanding that there is a credible threat to nuclear material, and to associated facilities, activities and information.
       6.  apply engineering research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.

    If you are interested in attending this course or have any questions, please contact Luke Gilbert at (505) 249-6225 (M) or lgilber@sandia.gov.
  • NP 730 – Fundamentals of Nuclear Safeguards, ($2,500 tuition and course materials), March 24-28, 2025 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN:  This course provides a comprehensive overview of the various aspects related to the control and accounting of nuclear materials at a state level —serving as an introduction to key concepts, terms and approaches that support both domestic and international efforts to improve nuclear safeguards

    Student Learning Outcomes
    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
       1.  apply engineering research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
       2.  identify the purpose and mission of a state-level Nuclear Material Control and Accountability program.
       3.  describe the elements of Material Control and Accountability programs and their integration with other security elements to mitigate against theft/sabotage of nuclear
           & radiological materials.
       4.  identify State, Competent Authority and license holder responsibilities for implementing a Nuclear Materials Control and Accountability program.
       5.  describe basic nuclear material accounting principles and the concept of localization of loss.
       6.  demonstrate understanding of the role of statistical uncertainty in nuclear material accounting.
       7.  demonstrate understanding of the role of Nuclear Material Measurement and Measurement Control.
       8.  articulate how Nuclear Material Control integrates into an overall nuclear security program.
       9.  recommend requirements for the accounting and control of nuclear materials in use, storage, and during transport against theft, sabotage and cyber threats.

    The site is now live and registration at https://utconferences.eventsair.com/fundamentals-of-nuclear-safeguards/register/Site/Register. Please contact Robert Bean at (865) 341-0979 or beanrs@ornl.gov for any questions.          

    NP 730 is offered for 1 unit of graduate credit by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).  Students who wish to earn UNR credit must enroll using UNR’s normal websites and pay UNR fees before the first day of class.  See https://www.unr.edu/me/research/nuclear-packaging/nuclear-packaging-graduate-programExternal Link for additional information, including the enrollment manual. Note- These UNR Fees are in addition to the $2500 course fee for tuition and materials. 



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