Guidance for Use of DOE Certified Type B or Fissile Packaging for TRU Waste Shipments

This guidance applies only to DOE elements or persons working under contract to DOE elements

DOE elements means programs, operations offices, field/site offices, and other organizational units of the Department of Energy, excluding those of the National Nuclear Security Administration.  The list of DOE elements is here.  (link to DOE Directives website).

This guidance only applies to DOE elements and persons under contract to DOE elements for use of DOE certified Type B or fissile radioactive materials packagings to ship transuranic (TRU) waste.  

References for Requirements
DOE Manual 460.2-1A, Radioactive Material Transportation Practices Manual, was canceled on June 10, 2022, by issuance of DOE Order 460.2B, Departmental Materials Transportation Management.

The requirements for TRU waste shipments are listed in Sections 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(3) of Order 460.2B, as follows.

Section 4(a)(2) states "DOE has reached agreement with the States and Tribes from which or through which it ships transuranic (TRU) waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and other destinations. These requirements for TRU waste shipments are implemented through the TRU Waste Transportation Plan (DOE/CBFO-98-3103 Rev 5 or its successor document). Each Departmental element must ensure that any TRU waste shipments for which it is responsible are conducted in accordance with the standards and protocols delineated in the TRU Waste Transportation Plan, not including TRU waste shipments that are within the same DOE site or other TRU waste shipments as agreed to between DOE and affected States or Tribes."

Section 4(a)(3) states "Except for shipments within the same DOE site, if shipments of TRU waste are contemplated using protocols other than those described in the TRU Waste Transportation Plan, discussions will be held with affected States or Tribes. Any TRU waste shipment not executed in accordance with the TRU Waste Transportation Plan is subject to the requirements of this Order, including requirements specified for spent nuclear fuel (SNF), high level waste (HLW), and tritium-bearing reactor components."

Applicability to Applicants and Registered Users for use of DOE Certified Type B or Fissile Radioactive Materials (RAM) Packagings for Shipments of TRU Waste

Only packagings certified by NRC are authorized for TRU waste shipments to WIPP and other destinations based on Order 460.2B, as implemented in the TRU Waste Transportation Plan, not including TRU waste shipments that are within the same DOE site (i.e., onsite - as defined in DOE Order 460.1D) or other TRU waste shipments as agreed to between DOE and affected States or Tribes.

Use of Type B or fissile RAM packagings certified by DOE for shipments of TRU waste, except for shipments within the same DOE site (i.e., onsite - as defined in DOE Order 460.1D), requires an alternative agreement between DOE and affected States or Tribes. 

It is essential that application submittals to the DOE Packaging Certification Program (DOE PCP) to authorize use of Type B or fissile RAM packaging for shipments of TRU waste include a copy of the alternative agreement between DOE and affected States or Tribes for the DOE PCP certification review to proceed.  

Type B or fissile RAM packages certified by the DOE Certifying Official, with TRU waste as authorized contents, will include as a condition of use in the Certificate of Compliance the statement: "Use of this packaging for DOE shipments of TRU waste must be conducted in accordance with standards and protocols delineated in the TRU Waste Transportation Plan (reference to the alternative agreement between DOE and affected States or Tribes)."

Questions or comments? Contact the DOE Packaging Certification Program Manager, Dr. Shuler, (301) 903-5513, james.shuler@em.doe.gov

Added 7/10/2020, updated 7/24/2023