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Uranium Hexafluoride Transport - Current Issues

(last updated 15 Nov 2011)

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General

Study sheds light on nuclear transports in Germany, in particular transports of uranium hexafluoride

A study commissioned by the Green group in the German parliament for the first time presents an overview of nuclear transports across Germany, in particular on transports of uranium hexafluoride, which are among those transports presenting the most serious hazards. Due to the continuing capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant, the number of uranium hexafluoride transports is expected to increase, in spite of Germany's nuclear phase out policy.
> Download Studie zu Transporten radioaktiver Stoffe in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland external link, Wolfgang Neumann, Intac GmbH, Sep. 2011 (924k PDF - in German)

 

Police stops uranium hexafluoride transport on rusted through flat rack at Bremen (Germany)

On Mar. 8, 2010 at 11:00 h, police stopped a tractor-trailer transporting a uranium hexafluoride cylinder on the A1 motorway in Bremen. The cylinder was mounted on a flat rack with essential components rusted through. The police ordered the flat rack to be replaced, before the transport would be allowed to continue. The cylinder had arrived in the Hamburg port from the USA and was on the way to Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. (Pressestelle Polizei Bremen Mar. 8, 2010)

 

Baden-Württemberg State MP demands shifting of uranium hexafluoride transports from road to rail (Germany)

After a parliamentary question (Drucksache 14/4880) revealed that 167 road transports of uranium hexafluoride passed through the state of Baden-Württemberg during the last two years, Green Party State Parliament MP Franz Untersteller external link demanded on Aug. 7, 2009, the shifting of the transports from road to rail.

 

Protest at French/German border against UF6 rail transports

On May 12, 2007, activists held a symbolic track blockade at the railway station of Perl at the French/German border. They protested against the regular rail transports of uranium hexafluoride from Comurhex's Pierrelatte conversion plant to Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. (Anti Atom Heidelberg May 14, 2007)

 

Investigation of UF6 cylinders in fire

"An investigation of the 48-inch diameter cylinder behavior in the regulatory fire test was performed to determine the survivability of the 48-inch diameter cylinders in the hypothetical fire. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations incorporate the thermal test requirement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s regulation, TS-R-1. The regulations stipulate that the cylinders must survive 30 minutes in an 800°C fire. Historically, the 48-inch diameter cylinders transporting natural or depleted uranium have been shipped without any protective overpack. The task is to determine whether any or all of the 48-inch cylinders with full capacity meet the IAEA thermal requirement. This study used a simulated numerical model that was constructed with Tenerife research project's experimental data relevant to the 48-inch diameter cylinders. The Tenerife UF6 cylinder test data is, by far, the best data available on the behavior of the 48-inch diameter UF6 cylinder during the IAEA fire test condition. The observation of Tenerife data and the result of this numerical model indicate that,

Investigation of 48-inch Diameter UF6 Cylinders in the TS-R-1 Regulatory Thermal Environment, by Shin H. Park, November 2004 (ADAMS Accession No.: ML051050423 external link)

 

Uranium hexafluoride train transport triggers scrap merchant's radiation detector

A train carrying uranium hexafluoride from the Pierrelatte conversion plant (France) to the Gronau enrichment plant (Germany), triggered the radiation detector of a scrap merchant during a stopover of the train in Trier (Germany). The radiation detector meant to test incoming scrap metal for radiation was triggered off by the train waiting on the nearby rail track. (Trierischer Volksfreund, June 30, 2006)

 

Urenco halts UF6 cylinder transports to the U.S. for standard compliance issue

Based on concerns regarding the ANSI compliance of its inspection and preparation procedures related to the valve assembly of UF6 cylinders, Urenco has agreed with the US Department of Transport (DOT) that shipment of any affected cylinders to the US would be deferred until positive confirmation has been received. (Urenco Mar. 15, 2005)
On Feb. 22, 2005, problems with valves at new UF6 cylinders provided by Urenco had been detected at the Honeywell Metropolis conversion plant, Illinois.

 

Protests against DU transport from France to Russia

> View here

 

Protests against DU transport from Almelo, Netherlands, to Russia

> View here

 

Protests against DU transport from Gronau, Germany, to Russia

> View here

 

USEC applies for DOT exemption to transport UF6 in non-specification DOT cylinders

Federal Register: September 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 184) p. 57133-57134 (download full text external link)
> Download USEC application: DOT document RSPA-... external link (coming soon)

 

U.S. DOE applies for DOT exemption to transport overfilled DUF6 cylinders and/or cylinders without overpack

The exemption concerns the transport of cylinders containing depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) from Oak Ridge (Tennessee) to Piketon (Ohio), where the DUF6 is to be converted to a more stable chemical form in a planned conversion plant. According to regulatory changes in 49 CFR 173.420(a)(3)-(5) coming into effect on October 1, 2004, DOE will not be able to transport the cylinders in the same way as practiced before that date.
The proposed exemption is for approx. 2831 cylinders exceeding the 62% specified volumetric capacity, and approx. 700 compliant cylinders, for which possibly no overpacks will be available in time.

Federal Register: August 27, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 166) p. 52746-52747 (download full text external link)
> Download DOE application: DOT Document RSPA-2004-18889-1 external link

> See also: U.S. DOE Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facilities project

 

U.S. DOE releases transportation plan for upcoming uranium hexafluoride shipments to planned conversion plant

> View details

 

U.S. NRC revises UF6 Transportation Safety Standards

> See also NRC's interactive rulemaking website: 2002 external link
> Background documents available through ADAMS external link

 

NRC issues Final Rule

On Nov. 20, 2003, NRC approved "SECY-03-0141 - Final Rule to Revise 10 CFR Part 71 to Be Compatible with IAEA Transportation Safety Standards [TS-R-1]"

Federal Register: January 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 16)] p. 3697-3746 external link · p. 3747-3796 external link · p. 3797-3814 external link

NRC publishes revised Proposed Rule

Federal Register: April 30, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 83), Page 21389-21484 (download full text external link):

10 CFR Part 71
Compatibility With IAEA Transportation Safety Standards (TS-R-1) and Other Transportation Safety Amendments; Proposed Rule

> See also:
Federal Register: April 30, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 83), Page 21327-21388 (download full text external link):

49 CFR Part 171, et. al.
Hazardous Materials Regulations; Compatibility with the Regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Proposed Rule


 

NRC plans to publish revised Proposed Rule

> See SECY-01-0035 (March 2, 2001)
The revised proposed rule text can be found in the attachments.
> See also: Transcripts of NRC Briefing on 10 CFR Part 71 Rulemaking (April 9, 2001)
 

NRC publishes Proposed Rule

Federal Register: July 17, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 137) p. 44359-44397 (download full notice external link):

Major Revision to 10 CFR Part 71: Compatibility With ST-1 -- The IAEA Transportation Safety Standards -- And Other Transportation Safety Issues, Issues Paper, and Notice of Public Meetings; Proposed Rule
"SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering a rulemaking that would revise the Commission's regulations on packaging and transporting radioactive material to make it compatible with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) external link transportation safety standards as well as codify other requirements. The NRC is seeking early public input on the major issues associated with such a rulemaking. To aid in that process, the NRC is requesting comments on the issues paper included in this notice." [...] "NRC also intends to conduct three public meetings in August and September of this year to discuss those issues and solicit public comments."
[...]

"Issue 4. Uranium Hexafluoride Package Requirements

Description

ST-1 introduces detailed requirements for uranium hexaflouride (UF6) packages designed for more than 0.1 kg UF6. NRC certifies Type B and fissile (i.e., enriched uranium) UF6 packages under 10 CFR Part 71. Although most of these issues are under DOT in 49 CFR Part 173, the new ST-1 provisions relevant to 10 CFR Part 71 are summarized as follows (see Appendix A for a listing of the specific ST-1 provisions):

Para 629: Packages shall be packaged and transported in accordance with an international standard, ISO 7195, ''Packaging of Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6) for Transport.'' ST-1 also allows [para 632(a)] for use of equivalent national standards (e.g., ANSI N14.1); provided that approval by all countries involved in the shipment is obtained (i.e., multilateral approval).
Para 630: ST-1 requires that packages must withstand: (a) A minimum internal pressure test to 2.8 MPa (1.4 MPa for multilateral approval), (b) the ''normal conditions of transport'' drop test, and (c) the hypothetical accident condition thermal test (except that packages containing grater than 9000 kg are exempt from this test if given multilateral approval).
Para 631: ST-1 prohibits packages from utilizing pressure relief devices.
Para 677(b): ST-1 includes an exception that allows UF6 packages to be evaluated for criticality without considering the in- leakage of water into the containment system. This provision means that a single fissile UF6 package does not have to be subcritical assuming that water leaks into the containment system. This provision only applies when there is no physical contact of the cylinder valve to any other component of the packaging after the hypothetical accident tests, the valve remains leak-tight, and when there is a high degree of quality control in the manufacture, maintenance, and repair of packaging coupled with tests to demonstrate closure of each package before each shipment.

Factors for Consideration

Comments had to be submitted by September 30, 2000.

 

Blockade of UF6 transport at Gronau, Germany

> View details (Dec. 2, 1999)

 

UF6 transport statistics for Germany

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the State Government of Bremen disclosed details on nuclear transports (including UF6 transports) through the city and port of Bremen/Bremerhaven from 2004 to 2008.
Mitteilung des Senats an die Bremische Bürgerschaft (Landtag) vom 27. Oktober 2009 "Atomtransporte durch das Land Bremen" (Große Anfrage der Fraktion DIE LINKE), Drucksache 17/973, 27.10.2009: Download external link (751k PDF)

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the State Government of Hamburg disclosed more details on nuclear transports (including UF6 transports) through the city and port of Hamburg from mid-August 2009 to September 2009.

Bürgerschaft der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, Drucksache 19/4232 vom 09.10.2009, Wie viele Atomtransporte gehen tatsächlich durch Hamburg?, Schriftliche Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dora Heyenn und Christiane Schneider (Fraktion DIE LINKE) vom 02.10.2009 und Antwort des Senats: Download external link (220k PDF)

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the State Government of Hamburg disclosed more details on nuclear transports (including UF6 transports) through the city and port of Hamburg from May 2004 to mid-August 2009. In 2009, the number of transports so far has increased to 93 (from 77 in the same period of 2008), the transports pass homes at distances as low as 30 metres, and the nuclear materials are intermediately stored in Hamburg.

Bürgerschaft der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, Drucksache 19/3835 vom 11.09.2009, Atom-Transporte durch den Hamburger Hafen und das Hamburger Stadtgebiet (II), Große Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dora Heyenn, u.a. (Fraktion DIE LINKE) vom 14.08.2009 und Antwort des Senats: Download external link (4.87MB PDF)

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the State Government of Hamburg disclosed all nuclear transports (including UF6 transports) through the Hamburg port from May 2004 to April 2009:

Bürgerschaft der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, Drucksache 19/3011 vom 02.06.09, Atom-Transporte durch den Hamburger Hafen und das Hamburger Stadtgebiet, Große Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dora Heyenn, u.a. (Fraktion DIE LINKE) vom 05.05.09 und Antwort des Senats: Download external link (6.4MB PDF)

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the State Government of Bremen disclosed all nuclear transports (including UF6 transports) through the ports of Bremen in 2001:

Bremische Bürgerschaft, Landtag, Drucksache 15/1081, Transport radioaktiver Stoffe, Kleine Anfrage der Fraktion Bündnis 90 / DIE GRÜNEN vom 07.02.2002 und Antwort des Senats vom 26.2.2002: Download external link (300k PDF)

In an answer to a parliamentary question, the Federal Government of Germany has included a table showing details and transport routes of all UF6 transports in Germany from 1996 to 1998:

Deutscher Bundestag, Drucksache 14/593, 23.03.99, Antwort der Bundesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Eva-Maria Bulling-Schröter, Angela Marquardt, Dr. Gregor Gysi und der Fraktion der PDS - Drucksache 14/435 - Transporte von Uranhexafluorid: Download external link (160k, PDF-format)

The answer to a follow-up question contains the data for 1999 and 2000, with less details, however. See also: DU exports of Urenco's Gronau enrichment facility disclosed (Germany):

Deutscher Bundestag, Drucksache 14/6692, 16.07.2001, Antwort der Bundesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Eva-Maria Bulling-Schröter und der Fraktion der PDS - Drucksache 14/6254 - Transporte und Lagerung von Uranhexafluorid in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Download external link (680k, PDF-format)

 

UF6 cylinder ruptures during burst test

A uranium hexafluoride cylinder of the 48Y type ruptured at a temperature of 650 degrees C and a pressure of 52 bar in a burst test conducted on December 9, 1997, in France. The test was done by the Nuclear Protection and Safety Institute (IPSN external link). It was the first test in a research program. At the end of the program, IPSN will be able to judge whether thermal protection caps should be added to current 48Y cylinders to bring them into compliance with the new fire-resistance recommendations of the IAEA issued in 1996. (NuclearFuel, Jan. 12, 1998)

Transport accidents

UF6 truck involved in accident near Trier, Germany

A convoi of three trucks carrying uranium hexafluoride was involved in an accident on the A 1 motorway at the Mehring exit near Trier (Rheinland Pfalz), when a car collided with one of the trucks. The truck remained undamaged. (Trierischer Volksfreund Oct. 12, 2010)

 

UF6 truck overturns and catches fire in Summers County, West Virginia

At midnight, a tractor trailer truck overturned and caught fire on I-64 near Exit 139 at Sandstone, WV, which is in Summers County. A container containing Uranium Hexafloride, was on the truck. As a precaution, evacuations occurred both in Sandstone and Meadow Creek, WV. Dispatchers say that the container was not breached. Accordingly, evacuations for both Sandstone and Meadow Creek, WV were lifted sometime before 3:00 this morning. The driver of the truck and a driver of an SUV that was also involved in the accident, were transported to Summers Appalachian Regional Hospital with unknown injuries. (State Journal August 2, 2009)
The tractor-trailer carried a Model 48Y cylinder containing approximately 28,000 lbs [12.7 metric tonnes] of non-enriched Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6). The shipment originated from the Honeywell Metropolis Works facility in Metropolis IL, and was being transported to Portsmouth, VA for shipment to URENCO in the Netherlands. The cab of the tractor-trailer was involved in a fire that was subsequently extinguished. The fire had no affect on the UF6 cylinder which seperated from the trailer during the accident. A Honeywell team determined the cylinder sustained only minor cosmetic damage, limited to one bent lifting lug. Honeywell personnel verified that there was no visual indication of leakage, and radiation surveys confirmed that there was no contamination or leakage from the cylinder.
> Download NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-II-09-004, Aug. 3, 2009 external link (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092150853)

 

UF6 truck involved in accident near Paducah (Kentucky)

A tractor trailer carrying enriched uranium hexaflouride has been involved in a two-vehicle crash at Paducah. There was no spill of UF6. The tractor trailer had just left the nation's only uranium enrichment plant located in area known as "West Paducah." It was carrying four containers holding a total of 5000 lbs of enriched uranium hexafluoride. The material was headed for the Port of Oakland in California to be shipped to an overseas customer. (AP Jan. 4 / Jan. 5, 2007)

 

UF6 truck overturns on highway in southeastern Montana

On October 16, 2003, a truck carrying 4 cylinders (UX-30 design) of 5% enriched uranium in the form of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) swerved and left Highway 212 west of Broadus, Montana. The truck rolled over and came to rest on its side. Initial observations showed that the UF6 overpacks and trailer did not sustain any damage. No evidence of release of material has been observed. The material was imported through the Port of Seattle and was en route to Wilmington, North Carolina for processing. The truck driver was injured but his injuries were not life threatening. (Billings Gazette Oct. 17, 2003; NRC Morning Report Oct. 20, 2003)

 

UF6 truck crashes on A1 in the Netherlands

On May 21, 2003, a British truck carrying UF6 crashed into a Polish truck carrying paraffin on A1 (Amsterdam-Hengelo) near Bathmen, The Netherlands. The UF6 truck was part of a convoy of 12 British trucks hauling uranium hexafluoride from Preston (England) to Urenco's enrichment plants in Almelo (The Netherlands) and Gronau (Germany). The British driver was injured. There was no leakage of UF6. (De Twentsche Courant Tubantia May 21/22, 2003)

 

Truck with uranium hexafluoride cylinders wrecked in accident (Tennessee)

A little after 2 p.m. on April 10, 2003, five uranium hexafluoride waste cylinders were aboard a truck that wrecked on Interstate 40 in Roane County, Tennessee. No substance was released from the cylinders due to the crash. The uranium hexafluoride cylinders were being transported from the USEC Inc.-operated uranium enrichment facility in Paducah, Ky., to Global Nuclear Fuel's facility in Wilmington, N.C. The five cylinders in the crash were in overpacks, which is a requirement for certain types of uranium hexafluoride containers. (Oak Ridger April 11, 2003)
The accident involved UF6 cylinders that are 30 inches [76.2 cm] diameter X 7 feet [2.13 m] long and contain up to 2.5 short tons [2268 kg] solid UF6 at up to 4.95% U-235 and are known as 30B cylinders. (Jason Bolling, USEC Inc.)
"SUBJECT: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE CYLINDERS
DESCRIPTION:
At approximately 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on April 10, 2003, a Tri-State Motor Transport tractor-trailer, carrying five 2 ½-ton cylinders of enriched uranium hexafluoride overturned in the eastbound lanes of Interstate Highway 40, approximately 20 miles west of Knoxville, Tennessee. The cylinders of uranium hexafluoride were in transit between the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, in Paducah, Kentucky and the Global Nuclear Fuels-Americas, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The accident did not result in any personal injuries, breach of any cylinders, or releases of uranium hexafluoride. Two of the transportation overpacks, used to protect each of the cylinders, were slightly damaged. [...]"
(NRC, PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-III-03-018, April 11, 2003)

 

Truck With "Empty" UF6 Cylinders Involved In Traffic Accident (Ohio)

A truck hauling two 10-ton uranium containers was damaged on June 9, 2000 when a car ran into it on Rt. 104 near Chillicothe, Ohio, about 35 miles south of Columbus. The cylinders were empty except for residual amounts ("heels") of natural uranium. The cylinders belong to Canadian uranium miner Cameco, which sells uranium to USEC's Portsmouth enrichment plant at Piketon, Ohio, which in turn enriches the uranium for use as fuel. The cylinders had been emptied at the plant and were being shipped back to Ontario. About 9 miles north of Chillicothe, the southbound car went over the center line and struck the left front tire of the northbound truck, bounced off and hit the rear tandem axle of the truck's trailer. (The Columbus Dispatch June 10, 2000)

 

UF6 rail cars derailed at Portsmouth, Ohio

"Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

On June 2, 1999, two rail cars carrying depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) cylinders onsite derailed while being moved several hundred yards from the cascade tails withdrawal stations to a cool-down area. Three rail cars were being pulled by a diesel track mobile unit. The track mobile unit and the first car in the train did not derail. Each rail car was carrying three 14-ton liquid DUF6 cylinders. Based on preliminary information, a defective rail tie is believed to have caused the derailment of the two rail cars. All the DUF6 cylinders remained in their rail car cradles. Plant staff assessed the derailed rail cars to be horizontally tilted at a 6 degree angle. A center-of-gravity analysis that had been previously done by the plant staff indicates that at a 34 degree horizontal tilt, the cylinders could roll out of the rail car cradles. The plant activated its Emergency Operations Center until it determined that the cylinders were in a safe condition. The plant is conducting a root-cause analysis of the incident. Region III is planning an inspection to review the incident." (U.S. NRC Weekly Information Report For the Week Ending June 11, 1999)

 

Truck With Empty UF6 Cylinders Involved In Traffic Accident (Chicago)

"On February 2, 1999, at approximately 4:30 p.m. (CST) a tractor-trailer truck loaded with 25 empty uranium hexafluoride cylinders struck an overpass on Interstate 90/94 in Chicago, Illinois. As a result of the impact, the tractor-trailer overturned, allowing seven of the cylinders to break loose from the trailer onto the interstate." [...]

"The cylinders on this shipment had been emptied, cleaned, and re-certified at the Siemens Power Corporation facility in Richland, Washington. The cylinders were en route to Harvey, Illinois, for connection to the Canadian National Railroad and eventual overseas shipment to Germany.

The cylinders were all intact after the accident and precautionary measurements taken by IDNS confirmed no release of radioactive material had occurred." (U.S. NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-III-99-005 external link)

 

Truck Carrying Four Uranium Hexafluoride Cylinders In Accident (Iowa)

"On January 24, 1997, a flat bed trailer transporting four 2.5 ton solid uranium hexafluoride cylinders in protective overpacks, was involved in an accident on Interstate 80 in Scott County near Walcott, Iowa. The accident occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. CST during a snow and ice storm. The truck was transporting the cylinders from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to Siemens Power Corporation in Richland, Washington. All four uranium hexafluoride cylinders and their overpacks remained intact and no injuries were reported." (U.S. NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-III-97-004 external link)

 

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