1.0 PURPOSE
The primary purpose of this SCOP is to address stakeholders’ concerns in regard to rail shipments of foreign research reactor fuel from the Concord Naval Weapons Station to INEEL and from Charleston Naval Weapons Station to SRS relative to the rail mode of transportation. This means addressing various issues associated with the railroad operating environment, such as human factors, mechanical equipment condition, infrastructure integrity and highway-rail grade crossing safety, for example. This plan will emphasize and coordinate actions between the FRA, other Federal, State, local and tribal organizations and rail carriers, in order to promote the safe and secure rail transport of these shipments on the Nation’s railroads. A secondary purpose of this SCOP is to establish a comprehensive task plan that can be used as a planning document for coordination of activities associated with rail shipments of SNF and HLRW other than foreign research reactor fuel and national security shipments transported in accordance with 49 CFR 173.7(b). The tasks addressed in this SCOP incorporate existing and previously unstated actions that will be performed in order to ensure the safe and secure movement of the FRRF by rail in the United States. The existing actions that the FRA has implemented on known past shipments of SNF and HLRW in accordance with the agency’s previous inspection policy 3 are, of course, included. However, tasks in subject areas that were not specifically stated in the agency’s previous policy have been added. While not specifically applied to a specific SNF or HLRW movement or shipping program, many of these “additional” tasks were still addressed under existing regulations, policies and railroad safety oversight operations. Application of the tasks addressing rail infrastructure related inspections will focus on the primary routes selected for the movements. The FRA realizes that it is necessary to have an alternate route selected for use, in the event of unforeseen or unavoidable situations developing on the primary route. However, it is logistically difficult to apply the same degree of concentrated effort on the alternate route within the time frames that are usually afforded and still effectively ensure that the tasks are performed in a timely manner. The secondary routes will be inspected during the course of routine inspection and safety compliance functions conducted by FRA field inspection personnel. A majority of the tasks addressed in the SCOP are not “route dependent” in nature and application of those non- route dependent tasks will accomplish the same degree of safety assurance regardless of the route used. The FRA will designate a National Project Coordinator (NPC) to track progress and to confirm completion of the tasks, as appropriate, for each shipment. Formal reporting will not be required; however, program status can be provided upon request. Confirmation that all activities, as applicable, have been completed will be provided to the appropriate Federal and State agencies prior to commencement of a particular shipment. 2.0 SAFETY COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
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