2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS This chapter provides guidance on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements for physical protection of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) shipments made by road, rail or water. Requirements discussed in this chapter apply to all SNF shipments regardless of the mode of transport, unless otherwise noted. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 provide additional guidance on requirements specific to physical protection of road, rail and waterborne SNF shipments, respectfully. 2.1. NRC Approval of SNF Shipment Routes In 10 CFR 73.37(b)(1)(vi), the NRC requires the licensee to obtain NRC approval for the planned road and rail routes over which SNF is to be shipped and for any U.S. ports where a vessel carrying an SNF shipment is scheduled to dock. Whenever possible, the licensee should request approval of two routes (i.e., a primary and an alternative) when transporting SNF by road or rail. Section 73.37(b)(1)(vi) requires that the licensee obtain the route approval in writing from the NRC before the 10-day advanced notification requirement in 10 CFR 73.72(a)(2). Licensees should submit applications for route approvals at least 6 months before the planned date of the shipment to allow the staff adequate time to review and approve the requested route. Requests to approve a route that do not comply with this requirement will be handled on a case-by-case basis. In 10 CFR 73.37(b(1)(iv), the NRC requires that routes used for shipping SNF comply with applicable requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), in particular, those identified in 10 CFR 71.5, “Transportation of Licensed Material.” For shipments by road, DOT requirements for the security of radioactive material shipments are found in Subpart I “Safety and Security Plans,” to 49 CFR Part 172, “Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Response Information, and Training Requirements,” and Subpart D, “Routing of Class 7 (Radioactive) Materials,” to 49 CFR Part 397 ”Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Driving and Parking Rules.” The licensee should document that the highway route complies with DOT routing requirements of Subpart D to 49 CFR Part 397, or that DOT approval has been obtained if it does not. For shipments by rail, DOT requirements for the security of radioactive material shipments are found in 49 CFR Part 172, 49 CFR Part 174, ”Carriage By Rail,” and 49 CFR Part 209, “Railroad Safety Enforcement Procedures.” The application for an NRC route approval shall include the following information about the planned shipping campaign and route as required by Section 73.37(b)(1)(vi): • Shipper, consignee (receiver), carriers, transfer points and modes of shipment • Statement of shipment security arrangements, including, if applicable, points where armed escorts transfer responsibility for the shipment • Location of safe havens that have been coordinated with the appropriate States(s) for road shipments
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