HPPOS-194 PDR-9111210320

Licensee’s Responsibility for Shipment of Waste and Radioactive Materials

See the letter from V. L. Miller to J. Mangusi (Transnuclear, Inc.) dated August 1, 1986. NRC’s general policy is that the generator of radioactive contamination and waste should be responsible for all onsite processing and any shipments offsite. Therefore, NMSS has not normally licensed service companies to possess waste at power reactors.

In a letter dated June 26, 1986, it was asked whether Transnuclear could obtain a license to possess contaminated equipment at reactor sites for the purpose of turning the radioactive material over to a carrier for shipment. NRC general policy is that the generators of radioactive contamination and waste should be responsible for all onsite processing and any shipments offsite. NRC believes that it is not in the interest of public health and safety to divide this responsibility between generators and service companies because the consequences of any accidents or problems associated with contamination and waste could be aggravated by questions of responsibility. Therefore, NRC has not normally licensed service companies to possess radioactive contamination or waste at power reactor sites. Rather, any onsite service companies operate under the reactor license, and the reactor licensee is responsible for all onsite service activities and offsite shipments.

Regulatory references: 10 CFR 30

Subject codes: 9.0, 11.3

Applicability: All