DOE O 5610.1, Packaging and Transporting of Nuclear Explosives, Nuclear Components and Special Assemblies

u.s. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. ORDER I DOE 5610.1 9-" -79 SUBJECT: PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTING OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES, NUCLEAR COMPONENTS, AND SPECIAL ASSEMBLIES 1. PURPOSE. This order establishes Department of Energy (DOE) policy and assigns responsibil itiesand authorities for the packagi ng and transporting of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies. 2. CANCELLATION. This order replaces former Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) directive 0561, PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTING OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES, NUCLEAR COMPONENTS, AND SPECIAL ASSEMBLIES, 9-15-75, previously canceled by ERDA Transmittal Notice No.' 0500-25, 9-30-77. 3. SCOPE. The provisions of this order apply to all Departmental elements and all contractors and subcontractors performi ng work for or as a part of the Department's defense programs. 4. POLICY. Nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies ~hal1 be packaged and transported in a manner which assures public safety and shall be packaged and transported with the highest level of safety practicable. Such level of safety shall meet or exceed that provided by the packaging and shipment, in accordance with applicable regulations, of other radioactive and explosive materials. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES. a. Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs (DP~I), through the Director of Military Application: (1) Establishes and provides overall direction of the program. (2) Establishes the program safety policies and basic DISTRIBUTION: requirements for their implementation in consonance with DOE and other Federal regulations issued on safety, security, and transportation. INITIATED BY: All Departmental Elements Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Info) Office of Mil itary Appl iCC1tion 2 (3) (4 ) (5) '\lOE 5610.1 9-11-79 Conducts periodic appraisals to review and approve field office implementation of this order. Renders the final determination on requests for exemptions or deviations from the requirements of this order. Serves as the Headquarters focal pOint for all matters related to the packaging and transporting of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies. b. Director of Safeguards and Security of DP-1, establishes security standards for the packagi ng and transportation of nucl ear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies. c. Managers of Field Offices: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Implement the provisions of this order for their respective installations and activities. Conduct appraisals of appropriate operations to determine the adequacy of implementation not less than every 2 years. Assure that a formal safety review is performed on all containers and transportation systems (as defined in subparagraph 6d) employed and that these are reviewed and approved before use. Maintain a file of package designs, transportation system descriptions, and safety analyses (and the safety evaluations thereof) used for packaging and transporting nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies. Review and approve emergency and one-time requests for temporary deviations from the provisions of this order. Transmit, through the Albuquerque Operations Office to the Office of Military Application for action, requests for continuing exemptions or deviations from this order. d. Manager of the Albuquerque Operations Office, in addition to subparagraph 5c:

(1) Is responsible for the packaging and transporting of all nuclear explosives in DOE custody outside of DOE-controlled sites and for the safety criteria and procedures therefor except for nuclear explosives transported by the Manager of the Nevada Operations Office. . ... ,.:'" 6 • DOE 5610.1 9-11-79 3 (2) Maintains a directory of approved containers for use with nuclear explosives, nuclear COl1lponents, and special assemblies to include appro~riate specifications. The directory will consist of Part I--Nuclear Explosives, Part II--Nuclear Components, and Part III--Special Assemblies. (3) Issues the criteria and procedures for the safe packdyiny and transporting of nuclear COlllponents and special assemblies in coordination with other appro~riate field office rnanayers, and issues DUE Nuclear Weapon Prugram Packaging and Trans~ortation Certificates for all containers used for these materials. (4 ) (0 ) Issues ~lritten interim approval for unducumented packagi ng requiring expeditious handling u~on recei~t of a satisfactory interim safety analysis from another field office Inanager that packaging and transportation to be used lIleet appro­ jJriate safety re4uirements. (Note: Documentation fur such ~ackaginy must be suppl ied to Albuquerque Operations Office within 60 Jays in order ttlat a DOE Nuclear Weapon Proyram Packaging anl1 Transportation Certificate may be issued.) Provides a copy of safety analyses (D0E 5481.1, Safety t'nalysis and l1evie\,! Sysi:ert, of 3-20-79), and a DOE Nuclear Weapon Program Packaging and Transportation Certificate to the f"ffice of .1ilitary :!\.pplication and appropriate field offices. • Ca • Nuclear Components. Those nuclear explosive or device parts of sul>ass~rnb'ies ~~hidl contain fissile and/or radioactive and other Hlateri a 1 s. b. Nuclear Explosives. Any assembly or subassembly containing fissile and/or radioactive materials and high explosives, pro~ellants, or other means ca~able of pruducing a nuclear detonation. c. Special Assemblies. Special assemblies are those major assemblies of nuclear \Veapon components which do not cornprise a cOlilplete nuclear explosive or nucledr test device and, therefore, are not capable of producing a nuclear detonation. d. Transportation System. The vehicles, special equipment, safe packaging, prucedures, routes, handling, and trained ~ersonnel involved in ur havin\j all effect on the safety of the operation. 4 DOE 5610.' 9-11-79 e. One-Point Safe Nuclear Explosives. Those nuclear explosives which in the event of a detonation initiated at anyone point in the high 6xplosive system presents no yreater probability than 1 in 10 of achieving a nuclear detonation. 7. CRITERIA. The following are the minimum safety criteria v/hich are mandatory for the packaginy and transporting of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies outside of DOE-controlled sites. a. Transport of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies must be kept to a minimum consistent with operational or technical requirements. Continual reviews must be made by cognizant field offices to assure these operational requ i rements.

b. Nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies must be packaged and transported to provi de a level of safety at least comparable to that provided by the packaging and shipment, in accordance with applicable regulations, of other radioactive and explosive material. (References: Department of Transportation (DOT), Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 10U-179, Hazardous Materials Regulations; DOT, Title 49, CFR, Parts 390-397, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation; DOE, Title 10, CFR, Part 871, Air Transportation of Plutonium; Nuclear Regulatory Co~nission, Title 10, CFR, Parts 20-71-73; Interim tv'lanagernent Directive 5001, Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection, of 9-29-77 to DOE 5481.1, Safety Analysis and Review Systems, of 3-20-78), c. A DOE Nuclear Weapon Program Packaging and Transportation Certificate must be issued by Albuquerque Operations Office for all containers used to ship nuclear cOlllponents or special assemblies. This certificate will be based u~on information supplied by the appropriate contractor or field office. Use of written interim certifications based on the development of a satisfactory safety analysis report are authorized, providing documentation is provided to Albuquerque Operations Office within 60 days (subparagraph 5d(4)). d. Only those procedures, equipment, vehicles, and packages lIi~etiny the requirel'lents of this order and approved by the DOE may be used. -- -. ~ :--". '_/ DOE 5610.1 -" -' 5 9-11-79 e. All personnel involved in the packaging and transporting of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, and special assemblies must be knowledgeable and proficient in their assigned duties. An appropriate training program approved by the responsible field office manager should be maintained or implemented to assure this knowledge and proficiency. f. A file of all relevant safety evaluations, appraisals, procedures, and operating records must be maintained by appropriate field offices for audit purposes in the appropriate field office. Contractors will maintain an active file of their procedures and operat i ng record s. g. Packaging and transportation operations together with their safety evaluations must be reviewed not less than every 2 years for accuracy and adequacy by managers of field offices. h. Nuclear explosives will not be mixed with any other cargo. i. Nuclear explosives not known to be one-point safe will not be transported offsite. j. Provisions will be made to assure continuing quality assurance in both transport vehicles and containers. (References cited in subparagraph 7b) "FOR THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY: William S. Heffelfinger Director of Administration