Abstract

This report is the third in a series of reports evaluating the risk of transporting plutonium by various modes. For comparative purposes, all shipping evaluations use the same bases. The characteristics of the nuclear economy used in this analysis are: a total of 18 metric tons of plutonium is shipped annually via the mode; 100 kg of plutonium are transported per shipment (for air shipment a truck and air segment are considered); shipping systems and regulations; and plutonium dioxide (PuO2) is shipped in 6M (15-gal) containers. Only aircraft shipments of plutonium diozide powder were considered. Based on shipping assumptions, the likelihood that an aircraft carrying shipment will be involved in an accident is estimated to be about once in 450 years. Graphs showing risk spectra for plutonium shipments are presented. The comparison of truck and air transport modes for the same material showed truck transport to have less risk. Document type: Report