The Department of Transportation has adopted regulations for international transport that exempt some radioactive waste and materials from regulatory control. DOT is expected to join with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this year to adopt these for domestic nuclear transport regulations.

2004

• 5 Groups Sue Dept. of Transportation for New Rules that Allow Nuclear Waste to Move Unregulated, Unmarked. NIRS Press release, November 10, 2004.
• The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission have shared responsibility for nuclear materials transport in the US. DOT has authority over international nuclear transport into, out of or through the US.

  On January 26, 2004 the US Department of Transportation and Nuclear Regulatory Commission adopted new radioactive transportation regulations that exempt some higher concentrations of radioactive materials and a whole new category of exempt amounts of radioactive material per consignment (package or packages or load of radioactive material presented by a consignor for transport). They also relaxed requirements for shipping some radioactive materials. The rule went into effect on October 1, 2004.

  NIRS along with numerous organizations and individuals filed an appeal with the US Department of Transportation requesting that they reverse all new exempt quantites (consignments), all increases in exempt concentrations and any relaxation in controls for regulated materials. The appeal is here. DOT has denied the appeal and further challenges are underway. NIRS has also filed notice to NRC of challenge.

  During the rulemaking NIRS filed these comments.
  Comments by Kay Drey from Missouri.
  NIRS Monitor article from 2002 alerting that DOT and NRC are weakening nuclear transport regulations.
  Sierra Club filed these comments.
  New England Coalition comments.

The DOT docket can be viewed at http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchResultsSimple.cfm and inserting the Docket No. 6283

2002

• NIRS Comments on DOT and NRC Proposed Rulemaking on Compatibility With International Atomic Energy Agency Radioactive Materials Transportation Regulations. July 29, 2002.
• Joint Comments of the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution and Pennsylvania based Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power on DOT and NRC Proposed Rulemaking on Compatibility With International Atomic Energy Agency Radioactive Materials Transportation Regulations. July 29, 2002..
• Sierra Club Comments on DOT and NRC Proposed Rulemaking on
  Compatibility With International Atomic Energy Agency Radioactive Materials Transportation Regulations. July 29, 2002.
• NRC/DOT easing radioactive waste transport regulations, NIRS Press release. June 24, 2002
• Nuclear waste transportation to become more dangerous as undemocratic international rulemaking paves the way for nuclear waste dispersal into daily-contact items NIRS ALERT! May 2002

2001

• NIRS Comments regarding the proposed transportation regulation changes, April 9, 2001

2000

• These are NIRS statement to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (which we were not allowed to make at their meeting) and an alert on this and other problems with the international transport regulations, ST-1 also called TSR-1 by the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency. December 22, 2000.
• Comments from Pennsylvania Sierra Club. and other organizations are here. December 20, 2000.
• The request for extension of comment periods was denied, but there will be opportunities to comment to NRC and DOT again in the near future. September 28, 2000.