Variance in the Regulations for the International Transport of Radioactive Material Jessica White-Horton, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

摘要

The transport of dangerous goods and, more specifically, the transport of nuclear material make up a very small fraction of all transport around the world. Although radioactive material is a small presence within the global economy, its transport is one of the most heavily regulated and complicated enterprises in the transportation industry. International organizations such as IAEA, IMO, IATA, and ICAO have put a good deal of effort into articulating regulatory guidelines, but none has the authority to prosecute noncompliance. Although regional authorities such as EURATOM have the ability to modify the transportation requirements, in the end, the competent authority (in most cases, the State) has the final say as to how (or, in some cases, whether or not) radioactive material can be transported. This paper used excerpts from international, regional, and national documents to further emphasize the international community's limited jurisdiction over transport. Through the use of case studies, the argument was taken further, giving specific examples of the differences between the State regulations, and how, at times, the competent authority can cause delays in commerce (e.g., as seen in the WNTI case study involving the French), and potential confusion, as the material often must travel such distances requiring more than one mode of transit while crossing international boundaries.