Modernizing Package Certification Requirements

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations for radioactive materials transportation packages to modernize package certification requirements for large Type B Fissile packages to accommodate anticipated transport of irradiated transportable microreactors and similar packages. This proposed action is responsive to several executive orders and the NRC’s mission to enable efficient and reliable licensing. Specifically, this proposed action will: 1) make several minor changes to existing 10 CFR Part 71 regulatory text to facilitate consideration of irradiated transportable microreactor package designs; 2) add an option to evaluate irradiated microreactor packages for transport using a pre-approved risk framework for packages that cannot meet the explicit radiation dose rate limits in 10 CFR 71.47; and 3) seek stakeholder feedback on the potential for explicit higher allowable radiation dose rates associated with such packages in transport.