ACCIDENT ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION OF LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL WASTES: APPLICATION OF THE 'MAXMUM CREDIBLE ACCIDENT' CONCEPT

The maximum credible accident (MCA) approach to accident analysis places an upper bound on the potential adverse effecs of a proposed action by using conservative but simplifying assumptions. It is often used when data are lacking to support a more realistic scenario or when MCA calculations result in acceptable consequences. The MCA approach can also be combined with realistic scenarios to assess potential adverse effects. This report presents a guide for the preparation of transportation accident analyses based on the use of the MCA concept. Rail transportation of contaminated wastes is used as an example. The example is the analysis of the environmental impact of the potential derailment of a train transporting a large shipment of wastes. The shipment is assumed to be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and low-level radioactivities of uranium and technetium. The train is assumed to plunge into a river used as a source of drinking water. The conclusions from the example accident analysis are based on the calculation of the number of foreseeable premature cancer deaths that might result as a consequence of this accident. These calculations are presented, and the reference material forming the basis for all assumptions and calculations is also provided.

• Corporate Authors:

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  P. O. Box 2008
  Oak Ridge, TN  United States  37831
• Authors:
  • Ricci, E
  • McLean, R B
• Publication Date: 1988-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 26 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemicals; Crash severity; Environmental impacts; Freight transportation; Hazardous materials; Probability; Radioactive materials; Railroad transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Probabilistic analysis
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00484658
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: ORNL-6477
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1989 12:00AM