Radioactive waste has been arriving at the D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services site for over a decade without a single safety or environmental issue.
Aside from the legal and regulatory protections in place, D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services continues to support efforts to ensure that employees and the public are safe from even a small chance of exposure to radioactive materials during transit.
The transportation of Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) is regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as well as the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). Federal Regulations require transporters to carry $1 million of liability insurance per incident. D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services is additionally required to put into escrow $500,000 for transportation-related cleanup costs.
From 2001 – 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported 75 transportation-related radioactive waste incidents or seven to eight per year. Financial damages for those 75 incidents totaled $2.4 million or about $30,000 per incident (including property damage). All costs were covered by transporter insurance, with nothing paid by any municipality or state. No transportation incident resulted in radiation exposure.
As an advocate and steward of safe and secure transportation of LLRW through the State of Texas, D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services has continuously supported legislation that has:
Increased the notice to the Department of Public Safety of planned and active LLRW transports in Texas;
Repurposed fees generated from disposal operations at D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services to help train local first responders how to handle potential LLRW incidents;
Strengthened existing statutes concerning the transportation of LLRW and Hazardous Waste in the State of Texas.
D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services makes these efforts at providing safe transportation of LLRW headed to its Andrews facility because the solution for permanent disposal of LLRW may end at D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services facility, but it starts by being safely transported across the state. WCS has made a commitment to the people of Texas to provide the safest, most secure and permanent disposal operations possible, and aiding the state in protecting Texans from exposure during transportation goes hand in hand with safe disposal operations.
The Facts on Transportation of Waste to D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services:
The entire disposal process is tightly regulated.
The majority of waste arrives via rail and D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services has its own locomotive with the only rail line in Andrews County, which reduces traffic on public highways.
Strict controls, special containers, rigorous oversight, extensive training and specified routes have made the shipment of low-level radioactive waste a safe, routine part of U.S. commerce for more than 50 years.
Trucks carrying Class B and C radioactive waste are required by law to follow Hazardous Cargo routes throughout the state.
Casks containing radioactive materials must be designed to withstand impact, exposure to heat, and puncture.
There has never been a case of citizens being exposed to radioactive material while in transit to our state-owned facility. Furthermore, there has never been a case of any citizens being exposed to radioactive material while in transit to any disposal facility in the U.S.
Transportation & Cask Services
As part of its “one-stop shop” approach, D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services provides dedicated cask transport services to its customers through an exclusive agreement with Visionary Solutions, LLC. The service offered to our clients will include team drivers (Type B casks) and all necessary permitting, escorts, etc. to transport waste to our facilities. The majority of waste arrives via rail and D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services has its own locomotive with the only rail line in Andrews County, which reduces traffic on public highways.
Type B Cask and Transportation Services
D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services has commissioned three (3) newly designed and fabricated Type B cask systems. The D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services-160 Super A/B cask system features a 160-cubic foot capacity with 5” lead equivalent shielding capability. The casks are outfitted with state-of-the-art 9-axle trailers designed to meet the federal bridge laws in the contiguous 48 states.
Type A Casks
D’Aaron’s Waste Hauling Services currently has two (2) ATS-215 Type A casks under long term lease. These casks can transport all of the industry’s standard size liners (i.e.; 120, 160, 170, 190, 210, and 215) and provide 2.5” lead equivalent shielding. Additional casks can be provided when needed.
