Developing Quality Assurance Programs That Satisfy 10 CFR 71, Subpart H and Department of Energy Requirements for Packaging Organizations at Department of Energy Sites

Many differences exist in Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Quality Assurance (QA) requirements documents, work scope, organizational structures, and graded application and assessment approaches. These differences must be understood and reconciled to ensure consistent and effective implementation and cost effective assessments of QA Programs for DOE organizations participating in the design, purchase, fabrication, handling, shipping, storing, cleaning, assembly, inspection, testing, operation, maintenance, repair, use and/or modification of the radioactive material packaging. This paper discusses those differences and provides practical recommendations that can serve as stepping stones to more effective and efficient QA programs and value added assessments at DOE sites participating in radioactive material packaging activities.