{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, RAM Review 2008","title":"RAM Review 2008","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2007-01-01","effective_on":"2007-01-01","summary":"RAM Review 2008 Document ramreview2008.pdf (2.43 MB) This review provides guidance on the Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) contained in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) Parts 171-185, which govern the packaging and shipment of radioactive material. These materials have an excellent safety record when packaged, labeled, marked and transported in accordance with the","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-ramreview2008-249042f9.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-ramreview2008-249042f9.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-ramreview2008-249042f9","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/ramreview2008","body":"RAM Review 2008\n\nDocument\n\n ramreview2008.pdf (2.43 MB)\n\n        This review provides guidance on the Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) contained in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) Parts 171-185, which govern the packaging and shipment of radioactive material. These materials have an excellent safety record when packaged, labeled, marked and transported in accordance with these regulations.\n\n          Issued Date: Monday, January 1, 2007\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nRADIOACTIVE MATERIAL\nDecember 08 Regulations Review\nNote: This document is for general guidance only and must not be used to determine compliance with\n49 CFR Parts 100-185.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nThis page intentionally left blank.\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review ii\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nI. ..........................................................................................................................................................................................1\nINTRODUCTION\nII. BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................................................................2\nA. Uses of Radioactive Material.....................................................................................................................................................................2\nB. Review of Radioactivity and Radiation.....................................................................................................................................................2\nC. Radiation Protection Principles .................................................................................................................................................................3\nD. SI and Customary Radiological Units .......................................................................................................................................................4\nE. Radiation Exposures and Biological Effects .............................................................................................................................................4\nIII. TRANSPORT SAFETY REGULATIONS....................................................................................................................................................6\nA. International Regulations...........................................................................................................................................................................6\n1. United Nations .......................................................................................................................................................................................6\n2. International Atomic Energy Agency ....................................................................................................................................................7\n3. International Maritime Organization .....................................................................................................................................................7\n4. International Civil Aviation Organization .............................................................................................................................................7\nB. Federal Regulations ...................................................................................................................................................................................8\n1. Department of Transportation................................................................................................................................................................8\n2. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.........................................................................................................................................................11\n3. Transportation Security Administration ..............................................................................................................................................12\n4. United States Postal Service ................................................................................................................................................................12\nIV. RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS TERMINOLOGY.....................................................................................................................................14\nA. Radioactive Material................................................................................................................................................................................14\nB. Special Form Radioactive Material .........................................................................................................................................................14\nC. Normal Form Radioactive Material.........................................................................................................................................................17\nD. A and A Quantity Limits ......................................................................................................................................................................17\n1 2\nE. Excepted Quantities .................................................................................................................................................................................19\nF. Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ)......................................................................................................................................21\nG. Low Specific Activity (LSA) Material ....................................................................................................................................................22\nH. Surface Contaminated Objects (SCO) .....................................................................................................................................................23\nI. Fissile Material ........................................................................................................................................................................................25\nJ. Radioactive Materials Not Covered by the HMR....................................................................................................................................26\nV. CATEGORIES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS\nPACKAGES ............................................................................................................................................................................................27\nA. General Packaging Requirements............................................................................................................................................................28\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review iii\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nB. Excepted Packages ............................................................................................................................................................................... 28\nC. Industrial Packages (Type IP-1, IP-2, IP-3) ......................................................................................................................................... 30\nD. Type A Packages .................................................................................................................................................................................. 31\nE. Type B Packages .................................................................................................................................................................................. 36\nF. Fissile Radioactive Material Packages................................................................................................................................................. 41\nG. Packages Containing Uranium Hexafluoride ....................................................................................................................................... 43\nVI. TRANSPORT CONTROLS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 44\nA. Transport Index (TI)............................................................................................................................................................................. 44\nB. Criticality Safety Index (CSI)............................................................................................................................................................... 48\nC. Package Radiation Limits..................................................................................................................................................................... 50\nD. Contamination Limits and Contamination Surveys ............................................................................................................................. 54\nVII. SHIPMENTS OF LOW SPECIFIC ACTIVITY (LSA)\nMATERIALS AND SURFACE CONTAMINATED\nOBJECTS (SCO).................................................................................................................................................................................. 56\nA. Transport Requirements for LSA Materials and SCO ......................................................................................................................... 56\nB. Packages for LSA Materials and SCO ................................................................................................................................................. 57\n1. Unpackaged LSA Material and SCO ............................................................................................................................................... 57\n2. Excepted Packages of LSA Material and SCO ................................................................................................................................ 57\n3. Industrial Packages of LSA Material and SCO................................................................................................................................ 58\n4. Type A Packages for LSA Material and SCO.................................................................................................................................. 58\n5. Type B Packages for LSA and SCO................................................................................................................................................. 59\n6. Packages for Exclusive Use Transport of Liquid LSA-I.................................................................................................................. 59\n7. Typical Packages for Radioactive Waste Shipped as LSA or SCO ................................................................................................. 59\nVIII. HAZMAT COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED\nREQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 61\nA. Hazardous Materials Table................................................................................................................................................................... 61\nB. Proper Shipping Names for Radioactive Materials.............................................................................................................................. 61\nC. Shipping Paper Requirements .............................................................................................................................................................. 63\n1. Basic Shipping Paper Requirements ................................................................................................................................................ 63\n2. Additional Shipping Paper Description for Radioactive Material ................................................................................................... 64\n3. Other Information and Examples of Shipping Papers Entries ......................................................................................................... 65\n4. 95% Rule for Mixtures ..................................................................................................................................................................... 67\n5. Documentation for Excepted Packages............................................................................................................................................ 69\n6. Shipper's Certification ...................................................................................................................................................................... 69\nD. Marking Requirements ......................................................................................................................................................................... 70\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review iv\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\n1. Basic Marking Requirements...............................................................................................................................................................70\n2. Marking Requirement for Liquids .......................................................................................................................................................71\n3. Marking Requirements for Radioactive Materials...............................................................................................................................71\n4. Marking of Bulk Radioactive Material Packages................................................................................................................................72\nE. Labeling Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................................73\nF. Placarding Requirements .........................................................................................................................................................................77\nG. Emergency Response Information Requirements....................................................................................................................................78\n1. Required Information...........................................................................................................................................................................79\n2. Emergency Response Telephone Number...........................................................................................................................................79\n3. Emergency Response Guidebook ........................................................................................................................................................80\nH. Training Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................................81\n1. General Awareness/Familiarization Training......................................................................................................................................82\n2. Function-Specific Training..................................................................................................................................................................82\n3. Safety Training ....................................................................................................................................................................................82\n4. Security Awareness Training...............................................................................................................................................................82\n5. In-Depth Security Training..................................................................................................................................................................83\n6. Testing and Record Keeping................................................................................................................................................................83\nI. Security Requirements.............................................................................................................................................................................83\nJ. Incident Reporting Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................84\nIX. QUALITY ASSURANCE............................................................................................................................................................................85\nA. Prior to First Use......................................................................................................................................................................................85\nB. Prior to Each Use .....................................................................................................................................................................................85\nC. NRC QA Requirements ...........................................................................................................................................................................86\nX. OVERVIEW OF NRC'S 10 CFR TRANSPORT-RELATED\nREQUIREMENTS...................................................................................................................................................................................87\nA. 10 CFR PART 71.....................................................................................................................................................................................87\nB. 10 CFR PART 20.....................................................................................................................................................................................88\n1. Procedures for Receiving and Opening Packages ...............................................................................................................................88\n2. Control Of Access To High Radiation Areas Containing Radioactive Material Packages.................................................................89\n3. Requirements for Transfers of Low-Level Radioactive Waste ...........................................................................................................89\nC. Notification Requirements.......................................................................................................................................................................90\nD. NRC Requirements for Radioactive Materials in Quantities of Concern................................................................................................ 90\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review v\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nXI. OTHER REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................................................................................91\nA. Carrier Requirements .............................................................................................................................................................................91\nB. Registration Requirements .....................................................................................................................................................................92\nC. Motor Carrier Safety Requirements .......................................................................................................................................................93\n1. Commercial Driver’s License.............................................................................................................................................................93\n2. Hazardous Materials Safety Permits ..................................................................................................................................................94\n3. Highway Routing Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................95\nD. Radioactive Material Shipments By Air ................................................................................................................................................96\nXII. DOT AND NRC ENFORCEMENT POLICIES .....................................................................................................................................97\nAPPENDIX A INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (SI)\nFOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS IN TRANSPORTATION ..............................................................................A-1\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review vi\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nList of Figures\nFigure 1 - Radiation Doses in Perspective ........................................................................................................................................................... 5\nFigure 2 - NRC Agreement States.......................................................................................................................................................................12\nFigure 3 - “Special Form” Radioactive Material ...............................................................................................................................................16\nFigure 4 - “Normal Form” Radioactive Material ...............................................................................................................................................17\nFigure 5 - Material Quantity Categories ............................................................................................................................................................22\nFigure 6 - Example Excepted Package...............................................................................................................................................................29\nFigure 7 - Industrial Packages (IP).....................................................................................................................................................................31\nFigure 8 - Type A Packaging Tests....................................................................................................................................................................33\nFigure 9 - Typical Type A Packaging Configurations .......................................................................................................................................35\nFigure 10 - Type B Hypothetical Accident Conditions......................................................................................................................................38\nFigure 11 - Example Type B Packages ..............................................................................................................................................................40\nFigure 12 - Fissile Radioactive Material Packaging ..........................................................................................................................................42\nFigure 13 - Transport Index................................................................................................................................................................................45\nFigure 14 - Package Radiation Limits for Non-Exclusive Use Shipments ........................................................................................................50\nFigure 15 - Allowable Dose Rates for an Exclusive Use Shipment...................................................................................................................52\nFigure 16 - Allowable Dose Rates for an Exclusive Use Shipment in a Closed Transport Vehicle..................................................................52\nFigure 17 - Typical Packages for LSA Materials and SCO ...............................................................................................................................60\nFigure 18 - Package Orientation Marking for Liquid Packages.........................................................................................................................71\nFigure 19 - Trefoil Symbol.................................................................................................................................................................................72\nFigure 20 - ICAO Excepted Package Label .......................................................................................................................................................73\nFigure 21 - Radioactive Material Labels............................................................................................................................................................75\nFigure 22 - Fissile Label.....................................................................................................................................................................................76\nFigure 23 - Empty Label ....................................................................................................................................................................................76\nFigure 24 - Vehicle Radioactive Placard............................................................................................................................................................77\nFigure 25 - HRCQ Placard .................................................................................................................................................................................78\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review vii\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nList of Tables\nTable 1 - Type A Package Quantity Limits for Selected Radionuclides........................................................................................... 18\nTable 2 - Activity Limits for Limited Quantities, Instruments, and Articles.................................................................................... 20\nTable 3 - Contamination Limits for SCOs ....................................................................................................................................... 24\nTable 4 - TI Limits for Freight Containers and Conveyances on Vessels ........................................................................................ 47\nTable 5 - CSI Limits for Freight Containers and Conveyances on Vessels......................................................................................49\nTable 6 - Radiation Level Limitations .............................................................................................................................................. 53\nTable 7 - Non-Fixed External Radioactive Contamination Limits for Packages.............................................................................. 54\nTable 8 - Non-Fixed External Radioactive Contamination Wipe Limits for Packages* ................................................................... 54\nTable 9 - Industrial Package Integrity Requirements for LSA Material and SCO............................................................................ 58\nTable 10 - Radioactive Materials Proper Shipping Names and Identification Numbers .................................................................. 62\nTable 11 - Label Category Based on TI and Surface Radiation Level.............................................................................................. 74\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review viii\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nI. INTRODUCTION\nThis review provides guidance on the Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) contained in Title\n49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) Parts 171-185, which govern the packaging and shipment of radioactive material. These\nmaterials have an excellent safety record when packaged, labeled, marked and transported in accordance with these regulations.\nThis review serves as a reference document and is not an official interpretation or restatement of the regulations. This review of the\nradioactive material regulations was designed as a guidance document and should not be used without simultaneous reference to all\napplicable and current regulations pertaining to the transportation of radioactive material. Users of this review are strongly\nencouraged to obtain the latest copy of the HMR from the Government Printing Office (http://bookstore.gpo.gov). Amendments to\nthe HMR are published in the Federal Register (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html). The current HMR may be found at:\nhttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html.\nAdditional information on DOT’s hazardous materials transportation regulations and programs may be found at http://hazmat.dot.gov.\nThe first version of this document was issued in 1972, with subsequent revisions issued in 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, and 1998.\nThis version updates the contents to be consistent with changes in the regulations since the last edition. These changes include those\nmade in rulemaking RSPA-99-6283 (HM-230) to be compatible with changes contained in the International Atomic Energy Agency\n(IAEA) publication, “IAEA Safety Standards Series: Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material,” 1996 Edition, No.\nTS-R-1.\nThis document may be reproduced without further permission from DOT, subject to the following:\nThe name and the seal of the U.S. Department of Transportation may not be reproduced unless that copy accurately\nreproduces the entire content (text and format) of this document without modification. In addition, the publisher’s full\nname and address must be displayed on the cover of each copy.\nComments, suggestions, corrections or requests for additional training aids should be mailed to: U.S. Department of\nTransportation, Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training, PHH-50, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE,\nWashington, DC 20590.\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review 1\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nII. BACKGROUND\nA. Uses of Radioactive Material\nRadioactive materials are used for a wide range of purposes, including the generation of electric power, research, manufacturing,\nindustrial processes, and medical diagnosis and therapy. Industrial applications of radioactive material include inspection and gauging\noperations such as examining the integrity of welded joints or measuring the thickness of paper as it is produced. Sealed radioactive\nsources are also used extensively in oil and gas exploration drilling operations and to check the compactness of roadbeds during paving\noperations. Every major hospital in the United States has a nuclear medicine department in which radionuclides are used to diagnose and\ntreat a wide variety of diseases.\nMillions of radioactive materials packages are shipped annually in the United States; a large percentage of these are radiopharmaceutical\nshipments. To date, there have been no known deaths or injuries to transport workers, emergency services personnel, or the general public\nas a result of the radioactive nature of materials in transport. This safety record can be attributed to the proper packaging of radioactive\nmaterial and the effectiveness of the transportation safety standards and regulations.\nB. Review of Radioactivity and Radiation\nIf there are too few neutrons or too many neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, the atom is unstable. Such an unstable atom will try to\nbecome more stable by emitting energy in the form of radiation, and it is said to be radioactive. When it emits radiation to become more\nstable, it is said to disintegrate or decay.\nEach radioactive isotope has a specific known time in which half of the atoms will decay, called the “half-life,” measured in years, days,\nhours, minutes or seconds. The activity of a radioactive material is the number of decays per unit of time measured in becquerels (Bq) (or\ncuries (Ci)). The activity per unit mass is called the “specific activity,” often measured in becquerels (or curies) per gram.\nWhen an isotope decays, one or more of the following may be emitted:\n• A particle consisting of two neutrons and two protons, called an alpha particle (α-radiation),\n• Electrons or positrons, called beta particles (β-radiation),\n• Electromagnetic energy in the form of gamma radiation (γ-radiation) or X-rays, and/or\n• Neutrons.\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review 2\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nAlpha radiation consists of high-energy particles that are relatively large, heavy, and only travel a short distance. Alpha particles lose\ntheir energy very rapidly, have a low penetrating ability and a short range of travel - only a few inches in air. Because of the alpha\nparticle’s short range and limited penetrating ability, external shielding is not required. A few inches of air, a sheet of paper, or the dead\n(outer) layer of skin that surrounds our bodies easily stops alpha particles. Alpha radiation poses minimal biological hazard outside the\nbody. The greatest hazard from alpha-emitting material occurs when the material is inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through open wounds.\nOnce inside the body, the alpha radiation can cause harm to individual cells or organs. Common alpha emitters transported include\nsmoke detectors containing americium-241.\nBeta radiation consists of particles that are smaller, lighter, and travel farther than alpha radiation. Beta radiation is more penetrating than\nalpha radiation. The range of penetration in human tissue is less than ¼ inch. In air, beta radiation can travel several feet. Beta radiation\nmay be blocked or shielded by plastic, aluminum, thick cardboard, several layers of clothing or the walls of a building. Outside the body,\nbeta radiation constitutes only a slight hazard. Because beta radiation penetrates only a fraction of an inch into living skin tissue, it does\nnot reach the major organs of the body. However, exposure to high levels of beta radiation can cause damage to the skin and eyes.\nInternally, beta radiation is less hazardous than alpha radiation because beta particles travel farther than alpha particles and, as a result,\nthe energy deposited by the beta radiation is spread out over a larger area. This causes less harm to individual cells or organs. Common\nbeta emitters transported include medical isotopes such as iodine-131, carbon-14, tritium (H-3), and sulfur-35.\nGamma radiation frequently accompanies the emission of alpha and beta radiation. Gamma radiation, like X-rays, is electromagnetic\nradiation. This means that it does not consist of particles like alpha and beta radiation but, rather, waves of energy that have no mass and\nno electrical charge. Because they have no mass and no electrical charge, they are able to travel great distances and require dense\nmaterial for shielding. Gamma radiation poses a hazard to the entire body because it can easily penetrate human tissue. Lead, steel, and\nconcrete are commonly used to shield gamma radiation. Common gamma emitters transported include radiography sources such as\ncobalt-60 and iridium-192.\nNeutron radiation can travel great distances and is highly penetrating like gamma radiation. Thus, neutron radiation is an external and\ninternal hazard. It is best shielded with material having a high hydrogen content (e.g., water, plastic). The ease with which neutrons can\nbe shielded and detected depends on their energy; fast neutrons can be shielded by hydrogenous material while cadmium or boron can be\nused to shield slow thermal neutrons. In transportation situations, neutron radiation is not commonly encountered. Neutron emitters\ntransported include californium-252 and spent nuclear fuel.\nC. Radiation Protection Principles\nA key principle of radiation protection is the minimization of dose. The external dose received is the product of the dose rate and the\ntime exposed. Dose from external radiation can be reduced by either:\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review 3\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\n• reducing the activity of the source,\n• increasing shielding around the source\n• increasing the distance from the source, or\n• reducing the time spent near the source.\nTransport packages provide distance and shielding from the contained material, as needed to maintain safe dose rates at the surface of the\npackage. Transport packages also provide for containment of the radioactive material. If the containment is breached, the material can\ncontaminate objects and potentially be inhaled or ingested by people. Contamination can be either fixed or removable. Removable, or\nnon-fixed contamination, is contamination that is deposited on the surface of objects or personnel that can readily be picked up or wiped\nup by physical or mechanical means during a survey or through decontamination efforts. Fixed contamination is bound to the\ncontaminated surface and not easily removed and so presents primarily a radiation hazard and not a contamination hazard.\nD. SI and Customary Radiological Units\nTo ensure compatibility with international transportation standards, units of measure in the HMR are expressed using International\nSystem of Units (SI) units. U.S. standard or customary units, which appear in parentheses following the SI units, are for informational\npurposes only and are not intended to be the regulatory standard. Shipping papers and labels must use the International System of Units\n(SI) units, which may be followed by customary units in parentheses.\nThe basic SI unit for quantity of radioactive material is the becquerel (Bq), and the customary unit is the curie (Ci). One becquerel is\nequivalent to one atom decaying (or disintegrating) each second. A curie (Ci), originally defined as the activity of 1.0 g of radium, is\nequal to 3.7 x 1010 Bq.\nFor radiation levels, or dose rates, the basic SI unit is the sievert per hour (Sv/h), and the customary unit is rem per hour (rem/h).\nThe information in Appendix A may be useful in converting values between SI Units and customary units.\nE. Radiation Exposures and Biological Effects\nThe average annual radiation exposure from natural sources to an individual in the United States is about 3 millisieverts (mSv)\n(equivalent to 300 millirem (mrem)); however, levels of background radiation vary greatly from one location to the next. Radon gas\naccounts for two-thirds of this exposure, while cosmic, terrestrial, and internal radiation account for the remaining third. Man-made\nsources of radiation from medical, commercial, and industrial activities contribute about another 0.6 mSv (60 mrem) annually, with\ndiagnostic medical procedures accounting for about 0.4 mSv (40 mrem) of this. Consumer products such as tobacco, fertilizer, welding\nrods, gas mantles, luminous watch dials, and smoke detectors contribute another 0.1 mSv (10 mrem) to annual radiation exposure.\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review 4\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nRadiation is known to be carcinogenic at high doses. The association between radiation exposure and the development of cancer is\nmostly based on populations exposed to high levels of radiation. Currently there are no data to unequivocally establish the occurrence of\ncancer following exposure to low doses and dose rates, i.e., those below about 100 mSv (10,000 mrem). However, it is conservatively\nassumed that any amount of radiation exposure may pose some risk for causing cancer and hereditary effects, and that the risk is higher\nfor higher radiation exposures.\nThe following figure provides some radiation doses in perspective.\nFigure 1 – Radiation Doses In Perspective\n(in millirem)\nRadioactive Material Regulations Review 5\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nIII. TRANSPORT SAFETY REGULATIONS\nA. International Regulations\nThere are a number of ","truncated":true,"body_characters":200798}