{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0107","title":"Radian International — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2001-07-31","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0107 response to Radian International concerning 173.403.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0107.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0107.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0107","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010107.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n•\nof Transportation\nUS.Department\nWashington, S.C. 59\n2059\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nAdministration\nJUL &P3I 2001\nMr. Andrew Romach\nReference No.: 01-0107\nRegulatory Manager\nRadian International\nP.O. Box 13000\nResearch Triangle Park, NC 27709\nDear Mr. Romach:\nThis is in response to your April 30, 2001 letter inquiring whether your light bulb meets the\ndefinition of a Class 7 (radioactive) material under 49 CFR 173.403. The light bulb contains a\nglass \"starter bottle.\" The bottle's interior surface is coated with a solution containing a\nradionuclide. Specifically, you ask whether the specific activity is calculated by using the entire\nweight of the coated starter bottle or by using the actual weight of the coating.\nThe specific activity is calculated by using the actual weight of the coating on the starter bottle. If\nthe specific activity is 70 Bq per gram or lower, the light bulb does not meet the definition of Class\n7 (radioactive) materials and is not subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. If the specific\nactivity is greater than 70 Bq per gram, you may be able to offer the light bulb for transportation as\na limited quantity material or surface contaminated object in an excepted package.\nThis information addresses only the transportation of the light bulbs in question. We suggest that\nyou review the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations in Title 10 of the Code of\nFederal Regulations regarding the use, possession and disposal of these light bulbs.\nI trust you find this information helpful.\nSincerely,\nHotte e ithell\nHattie L. Mitchell\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nFROM\nURS\nRADIAN\nFAX NO.:\n9194611371\n04-30-01\n81:04P\nP .01\n. °\nCorbin\nRADIAN INTERNATIONAL\nA DAMES & MOÖRE GROUP COMPANY'\n$173.403\nApril 30, 2001\nDefinitions\nPost Office Box 13000\nMailing Address:\nResearch Triangle Park.\nMr. Ed Mazzullo, Director\n01-0107\nNorth Carolina 27709\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nOffice of Hazardous Matcrial Standards\nPhysical/Shipping Address:\n1600 Perinterer Park Drive\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nMomsville, North Carolina 27560\n400 7th Street, SW\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\n912 461 1415 Fax\n919 461 13(X1 Tel\nFAX: (202) 366-3012\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nI an writing to you to request a written regulatory interpretation conceming the correct approach for\nfor determining whether or not this light bulb meets the definition of a \"radioactive material\" as set out in 49\ncalculating the specific activity of a light bulb that contains a radionuclide. Such interpretation is necessary\nCFR 173.403.\nThis particular light bull contains a glass \"starter bottle\" (also called a \"glow bottle\"). The surface of this\nglass starter bottle has been coated with a solution that contains a radionuclide. (The specific radionuclide\nvaries depending on the type of coating used.)\nDOT defines \"radioactive material\" in 49 CFR 173.403 as follows:\nRadioaclive material means any material having a specific activity greater than 70 Ba per gram\n(0.002 miorocurie per gram) (see definition of \"specifio activily\").\nDOT defines \"speoific activity\" in 49 CFR 173.403 as follows:\nSpecific uctivity of a radionuclide means the activity of the radionuclide per unit mass of that nuclide.\nThe specific activity of a material in which the radionuclide is essentially uniformly distributed is the\nactivity per unit mass of the material.\nTo calculate the specific activity to determine whether or not this light bulb meets the definition of\n\"radioactive material\", would the calculation be performed using the entire wight of the coated starter bottle,\nor only the actual weight of the coating contained on the starter hottle?\nPlease let me know if there arc any other factors to consider when calculating the specific activity for\npurposes of determining whether or not this light bulb meets the definition of a radioactive matcrial for\nhazardous material shipping.\nI appreciate your consideration of this matter.\nRegulatory Manager\nURS Corporation\nEngineering Services in North Caroline are performed through Radion intermational's wholly owned substdiary, Radian Engineering, Inc.\nOffices Worldwide","truncated":false,"body_characters":4207}