{"operation":"document","citation":"03-0013","title":"Bechtel Hanford, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-02-14","effective_on":null,"summary":"03-0013 response to Bechtel Hanford, Inc. concerning 173.418.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0013.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0013.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0013","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030013.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nFEB 14 2003\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nMr. J. M. Atwood\nBechtel Hanford, Inc.\nManager, Waste Management/Transportation\nReference No. 03-0013\n3350 George Washington Way\nRichland, WA 99352\nDear. Mr. Atwood:\nThis is in response to your letter dated January 13, 2003 requesting a clarification of the\npackaging requirements for Uranium metal, pyrophoric, UN2979, under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask what test criteria must the packaging\nconfiguration meet.\nSection 173.418 requires pyrophoric Class 7 (radioactive) materials in quantities not exceeding\nAz per package to be transported in DOT Specification 7A packagings constructed of materials\nthat will not react with, nor be decomposed by, the contents. In addition, the contents of the\npackage must among other things be inerted to prevent self-ignition during transport by either:\nsuitable inerting material, or blended into a matrix of hardened concrete; or\n(1) Mixing with large volumes of inerting materials, such as graphite, dry sand, or other\n(2) Filling the innermost receptacle with an appropriate inert gas or liquid.\nIn your letter, you stated that your depleted uranium is packaged in small drums (nominally 30\ngallons) tilled with mineral oil as a liquid inerting agent. You further stated that, the small drum\nis then placed inside a larger (nominally 55 gallons) DOT Specification 7A package. Therefore,\nyour DOT Specification 7A package must conform to the Type A packaging tests prescribed in\n§§ 173.465 and 173.466.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nHothe z. mitthal\nHattie L. Mitchell, Chief\nRegulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n173.418\n030013\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nJob No. 22192\nBECHTEL\nWritten Response Required: NO\nCloses CCN; N/A\nActionee:\nN/A\nN/A\nOU:\n105032\nTSD: N/A\nN/A\nBRA: N/A\nSubject Code: 8515\nBetts\nJAN 1 3 2003\n$173.418\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nRAM\nU.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)\n400 7th Street S. W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590-000\n03-0013\nSubject:\nINTERPRETATION OF 49 CFR 173.418\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nIn order to ensure that we are conducting our transportation activities in a compliant manner, was\nPyrophonic.\nSpecifically, we are packaging depleted uranium chips and turnings that are considered to be\npyrophoric. The depleted uranium is packaged in small drums (nominally 30 gallons) filled with\nmineral oil as a liquid inerting agent. The mineral oil does not meet the DOT definition of a\nradioactive material (i.e., it is less than 70 Bq/gram). However, it is slightly contaminated with\nspecification 7A container. All of this is intended to be in full compliance with 49 CFR 173.418.\nradioactive material. The small drum is then placed inside a larger (nominally 55 gallons) DOT\nA iSsue 15 Whatrestantena the packaging configuration ust meet. Three different scenarios have\nbeen put forward, either by the regulated community, or by the help line. These are:\n1)\nThe material being shipped is a solid. The liquid has been added for purposes of packaging\nconsidered to meet the test requirements if there is no loss of radioactive materials (i.e.,\npackaging reference of 173.213).\nBECHTEL HANFORD, INC.\nsand A 4952 gon Way\nel (509) 375-464\nax (509) 375-464\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nE. T. Mazzullo\n105032\nPage 2\nduring the testing.\n3)\nin 49 CFR 173.466.\nThe material being shipped is a liquid and must meet the test requirements for a liquid found\nIf you have questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me at (509)\n372-9343 or jmatwood@bechtel.com. Thank you for your response to this request.\nSincerely.\nJ. M. Atwood\nManager, Waste Management/Transportation\nJMA:nww","truncated":false,"body_characters":3816}