# Duratek — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 03-0112
- **title:** Duratek — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-06-05
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 03-0112 response to Duratek concerning 172.310.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0112
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030112.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Transportatio
S. Departmer
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
JUN - 5 2003
Ms. Kathryn W. Pacha, CET, CIT
Duratek
Training Specialist
Ref. No: 03-0112
140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 500
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
Dear Ms. Pacha:
This is in response to your letter dated April 14, 2003 requesting clarification regarding the Class
7 (radioactive) materials marking requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask whether a shipper is required to affix an
additional marking on a package (i.e., "Type A" or "Type B"), as appropriate in accordance with
§ 172.310(b), if the manufacturer's marking in accordance with § 178.350(b) is clearly visible.
It is not necessary that package marking entries required by Part 172, Subpart D be separate and
distinct from those specified in § 178.350(b). A packaging which is properly marked "USA
DOT 7A Type A" would satisfy the requirements of § 172.310(b). Likewise, any proper
shipping name containing the words "radioactive material," when entered with letters at least ½
inch high on a package of radioactive materials would also satisfy that portion of the packaging
marking requirements of § 178.350(b). A package merely marked "Type A" would not meet the
requirements of § 178.350(b).
The requirement of § 172.310(b) applies not only to DOT 7A packages but to Type B and
foreign certified packages as well. It should not be considered to mean that the "USA" portion of
the marking requirement specified in § 178.350(b) may be omitted on purely domestic
shipments. However, the inscription "USA" need not appear twice on a DOT 7A package
destined for export.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Hatle I mitchell
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172,310(6)
030112

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Betts
§172.310 (6)
3178.350 (6)
Duratek
Marking of RAM
03 -01/2
140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 500 • Columbia, South Carolina 29210 • Telephone (800) 925-1592 • Fax (803) 758-1834
April 14, 2003
Mr. Richard W. Boyle
Research and Special Programs Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Room 8430, Nassif Building
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Mr. Boyle:
associated with 49 CFR 172.310(b) versus 178.350(b).
Duratek Inc. requests an interpretation of the radioactive materials marking requirements
Interpretation question:
shipper need to affix an additional marking on the package with "Type A" or "Type B", as
If the manufacturer's marking [per Part 178.350(b)] is clearly visible and in ½" letters, does the
appropriate [per Part 172.410(b)]?
The following regulatory requirements exist:
• 178.350(b) requires manufacturers to mark Type A packagings with "USA DOT 7A Type A"
and "Radioactive Material."
» 172.310(b) requires shippers to mark Type A and Type B packages with "Type A" or "Type
B" as appropriate in letters at least ½" high. A packaging which does not conform to Type
A or Type B requirements may not be so marked.
Differences in interpretation:
Part 178 is a manufacturer's marking indicating the certification of the packaging. Part 172 is the
'shipper's marking requirement for offering the package for transportation. Hence, "A packaging
which does not conform to Type A or Type B requirements may not be so marked." Therefore,
the requirements in Parts 172 and 173 are not redundant since the shipper's marking indicates
and use other packagings as Type A.
how the shipment is being made. Furthermore, shippers of radioactive material may authorize

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Duratek
140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 500 • Columbia, South Carolina 29210 • Telephone (800) 925-1592 • Fax (803) 758-1834
April 14, 2003
Mr. Richard W. Boyle
Page 2
Or
Part 178 is a manufacturer's marking indicating certification. Part 172.310(b) is only required
marking is clearly visible and in ½" letters, then the shipper does not need to redundantly mark
when the manufacturer's marking do not provide compliance with this Part. If the manufacturer's
the packagc. with "Type A" or "Type B", as appropriate. The shipper's package documentation
"Type B" requirements
per Part 173.415(a) is proof the initial packaging and final package conforms to the "Type A" or
If this is the proper interpretation, then the wording should be more clear in the regulations, such
no Yeed o remacte ps mage. ir Ty pe A" ire isi iandi, tetehspe™ higl, the shipper does
Please provide a written response with the proper interpretation of these radioactive material
marking requirements. If you have any questions, please call me at (803) 758-1870.
Sincerely,
Training Specialist
Kathryn W. Pacha, CET, CIT
c:
William B. House
Mark S. Lewis
.....
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