# Environmental Quality Management, Inc. Stone Point Landing — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 08-0024
- **title:** Environmental Quality Management, Inc. Stone Point Landing — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-01-29
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 08-0024 response to Environmental Quality Management, Inc. Stone Point Landing concerning 172.101.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0024.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0024.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0024
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080024.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous ~aterials'
Safety Administration
JAN 2 9 2009
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
Mr. Joseph D. Biss
Environmental Quality Management, Inc.
Stone Point Landing
500 Market Street, Suite 302
Bridgewater, PA 15009
Ref. No. 08-0024
Dear Mr. Biss:
This responds to your January 23,2008 letter and follow-up telephone conversations with a
member of my staff requesting clarification of the hazard communication requirements for
the transport of equipment with a radioactive component under the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80).
You indicate that a nuclear density gauge will be permanently affixed to a pipe saddle
mounted to the exterior of a concrete pumping truck. The gauge will be used to monitor and
collect data on the density of cement being pumped. You provide the following details about
the gauge: (1) it incorporates a component housing that contains a sealed-source of Cesium-
137 (Cs- 137); (2) the housing is manufactured to DOT Specification 7A Type A packaging;
(3) the Cs-137 has an activity of 0.2 Curie (Ci) (0.0074 terabecquerel (TBq)); and (4) the
Transport Index (TI) for the exterior surface of the gauge is 0.2 and the maximum surface
radiation level is 0.13 mrem per hour. Additionally, you note that the gauge will be covered
by a metal box that will also be mounted to the truck; the metal box will not be marked or
labeled because you do not believe it functions as an overpack. Based on this information,
you ask whether the package marking, hazard communication (marking and labeling), and
shipping paper information as described in your letter is in compliance with the requirements
of the HMR. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows:
Q1. What package marking is required?
Al. In addition to the "USA DOT 7A Type A" marking, the gauge must be marked as
prescribed by 4 178.3 (e.g., marked with the name and address or symbol of the packaging
manufacturer) in accordance with 4 1 78.350.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

42. What hazard communication marking is required?
A2. The gauge must be marked in accordance with $ 172.301 to include the proper shipping
name (i.e., Radioactive Material, Type A Package) and identification number (i.e., UN2915).
Words in italics in Column (2) of the $ 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) as part of
the hazardous materials description may be used in addition to the proper shipping name.
Because your material is non-fissile, you may include the phrase, "non-special form, non-
fissile" with the proper shipping name. You may not include the words "fissile excepted."
Additionally, radioactive material is not assigned a packing group, therefore, PG I1 must not
be included with the marking.
43. What hazard communication labeling is required?
A3. Based on a TI of 0.2 for the exterior surface of the gauge and a maximum surface
radiation level is 0.13 mrem per hour, the category of label and information entered on the
label as described in your letter is correct.
44. What information is required on the shipping paper?
A4. In accordance with 172.202, the basic description for your material must be in the
following sequence: identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class.
[Radioactive materials are not assigned a packaging group; therefore, you are not required to
include a packaging group with the basic description.] Alternatively, until January 1,2013,.
you may list the proper shipping name first, followed by the hazard class and the
identification number. Again, because your material is non-fissile, you may include the
phrase, "non-special form, non-fissile" with the proper shipping name. The shipping
description you propose must also include the number and type of package and a description
of the physical or chemical form of .the material if not already included with the basic
description (i.e., non-special form). In addition, including a copy of the Emergency
Response Guidebook (ERG) with the shipping paper complies with the emergency response
information requirements under 5 172.602. Finally, please note that the shipping paper must
be kept in the motor vehicle in conformance with § 1 77.8 1 7(e).
Q5. Is the metal box covering the gauge considered an overpack?
A5. No. It is the opinion of this Office that the metal box covering the gauge is not an
overpack as defined in 5 171.8 and therefore, is not required to be marked and labeled.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Charles E. Betts
Chief, Standards Development
ffice of Hazardous Materials Standards a.

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
From: INFOCNTR <PHIVISA>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23,2008 2:12 PM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation
From: Joseph D. Biss [mailto:jbiss@eqm.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:59 PM
To: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Subject: Request for Interpretation
A company is considering mounting a nuclear density gauge to the exterior of a concrete pumping
truck. The gauge will be used to monitor and collect quality assurance data related to the density of
cement pump to client structure. I am looking for confirmation of what is proposed (see below), is
acceptable and meets the DOT hazardous material regulation (HMR) criteria for compliance for
interstate travel on highways. All drivers have completed required hazmat employee training and have a
hamat endorsement on their CDL.
The gauge is permanently affixed to a pipe saddle which is mounted (by threaded flanges) to the
discharge outlet of a pump. The pump is mounted onto the rear or side of a mobile unit (truck), over 10
feet from driver or other passengers. The gauge is manufactured by Thermo Fischer Scientific it uses a
sealed-source, isotope Cesium-1 37 (200 millicuries). The sealed-sourced is housed inside the
instrument (gauge) and the instrument housing meets the Type A packaging specifications.
The gauge housing is marked with:
U.S.A. DOT 7A Type A
ioactive Material, Type A Package, non-special
Yellow Label I1 w/ Contents: Cs-137,
Of note the gauge will not be visible from the exterior of the truck, ii dl11 be covered by integrated metal
box with a locking door (box is bolted to truck), no plans to label or the exterior of box, as we
believe it does not meet the definition of a overpack and functions "car trunk" would.
Shipping papers will be supplied with each movement of shipping papers will be kept in the cab with the following
Radioactive Material, Type A Package, non-special form,
I1
te and back to plant). The
Radioactive Yellow Label I1 w/ Contents: Cs-137, Activity: 7.4 GBq, T.I. 0.2
Including a certification statement from shipper, 24-hr emergency notification number, emergency
response information (copy of North America ERG).
Each shipment will be surveyed prior to leaving site to correctly label the transport index (T.I.).
Thank you for your time.
Kind Regards,
Joseph D. Biss, CHMM

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Page 2 of 2
Environmental Quality Management, Inc.
Stone Point Landing
Suite 302
500 Market Street
Bridgewater, PA 15009
(724) 775-291 0 phone
(724) 775-2912 fax
(724) 544-4874 mobile
jbiss@eqm.com
www,eqin.corn-
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