# Fermi 2 — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0231
- **title:** Fermi 2 — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-11-24
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0231 response to Fermi 2 concerning 172.514, 173.427.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0231.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0231.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0231
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090231.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
NOV 24 2009
Mr. Rodney Johnson
Manager Nuclear Licensing
Fenni2
200TAC
6400 N. Dixie Hwy
Newport, MI 48166
Ref. No.: 09-0231
Dear Mr. Johnson:
This is in response to your letter dated October 8, 2009 requesting clarification ofthe
Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the hazard
communication requirements for Class 7 (radioactive) material. In your letter you
describe the material as "UN2913, Radioactive material, surface contaminated object
(SCO-II), 7" transported as "exclusive use" in accordance with § 173.427(a)(6). The
material is offered for transportation and transported in a bulk container that has a
volumetric capacity of96 cubic feet (2.7 cubic meters). Your questions are summarized
and answered as follows:
Q1) Must the container be placarded on all 4 sides?
AI) No. A package with a volumetric capacity of less than 18 cubic meters (640 cubic
feet) may be placarded on two opposing sides or, alternatively, may be labeled instead of
placarded in accordance with Part 172, Subpart E. See § 172.514(c).
Q2) Can the container be labeled: Class 7, Radioactive White-I, Yellow-II or Yellow-III
as appropriate, instead ofplacarded in accordance with § 172.514(c).
A2) Yes. See AI.
Q3) Can this package be marked "RADIOACTIVE-SCO" without being placarded or
labeled?
A3) No. Packaged or unpackaged LSA or SCO containing less than an A2 quantity of
Class 7 (radioactive) material is excepted from marking and labeling requirements ofthe
HMR provided the surface of each package or unpackaged Class 7 (radioactive) material
is stenciled or otherwise marked "RADIOACTIVE-LSA" or "RADIOACTIVE-SCO" as
appropriate. See § 173.427(a)(6)(vi). However, this exception does not provide relief

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from the placarding requirements in Subpart F of Part 172. While labels may be displayed
instead ofplacards in accordance with § 172.514( c), this is only an alternative method of
satisfYing the placarding requirements of Subpart F of Part 172. Thus, the package or
unpackaged Class 7 (radioactive) material must display either the Class 7 (radioactive)
placards or the appropriate labels to comply with the placarding requirements of Subpart F
of Part 172.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be offurther assistance, please contact us.
ief, Standards Development
Of 1 e ofHazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Fermi 2
6400 North Dixie Hwy., Newport, MI 48166
Detroit Edison
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October 8, 2009
NANL-09-0078
u.s. DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: PHH-10
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Subject: Requirements for Bulk Packages less than 18 cubic meters
The purpose of this letter is to request assistance in the interpretation of regulations
for a radioactive material shipment.
During the preparation and planning for a shipment of radioactive material, questions
arose on the requirement for marking, labeling and placarding of a bulk package less
than 18 cubic meters (640 cubic feet) of material being shipped as "exclusive use" in
accordance with the regulations. A description ofthe scenario is provided below.
There are three packages ofvarying sizes, specification and weights to be shipped.
The first package is a 55-gallon drum (24" diameter x 33" height), weighing 450 lbs
(204 Kg). The drum meets the requirements of 49CFRI73.24, 49CFRI73.24a, and
49CFR 173.410. The second package is a 96 cubic foot metal box, with internal
dimension of 88"(L) x 43"(W) x 44"(H), external dimensions of 93.51t (L) x48.5 1t (W) x
52"(H), empty weight of 500 lbs (227 Kg), actual weight of 5,400 lbs (2,450 Kg), and
a maximum gross weight of 6,750 Ibs (3,062 Kg). The container has an approximate
capacity of 620 gallons as a receptacle for a solid. There is no intermediate form of
containment and the box meets the requirements of 49CFRl73.24 and
49CFRI73.410. The third package, is a 20' Intermodal container (Sea-Land) with,
internal dimensions of236"(L) x 93 1t (W) x 951'(H), external dimensions of 240"(L) x
96"(W) x 96"(H), empty weight of 4,980 lbs (2,259 Kg), actual weight of 18,300 Ibs
(8,301 Kg), and a maximum gross weight of 48,000 lbs (21,772 Kg). There is no
intermediate form of containment. The container has an approximate capacity
of 7,750 gallons as a receptacle for a solid and it meets the requirements of
49CFRI73.24, and 49CFR173.41 O.
AlYrE Energy Company

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NANL-09-0078
Page 2
Each package contains tooling that is used at a nuclear facility. The tooling has
surface contamination and would meet all the requirements for Surface Contaminated
Object (SCO-II) in accordance with 49CFR173.403. Each package contains less than
an A2 Quantity of Radioactive Material. The unshielded dose rate of the material is
less than 1 Rfhr. None of the packages contain a Reportable Quantity of
radionuclides. The exterior of the packages meet the radiation and contamination
levels specified in 49CFR173.441 and 49CFR173.443 . None of the packages contain
special nuclear material or fissile radionuclides.
All three packages are loaded onto a tractor trailer and will be shipped under the
proper shipping name "UN2913, Radioactive material, surface contaminated object
(SCO-II), 7." The shipment will be "exclusive use" under the provisions of
49CFR173.427(a)(6). The shipment will be within the USA (domestic). Shipment
will be loaded by the consignor and unloaded by the consignee from the conveyance
in which originally loaded (reference 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(i)). There will be no loose
radioactive material in the conveyance (reference 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(ii)). Packages
will be braced so as to prevent shifting of lading under conditions normally incident
to transportation (reference 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(iii)). Specific instructions for
maintenance of exclusive use shipment controls are provided to the carrier on the
shipping papers (reference 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(iv)). For this shipment, the
VEHICLE is placarded with 4 RADIOACTIVE placards (one on each end and side of
the vehicle) (reference 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(v)). Each package is marked with the
word "RADIOACTIVE-SCO" in accordance with 49CFRI73.427(a)(6)(vi).
The drum is not a bulk package, thus will only have the "RADIOACTIVE-SCO"
marking in accordance with 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(vi). Two ofthe packages met the
definition of a "bulk packaging" as defined in 49CFRI71.8. Bulk packages are
required to be placarded in accordance with 49CFR172.S14. The intermodal container
will have four placards applied (one to each side) in accordance with 49CFRl72.S14.
Since the second bulk container is only 96 cubic feet (2.7 cubic meters) the following
questions arise:
I. Does the container have to be placarded on all 4 sides?
This package does not have to be placarded on all 4 sides. 49CFR 172.S14( c) provides
an exemption to placarding packaging less than 18 cubic meters. This section states
that packages may be placarded on only two opposite sides or, alternatively, may be
labeled instead ofplacarded in accordance with subpart E.

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.
, (
NANL-09-0078
Page 3
2. Can the container be labeled: Class 7, Radioactive White -I, Yellow-II or YellowIII
as appropriate, instead of placarded in accordance with 49CFR172.514( c)?
This package may be labeled, as stated above, with two "Radioactive" labels based on
the radiation levels.
3. Can this package be just marked "RADIOACTIVE-SCO" and be excepted from
labels and placards?
Since this package is being shipped as "exclusive use", SCO as stated above in
accordance with 49CFR173.427, and is exempt from placarding iflabeled: Reference
49CFR172.514(c), and is exempt from labeling if marked "RADIOACTIVE-SCO" in
accordance with 49CFR173.427(a)(6)(vi) and 49CFR172.400a(a)(7), it would only
require the marking RADIOACTIVE-SCO; therefore it does not require labels or
placards as long as all the conditions of49CFR173.427 are met.
I greatly appreciate your assistance by concurring or providing other comments on the
positions stated above.
Please respond to:
Mr. Rodney Johnson, Manager Nuclear Licensing
Fermi 2
200 TAC
6400 N. Dixie Hwy
Newport, Mi. 48166
Should you have any additional questions, please contact Bryan Weber at 734-5864926.
Sincerely,
~¥r--
Manager, Nuclear Licensing
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