{"operation":"document","citation":"09-0286","title":"State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2010-03-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"09-0286 response to State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services concerning 173.421.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0286.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0286.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0286","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090286.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Haz.ardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nMAR 5 2010\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMr. Jason Hunt\nState of Wisconsin\nDepartment of Health Services\nRadiation Protection Section\nOne West Wilson Street. Room 148\nP.O. Box 2659\nMadison, Wisconsin 53701-2659\nRef. No. 09-0286\nDear Mr. Hunt:\nThis responds to your email dated December 3, 2009 requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171- t80). You describe a scenario in which a nuclear\npharmacy ships radioactive material to nuclear medicine departments. The nuclear pharmacy\nrequires the end users to ship the packaging, \"ammo can and empty pigs,\" back to the nuclear\npharmacy in accordance with § 173.421 (Excepted packages for Class 7 (radioactive) materials).\nYour questions pertaining to this scenario are summarized and answered as follows:\nQ 1) Are licensees required to perform a survey (exposure or contamination) of \"ammo cans\" that\nare shipped back to a nuclear pharmacy in accordance with § 1 73.4 21 ?\nNo. Section 173.421 requires that the radiation level at any point on the external surface of\nthe package does not exceed 0.005 mSv/hour (0.5 mremlhr). In addition, the nonfixed\n(removable) contamination on the external surface of the package must not exceed the limits\nin § I 73.443(a). The shipper must ensure that the package is within these regulatory limits\nwhen offered for transportation and transported. This generally implies that it is necessary\nfor the shipper to conduct a survey to ensure compliance. However, this regulation provides\nthe shipper with latitude in their methods ofensuring compliance with the radiation and\ncontamination limits; procedures other than measurements, such as quality assurance and\nquality control. are acceptable means of ensuring compliance.\nQ2) ffthe contamination exposure of the \"ammo cans\" exceeds the levels in §§ t73.421 (a)(2)\nand (3) and the licensee does nothing, will the licensee be cited?\nIt is the shipper's responsibility to ensure compliance with § 173.421. Therefore, if the\n\"ammo cans\" exceed the radiation level or contamination limits of § 173.421, they would be\nin violation of the HMR and could be cited.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3} Are licensees in violation of § 171.2 when a nuclear pharmacy requires them to ship empty\n4'ammo cans\" as \"Excepted packages for Limited Quantities of Class 7 (radioactive)\nmaterials?\nNo. Provided the licensees comply with the requirements of the HMR applicable to Limited\nQuantity Class 7 (radioactive) materials (see § 173.421).\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need further assistance, please contact this office at 202·\n366-8553.\nSincerel.~' ,\n\\ fIl~\nharles E. Betts\nhief, Standards Development\nce of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom: Betts, Charles (PHMSA)\nSent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 8:40 AM s Cit1-e¥l la..u.io\nTo: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nCc: Plessas, Karen (PHMSA); Boyle, Rick (PHMSA) Cs 113 . tfz, 1\nSubject: FW: Interpetation Request\n~ 111. 4\nImportance: High\n~AM\nOq-62<6 (,\n-----Original Message----From:\nPlessas, Karen (PHMSA)\nSent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 8:35 AM\nTo: Betts, Charles (PHMSA)i Boyle, Rick (PHMSA)\nCc: Rogers, Cheryl K - DHSi Schmidt, Paul S - DHS: Sulas, Diana M - DHS; 'Hunt, Jason H DHS'\nSubject: RE: Interpetation Request\nCharlie,\nJason Hunt from the State of Wisconsin is requesting a formal interpretation on a\nradioactive materials issue, so I am forwarding his request to you and Rick for\ndisposition.\nThanks,\nKaren\nKaren Plessas\nRadioactive Materials Program Manager\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Enforcement Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration\n202-366-5267\n-----Original Message----From:\nHunt, Jason H - DHS [mailto:Jason.Hunt@dhs.wisconsin.gov]\nSent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 4:40 PM\nTo: Plessas, Karen (PHMSA)\nCc: Rogers, Cheryl K - DHS; Schmidt, Paul S - DHSi Sulas, Diana M - DHS\nSubject: Interpetation Request\nKaren\nI know I had emailed you awhile back and I'm wondering if I can get a formal\ninterpretation by DOT of this requirement.\nRule Reference:\n49 CFR 173.421 Excepted Packages for limited quantities of Class 7 (radioactive) materials\n(2) The radiation level at any point on the external surface of the package does not\nexceed 0.005 mSv/hour (0.5 mrem/hour) .\n(3) The nonfixed (removable) radioactive surface contamination on the external surface of\nthe package does not exceed the limits specified in 49 CFR 173.443(a).\nRadioactive Material Regulation Review - December 2008\nI understand this states in the note that 'This document is for general guidance only and\nmust not be used to determine compliance with 49 CFR Parts 100-185.\nPage 86\n\"This last requirement to ensure compliance with radiation and contamination limits of §§\n173.441 and 173.443 does not require that surveys or direct measurement be made. Both\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nsections give shippers latitude in their methods of ensuring compliance with the radiation\nand contamination limits; procedures other than measurements, such as quality assurance\nand qual control, are acceptable means of ensuring compliance. However, if a compliance\ninspection during transportation determines that radiation or contamination levels exceed\nthe limit, the shipper is subject to a citation.\"\nThe question has arose in our office for Nuclear Medicine Departments that ship (without\nany material except the empty pigs) ammo cans back to a radiopharmacy under 49 CFR 173.421\n(Excepted Packages for limited quantities of Class 7 (radioactive) materials. The Nuclear\nPharmacy requires that the licensee ship these ammo cans back under 49 CFR 173.421.\nTwo questions:\n1. Are the licensee's required to perform a survey (exposure or contamination) of these\nammo cans, being shipped back under 49 CFR 173.421? If no survey is required what does\nDOT require, procedures (see guidance paragraph)? Is it then acceptable for the licensee\nto do nothing with these ammo cans, understanding that if the contamination or exposure\nexceeding the levels in 49 CFR 173.421 (2)&(3) they will be cited?\n2. The licensee's have indicated that by the Nuclear Pharmacy requiring them to ship back\nthese empty ammo cans as Excepted for Limited Quantities of Class 7 (radioactive)\nmaterials that they are in violation of 49 CFR 171.2. Is this a correct interpretation by\nthe licensees?\nIf I can provide any further clarification please let me know.\nJason Hunt\n**********\nNOTICE: This E-mail and any attachments may contain confidential information. Use and\nfurther disclosure of the information by the recipient must be consistent with applicable\nlaws, regulations and agreements. If you received this E-mail in error, please noti the\nsender; delete the email; a~.d do not use, disclose or store the information it contains.\nJason H Hunt\nRadiological Emergency Preparedness\nState of Wisconsin\nDepartment of Health Services\nRadiation Protection Section\n1 West Wilson Street\nRoom 148\nP.O. Box 2659\nMadison, Wisconsin 53701-2659\n(608) 266-9443 (Office)\n(608) 219-7843 (Cell)\n(608) 267 3695 Fax\nVisit our Website at: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/dph_beh/RadiatioP/Index.htm\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":7197}