{"operation":"document","citation":"10-0018","title":"Symmetricon — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2010-03-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"10-0018 response to Symmetricon concerning 171.1.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0018.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0018.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0018","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100018.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nWashington. D.C. 20590\nMAR 1a 2010\nMs. Susan Durr\nSr. Logistics Manager\nS ymmetri con\n2300 Orchard Parkway\nSan Jose, CA 95131\nRef. No. 10-0018\nDear Ms. Durr:\nThis responds to your January 15, 20 10 letter concerning the applicability of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to a device containing non-radioactive\ncesium metal (Cs-133). Specifically, you askwhether a device containing ten micrograms (Ilg)\nor less of cesium, a Division 4.3 dangerous when wet material, is subject to the HMR.\nAccording to information provided with your letter, the device is a chip scale atomic clock\n(CSAC) that contains ~ ten Ilgs of cesium metal enclosed in a hermetic cell filled with inert gas\nat < four psig (0.26 atm». The cesium in the CSAC is contained within four layers of\nmechanical protection. A worst case scenario analysis of the temperature and pressure if the\ncesium is exposed to oxygen or water indicates about a 1°C temperature increase in the cell and\nabout a six psig (0040 atm) pressure rise. You also provide video evidence of destructive testing\nindicating no perceptible hazardous effects.\nBased on your analysis and based on a prior interpretation provided to your company by\nPHMSA that less than one gram of rubidium (also a Division 4.3 dangerous when wet material)\ncontained in an atomic clock does not pose a hazard during transportation, it is the opinion of\nthis Office that a CSAC containing ~ ten Ilgs of non-radioactive cesium metal does not pose a\nhazard during transportation. Therefore, provided the material does not meet the definition of\nany other hazard class, the CSAC is not subject to the HMR.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this office.\nSinCerelY'~\nt~.Be~\n~dards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n..----:9\nSymmetri~orT\"\nl)er lLlndt~ ~\nJanuary 15, 2010 U.S Department ofTransportation PHH-l0\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590 Attantion: Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo\n~Kceff-'()~s\n10 - GO 1'3\nDear Mr. Mazzullo,\nSymmetricom, Inc. has developed a new chip scale atomic clock (CSAC) which is more than 100\ntimes smaller than existing atomic clocks. The CSAC contains a very small amount (10\nmicrogram) of cesium metal. Because of the very small quantity of cesium and the inherent\nhermetic construction of the CSAC product within the scope of 49 CFR § 173.13.\nSymmetrlcom seeks a DOT Special Exemption Letter to define the CSAC as exempt from\nHAZMAT transport regulations within the Continental USA and Its territories/lslands.\nSymmetricom has conducted analysis and testing on the CSAC which confirm its non-hazardous\nproperties, as documented in the attached analysis. We provide the analysis with an\naccompanying movie ( CSAC_cel'-fracture_20091222.avi ) of testing; this movie may be viewed\nusing most media viewers (eg Windows Media Player).\nShould you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the following individuals for\nfurther clarity and/or information:\nAdministrative: Susan Durr\nsdurr@symmetrlcom.com\nvoice: 408-964-7624\nTechnical: Dr. Michael Garvey\nrmgarvey@symmetricom,com\nvoice: 9782321417\nWe look forward to a favorable decision from the Department ofTransportation.\n~/73·J3\nSusan Durr\nSr. logistics Manager\nSymmetricom\n2300 Orchard Parkway\nSan Jose, California 95131","truncated":false,"body_characters":3493}