{"operation":"document","citation":"13-0217","title":"Mr. Mark B. Hawk — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2014-03-12","effective_on":null,"summary":"13-0217 concerning 173.465.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0217.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0217.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0217","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130217.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMAR 1 2 2014\nMr. Mark B. Hawk\nHazardous Materials Consultant\n49 Palisades Parkway\nOak Ridge, TN 37830\nReference No. 13-0217\nDear Mr. Hawk:\nThis is in response to your November 12,2013, and November 21,2013 e-mails asking when\nthe free drop test prescribed in§ 173.465(c)(2) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) is required for packages containing Type A, fissile Class 7\n(radioactive) material. We have paraphrased your questions and answered them in the order\nyou provided.\nQl. Is my understanding correct that the free drop test prescribed in§ 173.465(c)(2) is\nrequired for Class 7 fissile materials that are subject to the Nuclear Regulatory\nCommission's (NRC's) 10 CFR Part 71, Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive\nMaterial, Subpart C, General Licenses? Also, is my understanding correct that 10\nCFR Part 71 states a Type A package prescribed in§ 173.417(a) is required for Class\n7 fissile material?\nAl. Your understanding is incorrect. Section 173.465(c)(2) states all materials that meet\nthe definition of a fissile material in § 173.403 must be placed in a packaging intended\nto contain Type A fissile material. In addition, this packaging must be capable of\nsuccessfully withstanding a free drop test from a height of 0.3 m (1 foot) on each\ncomer, or in the case of cylindrical packages, onto each of the quarters of each rim,\nand then must demonstrate that it is capable of successfully withstanding the free drop\ntest prescribed in§ 173.465(c)(1). The NRC is the federal agency authorized to\ninterpret the requirements prescribed in 10 CFR Part 71. To obtain a clarification on\nthese regulations, you may wish to contact the NRC's Office of Public Affairs, 11555\nRockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 415-8200.\nQ2. Is my understanding correct that no other fissile Class 7 materials subject to\nDepartment of Transportation (DOT) regulations other than Type A are required to\ncomply with the free drop test for Type A packagings prescribed in§ 173.465(c)(2)?\nA2. Your understanding is correct. Under the 1979 Memorandum ofUnderstanding\nbetween the DOT and the NRC (that can be downloaded from this website location:\nhttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/moun\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3. A3. rcdot.pdf), DOT has the primary responsibility for regulating Type A quantities of\nClass 7 materials and their packagings. The HMR require that a Type A inner\npackaging must satisfy the requirements of the free drop test specified in§ 173.465(c)\nand the initial drop test requirements for fissile material specified in § 173 .465( c )(2).\nIs it correct that fissile materials that qualify for the exceptions prescribed in§ 173.453\ndo not have to comply with the free drop test prescribed in§ 173.465(c)(2)?\nThe answer is yes. Packagings authorized for fissile materials that comply with the\nexceptions prescribed in§ 173.453 do not have to comply with the requirements for\nfissile materials prescribed in 49 CFR Part 173, except as specifically noted, and are\nexcepted from having to comply with the free drop test for fissile material packagings\nprescribed in§ 173.465(c)(2).\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\n/-¢7V?U~-\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n·EOrnoncoh\n~ 173 .4(o5cc2.)~J\n--r-esh~ o-P Pu~Q8 es\n13-0~17\nMr. Charles Betts, Director\nStandards and Rulemaking Division,\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: PHH-10,\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubject: Clarification of the Package Testing for fissile materials - 49 CFR 173. 465( c )(2)\nDear Mr. Betts:\nThe purpose of this letter is to request a clarification as to when the testing stipulated in 49 CFR\n173 .465( c )(2) is required. Also requested is a clarification as to the classification and amount of fissile\nmaterial referenced in the phrase \"containing fissile material\" in the above cited paragraph.\nAfter review of the regulations and a previous U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Letter of\nInterpretation, dated May 18, 2005 (Reference no. 05-0093 ), it is clear the testing in 49 CFR\n173.465( c )(2) is required for fissile materials under the General Licensing requirements for fissile\nmaterials of 10 CFR Part 71, Subpart C, that requires Type A packages in accordance with 49 CFR\n173.417(a).\nIt is also my determination that there are no other fissile material(s) within DOT jurisdiction which\nwould require compliance with additional testing ofType A package in accordance with 173.465(c)(2).\nIs this determination correct?\nAdditionally, it is commonly accepted that the testing in 49 CFR 173 .465( c )(2) is not appJ icable to\nfissile materials that meet the fissile materials exceptions in 49 CFR 173.453. Is that determination\ncorrect?\nThank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this request. If you require additional\ninformation, please contact me at (865) 250-3300, or by e-mail.\nSincerely,\nj1(cz~yj,.l~\nMark B. Hawk\nHazardous Materials Consultant","truncated":false,"body_characters":5256}