{"operation":"document","citation":"19-0034","title":"Mr. W. A. Winters — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-08-12","effective_on":null,"summary":"19-0034 concerning 172.403, 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0034.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0034.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0034","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71986/190034.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nAUG 1 2 2019\nMr. W. A. Winters\n379 Aragon Avenue\nLos Alamos, NM 87547\nReference No. 19-0034\nDear Mr. Winters:\nThis letter is in response to your March 21, 2019, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 1 71-180) applicable to the transportation of\nradioactive materials. We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQl. In your letter, you describe a scenario in which the dose rate instrument used for\nbeta/gamma is taken with an instrument that has a typical minimum sensitivity of 0.1\nmillirem/hour (mrem/h) gamma. You also note that there are several neutron reading\ninstruments used with a typical minimum sensitivity of 0.25 mrem/h. You state that\n\"Package A\" contains a radionuclide(s) that emit both gamma and neutron radiation, and\nthat the HMR requires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading to be taken at the\nsurface and one meter from the package. If the dose rate is not detectable above the\ninstruments minimum sensitivity at either location, you ask whether it is acceptable to\nassign the dose rate as the minimum detectable for gamma and neutron radiation (0.1\nmrem/h gamma + 0.25 mrem/h neutron= 0.25) and categorize \"Package A\" with the\nClass 7 label (i.e., Yellow II).\nAl. The answer is no. It would not be acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum\ndetectable of the instrument for gamma and neutron radiation. Furthermore, the\ninstrument should be capable of detecting 0.05 mrem/h to determine whether the\ntransport index should be greater than zero (see A5 below).\nQ2. You state that \"Package B\" contains a gamma emitting nuclide(s) only, and that the HMR\nrequires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading be taken at the surface and one\nmeter from the package. If the dose rate is not detectable above the instrument's\nminimum sensitivity at either location, you ask whether it is acceptable to assign the dose\nrate as the minimum detectable for gamma and neutron radiation (0.1 mrem/h gamma+\n0.25 mrem/h neutron= 0.35) and categorize \"Package B\" with the Class 7 label (i.e.,\nYellow II).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA2. Q3. A3. Q4. A4. Q5. A5. The answer is no. It would not be acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum\ndetectable for gamma and neutron radiation. In this case, since it is known that there is\nonly a gamma emitting nuclide, it would be inappropriate to assign the minimum\ndetectable neutron reading to the dose rate. Furthermore, the instrument should be\ncapable of detecting 0.05 mrem/h to determine whether the transport index should be\ngreater than zero (see A5 below).\nYou state that \"Package C\" contains a beta-emitting nuclide only, and that the HMR\nrequires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading be taken at the surface and one\nmeter from the package. If the dose rate is not detectable above the instrument's\nminimum sensitivity at either location, you ask whether it is acceptable to assign the dose\nrate as the minimum detectable for gamma and neutron radiation (0.1 mrem/h gamma+\n0.25 mrem/h neutron= 0.35) and categorize \"Package C\" with the Class 7 label (i.e.,\nYellow II).\nThe answer is no. It would not be acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum\ndetectable for gamma and neutron radiation. In this case, since it is known that there is\nonly a beta-emitting nuclide, it would be inappropriate to assign the minimum detectable\ngamma and neutron readings to the dose rate. Furthermore, the instrument should be\ncapable of detecting 0.05 mrern/h to determine whether the transport index should be\ngreater than zero (see A5 below).\nYou ask whether it is acceptable to be conservative and assign a higher category of Class\n7 label to a package than that indicated by the dose rate instruments (i.e., Category ·\nYellow II) rather than White I.\nThe answer is no. Assignment of a higher label category than indicated by dose rate\nmeasurements would be inappropriate.\nYou ask whether it is required for the Class 7 label category determination that the person\ndetermining the dose rates uses a dose rate instrument and measurement times capable of\nachieving the minimum dose rate stated for Class 7 label categorization, specifically, 0.05\nmrem/h (total combined gamma and neutron when neutron emitters are present).\nThe answer is no. The HMR does not specifically state that an instrument must be used\nor be capable of achieving a minimum dose rate of 0.005 mrem/hr. However, under\n§ 173.22 of the HMR it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous\nmaterial. It is recommended that for Class 7 label category determination that the person\ndetermining the dose rates for the Class 7 label categorization use a dose rate instrument\nand measurement times capable of detecting the minimum dose rate stated for Class 7\nlabel categorization (per 49 CFR 172.403), specifically, 0.05 mrem/h.\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nQ6. A6. Q7. A7. You ask whether it is acceptable to use scientific calculations to determine the dose rate\nat one meter rather than performing actual instrument dose rate measurements.\nThe answer is yes. However, under§ 173.22 of the HMR it is the shipper's responsibility\nto properly classify a hazardous material. While calculations may give an indication of\nthe expected levels, confirmation from actual readings is recommended to assure that the\npackage is properly loaded, assembled, closed and prepared for transportation.\nYou ask whether it will be a violation of the HMR if a corporate policy requires\nminimum instrument sensitivity be assigned as the dose rate of a package and the Class 7\nlabel category determined from this regardless of the actual dose rates and nuclides\npresent.\nThe answer is yes. The label category should be determined by actual dose rates.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n~#~~~\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nJanuary, lkeya CTR (PHMSA)\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject: Attachments: Friday, March 22, 2019 1:28 PM\nHazmat lnterps\nFW: Request for Interpretation per 49 CFR 105.20\nRRI LOI Request - Dose Rate Measurements (Mar 21, 2019).pdf\nHello Alice and lkeya,\nPlease see the letter of interpretation request in the attached document.\nLynsie Patschke\nTransportation Regulatory Specialist\nHazardous Materials Information Center (HMIC)\nFrom: Wade Winters [mailto:wade@regulatoryresources.net]\nSent: Thursday, March 21, 2019 9:34 PM\nTo: PHMSA HM lnfoCenter <PHMSAHMlnfoCenter@dot.gov>\nCc: Conroy, Michael (PHMSA) <Michael.Conroy@dot.gov>\nSubject: Request for Interpretation per 49 CFR 105.20\nDear Standards and Rulemaking,\nPlease accept the attached letter as a formal request for guidance as specified in 49 CFR 105.20.\nThank you,\nWade Winters\n---·--------------\nRegulatory Resources, Inc.\nYour Training and Compliance Professionals\n505-393-0111\nwww.reghead.net\nThis e-mail and any attachment(s) are confidential and may contain proprietary information of Regulatory Resources, Inc. This e-mail and any\nattachment(s) are intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed; they may contain legally privileged and protected matter. Any\nreview, retransmission, dissemination or other use whatsoever by persons or entities other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If\nyou received this in error, please delete the original transmission, destroy all electronic and hard copies, and notify the sender by return e-mail.\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nRegulatory\nResources ,n(C\n\"The Source You Come Back To\"\n379 Aragon Ave.\nLos Alamos, NM 87547\nVoice: 505-393-0111\ni nfo@regu latoryresou rces. net\nwww.regulatoryresources.net\nMarch 21, 2019\nMr. Shane Kelley\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Mr. Kelley,\nI am seeking a formal interpretation per 49 CFR 105.20, Guidance and interpretations.\nI recently conducted a nationwide open-seminar course on the subject of the US domestic Class 7\nradioactive material packaging and transportation regulations. A discussion arose concerning the\nmeasurement of package dose rates. These questions concern 49 CFR 172.403, labeling for Class 7\n(radioactive) material, specifically the lower dose rate threshold for label categorization, and for the\nallowance to be conservative in assigning a dose rate to a given package.\n1. Situation. The dose rate instrument used for beta/gamma is typically taken with an instrument that has\na typical minimum sensitivity of 0.1 mrem/h gamma. There are several neutron reading instruments\nused with a typical minimum sensitivity of approximately 0.25 mrem/h.\nPackage A. This package contains a radionuclide(s) that emit both gamma and neutron radiations.\nA procedure requires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading be taken at the surface and 1 meter\nfrom the package. If the dose rate is not detectable above the instruments minimum sensitivity at\neither location, is it acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum detectable for gamma and\nneutron radiation and categorize the package with the Class 7 label - i.e., Yellow II (0.1 mrem/h gamma\n+ 0.25 mrem/h neutron = 0.35)?\nPackage B. This package contains a gamma emitting nuclide(s) only.\nA procedure requires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading be taken at the surface and 1 meter\nfrom the package. If the dose rate not detectable above the instrument's minimum sensitivity at either\nlocation, is it acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum detectable for gamma and neutron\nradiation (0.1 mrem/h gamma+ 0.25 mrem/h neutron = 0.35) and categorize the package with the Class\n7 label - i.e., Yellow II?\nPackage C. This package contains a beta-emitting nuclide only.\nA procedure requires both a gamma and neutron dose rate reading be taken at the surface and 1 meter\nfrom the package. If the dose rate not detectable above the instrument's minimum sensitivity at either\nlocation, is it acceptable to assign the dose rate as the minimum detectable for gamma and neutron\nradiation (0.1 mrem/h gamma+ 0.25 mrem/h neutron = 0.35) and categorize the package with the Class\n7 label - i.e., Yellow If?\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n~ Regulatory Resources, Irie.\n~ 379 Aragon Avenue\nLos Alamos, NM 87547\n505-393-0111\ninfo@regulatoryresotirces.net\nwww.regulatoryresources.net\n2. 3. 4. 5. Is it acceptable to be conservative and assign a higher category of Class 7 label to a package than that\nindicated by dose rate measurements - i.e., Category Yellow II rather than a White I?\nIs it expected that for Class 7 label category determination that the person determining the dose rates\nfor the Class 7 label categorization use a dose rate instrument and measurement times capable of\nachieving the minimum dose rate stated for Class 7 label categorization, specifically, 0.05 mrem/h (total\ncombined gamma and neutron when neutron emitters are present)?\nIs it acceptable to use scientific calculations, considering the radioactive content and packaging\nconfiguration, to determine the dose rate at 1 meter rather than performing actual instrument dose rate\nmeasurements?\nWould it be a violation of the DOT HMR if a corporate policy requires minimum instrument sensitivity be\nassigned as the dose rate of a package and the Class 7 label category determined from this regardless of\nthe actual dose rates and nuclides present?\nThank you.\nW. A. Winters\nPresident","truncated":false,"body_characters":11600}