49 C.F.R. Subpart K—Detailed Requirements for Class 7 (Radioactive) Materials
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) Each rail shipment of low specific activity materials or surface contaminated objects as defined in §173.403 of this subchapter must be loaded so as to avoid spillage and scattering of loose material. Loading restrictions are prescribed in §173.427 of this subchapter. (b) The number of packages of Class 7 (radioactive) materials that may be transported by rail car or stored at any single location is limited to a total transport index and a total criticality safety index (as defined in §173.403 of this subchapter) of not more than 50 each. This provision does not apply to exclusive use shipments as described in §§173.403, 173.427, 173.441, and 173.457 of this subchapter. (c) Each package of Class 7 (radioactive) material bearing RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II or RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels may not be placed closer than 0.9 m (3 feet) to an area (or dividing partition between areas) which may be continuously occupied by any passenger, rail employee, or shipment of one or more animals, nor closer than 4.5 m (15 feet) to any package containing undeveloped film (if so marked). If more than one package of Class 7 (radioactive) materials is present, the distance must be computed from the table below on the basis of the total transport index number (determined by adding together the transport index numbers on the labels of the individual packages) of packages in the rail car or storage area: (d) Each shipment of fissile material packages must conform to requirements of §§173.457 and 173.459. (e) Each fissile material, controlled shipment must be transported in accordance with one of the methods prescribed in §173.457 of this subchapter. The transport controls must be adequate to assure that no fissile material, controlled shipment is transported in the same transport vehicle with any other fissile Class 7 (radioactive) material shipment. In loading and storage areas, each fissile material, controlled shipment must be segregated by a distance of at least 6 m (20 feet) from other packages required to bear one of the “radioactive” labels described in part 172 of this subchapter. (f) A person shall not remain unnecessarily in, on or near a transport vehicle containing Class 7 (radioactive) materials. (g) In the case of packages shipped under the exclusive use provisions of §173.441(b) of this subchapter for packages with external radiation levels in excess of 2 mSv per hour (200 mrem per hour) at the package surface— (1) The transport vehicle must meet the requirements for a closed transport vehicle (§173.403 of this subchapter); (2) Each package must be secured so that its position within the transport vehicle remains fixed under conditions normally incident to transportation; and (3) The radiation level may not exceed 0.02 mSv per hour (2 mrem per hour) in any normally occupied position in the transport vehicle or adjacent rail car. [Amdt. 174–80, 60 FR 50331, Sept. 28, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 174–80, 61 FR 20753, May 8, 1996; 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001; 69 FR 3693, Jan. 26, 2004] (a) Each transport vehicle used for transporting Class 7 (radioactive) materials as exclusive use, as defined in §173.403 of this subchapter, must be surveyed with appropriate radiation detection instruments after each use. A transport vehicle may not be returned to service until the radiation dose rate at any accessible surface is 0.005 mSv per hour (0.5 mrem per hour) or less, and there is no significant removable radioactive surface contamination, as defined in §173.443 of this subchapter. (b) This section does not apply to any transport vehicle used solely for transporting Class 7 (radioactive) materials if a survey of the interior surface shows that the radiation dose rate does not exceed 0.1 mSv per hour (10 mrem per hour) at the interior surface or 0.02 mSv per hour (2 mrem per hour) at 1 m (3.3 feet) from any interior surface. The transport vehicle must be stenciled with the words “FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS USE ONLY” in lettering at least 7.6 cm (3 inches) high in a conspicuous place on both sides of the exterior of the transport vehicle, and it must be kept closed at all times other than during loading and unloading. [Amdt. 174–80, 60 FR 50332, Sept. 28, 1995, as amended by 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001] (a) In addition to the incident reporting requirements of §§171.15 and 171.16 of this subchapter, the carrier shall also notify the offeror at the earliest practicable moment following any incident in which there has been breakage, spillage, or suspected radioactive contamination involving Class 7 (radioactive) materials shipments. Transport vehicles, buildings, areas, or equipment in which Class 7 (radioactive) materials have been spilled may not be again placed in service or routinely occupied until the radiation dose rate at every accessible surface is less than 0.005 mSv per hour (0.5 mrem per hour) and there is no significant removable radioactive surface contamination (see §173.443 of this subchapter). (b) The package or materials should be segregated as far as practicable from personnel contact. If radiological advice or assistance is needed, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) should also be notified. In case of obvious leakage, or if it appears likely that the inside container may have been damaged, care should be taken to avoid inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the Class 7 (radioactive) material. Any loose Class 7 (radioactive) materials should be left in a segregated area and held pending disposal instructions, from qualified persons. [Amdt. 174–26, 41 FR 16092, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 174–42, 48 FR 10245, Mar. 10, 1983; Amdt. 174–61, 51 FR 34987, Oct. 1, 1986; Amdt. 174–65, 53 FR 38274, Sept. 29, 1988; Amdt. 174–68, 55 FR 52684, Dec. 21, 1990; Amdt. 174–80, 60 FR 50332, Sept. 28, 1995]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 174—CARRIAGE BY RAIL
Subpart K—Detailed Requirements for Class 7 (Radioactive) Materials
§ 174.700 Special handling requirements for Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minimum Minimum distance separation to area of distance to persons or nearest minimum distance Total transport index undeveloped film from dividing ------------------- partition of a combination car Meters Feet ------------------ Meters Feet------------------------------------------------------------------------None.............................. 0 0 0 00.1 to 10.0....................... 4.5 15 0.9 310.1 to 20.0...................... 6.7 22 1.2 420.1 to 30.0...................... 7.7 29 1.5 530.1 to 40.0...................... 10 33 1.8 640.1 to 50.0...................... 10.9 36 2.1 7------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: The distance in this table must be measured from the nearest point on the nearest packages of Class 7 (radioactive) materials.
§ 174.715 Cleanliness of transport vehicles after use.
§ 174.750 Incidents involving leakage.
