Packaging Certification News Archive

Note:

Some of the of links provided below point to files residing on other websites. Because of this, a few are no longer viable.

DOE News

Attention all users of the 5320 package:

During recent annual certifications of tie-down hardware, failures occurred involving the Telair (formerly known as Air Cargo and Brownline) 3/8"-24 single stud tie-down track studs with 1/8" roll pins breaking at the roll pin holes. It was determined by Sandia that there are studs in the Safe Secure Trailer (SST) and Safeguards Transporter (SGT) fleet that were overtorqued and subsequently damaged sometime in the past.

While the hardware being tested did not directly involve the 5320 package, the tie down studs are identical. The Telair 3/8"-24 roll-pin studs will be replaced with Telair no-roll pin studs and all roll pin studs will be removed from inventory. Roll pin studs will not be allowed to be used in a DOE SGT or SST after the official change goes into effect in two to three months.

The new no-roll pin studs to support 5320 shipments are available by contacting Barry Pugh of BWXT of Ohio (formerly Mound) at 937-865-3083 or Pughbk@doe-md.gov.
Transportation Safety Regulatory Bulletins: August 1, 1999, September 15, 1999.
Revision 2 of the Packaging Review Guide for Reviewing Safety Analysis Reports for Packagings has been issued.
The new Radioactive Materials Packaging Handbook is available from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Handbook, sponsored by DOE/EM-70 and written by many experts in their respective fields, is a compilation of technical chapters that addresses the design and certification aspects of packages intended for transporting radioactive material in normal commerce. Copies of the Handbook can be obtained for a nominal fee by contacting L. B. Shappert at (423) 974-1976, fax (423) 974-1975, or e-mail shappertlb@ornl.gov; or R. B. Pope at (423) 974-1963 or e-mail poperb@ornl.gov.

The Handbook recently won a Technical Communication Award from the East Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.
A reminder: A Type B(U) package, a Type B(M) package, a low specific activity (LSA) material package, or a fissile material package, previously approved by the Department of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission but without the designation "-85" in the identification number of the Certificate of Compliance, may be used provided fabrication of the package was satisfactorily completed by April 1, 1999. See 10 CFR 71.13(b) for more information.
View the draft DOE Order 461.X: Defense Programs Packaging and Transportation. The proposed subject directive, produced by the Office of Defense Programs, establishes requirements and responsibilities for the packaging of nuclear components and special assemblies and the transportation of nuclear explosives, nuclear components, Naval fuel elements, Category I and II special nuclear materials, special assemblies, and other materials of national security interest. Comments on the draft Order are due by October 10, 1998.
LANL Lessons Learned Statement: Drum inspection specifications necessary to ensure adequate inspections.
View the Defense Programs Packaging Database Technical Manual, Revision 3, dated April 1998 (pdf format).

DOT News

DOT Final Rule (published March 25, 2003) on Security Requirements for Offerors and Transporters of Hazardous Materials.
The DOT Radioactive Material Regulations Review provides guidance on the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations which govern the packaging and shipment of radioactive material.
DOT has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the possible adoption in the 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations of the 1996 changes to the international RAM transport regulations. (Click here to view the Federal Register notice.) Public comments are due by June 29, 2000.
The DOT Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) recently published two items in the Federal Register concerning Radiation Protection Program (RPP) requirements (click here to view them in pdf format). RSPA is extending until October 1, 1999, the date for mandatory compliance with the RPP requirements adopted in the final rule issued September 28, 1995. During this period, RSPA intends to consider in a separate rulemaking whether the RPP requirements should be withdrawn or revised because of the difficulties and complexities concerning implementation of and compliance with the RPP requirements. RSPA believes that compliance should not be required with requirements that may be withdrawn or substantially revised, and that overall safety in the transportation of radioactive materials will be advanced by reexamining the RPP requirements before requiring compliance with the current requirements.
Check out the DOT RSPA Hazardous Materials Safety Rulemakings and Federal Register Notices link, which is found under Rules and Regulations on the Home Page.

NRC News

NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2003-07, "Issuance of Regulations Revising Filing Requirements for Advance Notification of the Shipment of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Special Nuclear Material," dated April 23, 2003.
NRC Bulletin 2003-03, "Potentially Defective 1-Inch Valves for Uranium Hexafluoride Cylinders," dated August 29, 2003.
NRC Information Notice 2002-35, "Changes to 10 CFR Parts 71 and 72 Quality Assurance Programs," dated December 20, 2002.
NRC Information Notice 2002-31, "Potentially Defective UF6 Cylinder Valves (1-Inch)," dated October 31, 2002.
NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2002-18, "Issuance of Orders Imposing Additional Physical Protection Measures for the Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Greater Than 100 Grams," dated October 3, 2002.
NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2002-12I, "Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel Greater Than 100 Grams - NRC Threat Advisory and Protective Measures System," dated August 19, 2002.

The NRC is preparing an overall rulemaking plan that addresses the need to make the regulations in 10 CFR Part 71 "Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material" compatible with ST-1, the latest revision of the IAEA transportation safety standards. To this end, NRC is soliciting public comment on an issues paper (contained in Attachment 3 of the hyperlinked document) associated with this rulemaking plan. Comments are due by August 31, 2000.
The NRC has recently issued Information Notice 99-15: Misapplication of 10 CFR Part 71 Transportation Shipping Cask Basis to 10 CFR Part 50 Design Basis
NRC to make public records available electronically, change Public Document Room program.
The NRC has issued a "white paper" special report outlining its expectations regarding the "risk-informed" and "performance-based" regulation of nuclear safety. The report defines these and other related items to promote a more common understanding within the NRC and its regulated community, as well as by the public, as to how risk-informed and performance-based concepts apply to various agency functions. The text of the white paper, "Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Regulations" is posted on the NRC web page at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/COMMISSION/POLICY/whiteppr.html.
Termination of NRC Certificates for LSA Packages - NRC Certificates of Compliance for packages for Low Specific Activity (LSA) material have expired. In accordance with 10 CFR 71.52, these packages were previously authorized to transport LSA radioactive material. However, Section 71.52 expired on April 1, 1999; consequently, the certificates cannot be renewed. LSA packages and their use are now regulated by DOT.
January 21, 1999, letter from NRC regarding puncture testing of shipping packages under 10 CFR Part 71.
View NUREG-1660: U.S.-Specific Schedules of Requirements for Transport of Specified Types of Radioactive Material Consignments.
View NUREG-1608: Categorizing and Transporting Low Specific Activity Materials and Surface Contaminated Objects.
Effective July 1, 1998, the NRC has terminated the following Certificates of Compliance:

Certificate No.          Model Name
9006                         AI 500 SU
9127                         100, 100A, 200, 200A
9128                         C8
9167                         3206B, 3227B, 3218
NRC extends comment period on petition from International Energy Consultants, Inc.
NRC publishes final rule on requirements for shipping packages used to transport vitrified high-level waste.
NRC to discuss apparent packaging violation with Pennsylvania company.
The NRC has issued a draft report NUREG-1617 entitled "Standard Review Plan for Transportation Packages for Spent Nuclear Fuel" for review and comment. See the Federal Register notice (pdf format).
NRC issues letter to INC confirming suspension of fabrication of packages for transportation of radioactive material.
NRC issues letter to Siemens Nuclear Division confirming actions on transportation packages.
NRC proposes $4,400 civil penalty against Delaware firm for violation involving transportation of radioactive material.
The NRC has received a petition for rulemaking concerning the special requirements for plutonium shipments in 10 CFR 71.63. View the Federal Register notice in pdf format. Public comments are due by May 5, 1998.
The NRC has issued Bulletin 97-02 on Puncture Testing of Shipping Packages Under 10 CFR Part 71. (You can also access this Bulletin under NRC Information Notices and Bulletins, which is found under Rules and Regulations on the Home Page.) Click here to view DOE's response to the Bulletin (pdf format).
The NRC has issued a draft version of NUREG 1609, "Standard Review Plan for Transportation Packages for Radioactive Material," for review and comment. (Click here to read the Federal Register notice.)
The NRC recently issued two Information Notices concerning the Amersham Model 660 Series gamma ray projectors, which are Type B containers certified under NRC CoC 9033:

Information Notice 97-86: Additional Controls for Transport of the Amersham Model No. 660 Series Radiographic Exposure Devices.

Information Notice 97-91: Recent Failures of Control Cables Used on Amersham Model 660 Posilock Radiography Systems.

You can also access these Notices under NRC Information Notices and Bulletins, which is found under Rules and Regulations on the Home Page.

The NRC has issued Information Notice 97-87: Second Retrofit to Industrial Nuclear Company IR100 Radiography Camera, to Correct Inconsistency in 10 CFR Part 34 Compatibility. The IR100 is a Type B container certified under NRC CoC 9157. (You can also access this Notice under NRC Information Notices and Bulletins, which is found under Rules and Regulations on the Home Page.)
See NRC Information Notice 98-01 on Thefts of Portable Gauges.

IAEA News

The new 2001 DIRECTORY OF TEST FACILITIES FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS TRANSPORT PACKAGES is due for circulation shortly to subscribers to the International Journal of Radioactive Materials Transport. Copies are also available for sale separately at a cost of US$85.50 outside the UK and �45.00 within the UK.

The Directory contains information on test facilities for radioactive material transport packages in about 40 worldwide locations (including Duratek Federal Services, Inc., Northwest Operations - EM-5's approved test facility for its DOT 7A Type A test and evaluation program). This Directory is an updated and expanded edition of the one published in 1991 and has been prepared in collaboration with and with the agreement of the IAEA. Full details may be found at http://www.ntp.org.uk/prod/prodTS_111.html.
The IAEA initiated at the beginning of this year a process for revising its Transport Regulations and associated support documents which will ultimately lead to publication of revised standards every two years. Proposals for change to the IAEA Transport Regulations have been received from various Member States and international organizations. In addition, as part of this process, various Member States and international organizations have also identified problems with the IAEA Transport Regulations.
Click here for more information on this subject, including: 1) summaries of proposed revisions to identified problems with the Transport Safety Standards, 2) proposed revisions to identified problems with the Transport Safety Standards, and 3) forms for commenting on proposed revisions to the Transport Safety Standards. When you select one of these choices, enter the following login information (lowercase sensitive):

User name: proprev
Password: tc4059props
The Technical Committee Meeting to Identify Issues Relating to the Requirements of the Current Transport Regulations and to Develop Approaches to Guide the Revision of these Requirements (TC-1156) was held March 6-10, 2000 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The objectives of the meeting were to 1) develop recommendations which can be used by Member States in formulating specific proposals to revise the regulations, and 2) where appropriate, develop draft interim guidance on implementing ST-1 (1996 Edition). The Chairman's Report is available for viewing in three parts - main, part 1, part 2.
View the Chairman's Report on the Technical Committee Meeting on Transport Safety Databases (pdf format), which was held at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, 20-24 October 1997.

Updated August 12, 2007