49 CFR 176.708 - Segregation distances.

Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 49 - Transportation last revised: Nov 18, 2024

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Table of Contents

§ 176.700 - General stowage requirements.

§ 176.704 - Requirements relating to transport indices and criticality safety indices.

§ 176.708 - Segregation distances.

§ 176.710 - Care following leakage or sifting of radioactive materials.

§ 176.715 - Contamination control.

§ 176.720 - Requirements for carriage of INF cargo in international transportation.

§ 176.700 - General stowage requirements.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) A package of radioactive materials which in still air has a surface temperature more than 5 °C (9 °F) above the ambient air may not be overstowed with any other cargo. If the package is stowed under deck, the hold or compartment in which it is stowed must be ventilated.

(c) For a shipment of radioactive materials requiring supplemental operational procedures, the shipper must furnish the master or person in charge of the vessel a copy of the necessary operational instructions.

(d) A person may not remain unnecessarily in a hold, or compartment, or in the immediate vicinity of any package on deck, containing radioactive materials.

(The information collection requirements in paragraph (d) were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control numbers 2137-0534, 2137-0535 and 2137-0536) [Amdt. 176-15, 48 FR 10245, Mar. 10, 1983, as amended by Amdt. 176-15, 48 FR 31220, July 7, 1983; Amdt. 176-23, 50 FR 41523, Oct. 11, 1985; Amdt. 176-37, 60 FR 50333, Sept. 28, 1995; 66 FR 45385, Aug. 28, 2001; 69 FR 3694, Jan. 26, 2004]

§ 176.704 - Requirements relating to transport indices and criticality safety indices.

(a) The sum of the transport indices (TI's) for all packages of Class 7 (radioactive) materials on board a vessel may not exceed the limits specified in Table IIIA of this section.

(b) For freight containers containing packages and overpacks of Class 7 (radioactive) materials, the radiation level may not exceed 2 mSv per hour (200 mrem per hour) at any point on the outside surface and 0.1 mSv per hour (10 mrem per hour) at 2 m (6.6 ft) from the outside surface of the freight container.

(d) The sum of the criticality safety indices (CSI's) for all packages and overpacks of fissile Class 7 (radioactive) materials on board a vessel may not exceed the limits specified in Table IIIB of this section.

(e) Each group of fissile Class 7 (radioactive) material packages and overpacks, containing a sum of CSIs no greater than 50 for a non-exclusive use shipment, or no greater than 100 for an exclusive use shipment, must be separated from all other groups containing fissile material packages and overpacks by a distance of at least 6 m (20 ft) at all times.

(f) The limitations specified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section do not apply when the entire vessel is reserved or chartered for use by a single offeror under exclusive use conditions if—

(1) The number of packages of fissile Class 7 (radioactive) material satisfies the individual package CSI limits of § 173.457 of this subchapter, except that the total sums of CSI's in the last column of Table IIIB of this section, including table note (d) apply;

(2) A radiation protection program for the shipment has been established and approved by the competent authority of the flag state of the vessel and, when requested, by the competent authority at each port of call;

(3) Stowage arrangements have been predetermined for the whole voyage, including any consignments to be loaded at ports of call;

(4) The loading, transport and unloading are to be supervised by persons qualified in the transport of radioactive material; and

(5) The entire shipment operation is approved by the Associate Administrator in advance.

(g) Table IIIA is as follows:

Table IIIA—TI Limits for Freight Containers and Conveyances

Type of freight container or conveyance	Limit on total sum of transport indices in a single freight container or aboard a conveyance
Type of freight container or conveyance	Not under exclusive use	Under exclusive use
I. Freight container—small	50	N/A.
II. Freight container—large	50	No limit.
III. Vessel: ^{a b}
1. Hold, compartment or defined deck area:
i. Packages, overpacks, small freight containers	50	No limit.
ii. Large freight containers	200	No limit.
2. Total vessel:
i. Packages, overpacks, small freight containers	200	No limit.
ii. Large freight containers	No limit	No limit.

Notes:

^a For vessels, the requirements in both 1 and 2 must be fulfilled.

^b Packages or overpacks transported in or on a vehicle which are offered for transport in accordance with the provisions of § 173.441(b) of this subchapter may be transported by vessels provided that they are not removed from the vehicle at any time while on board the vessel.

(h) Table IIIB is as follows:

Table IIIB—CSI Limits for Freight Containers and Conveyances

Type of freight container or conveyance	Limit on total sum of criticality safety indices in a single freight container or aboard a conveyance
Type of freight container or conveyance	Not under exclusive use	Under exclusive use
I. Freight container—small	50	N/A.
II. Freight container—large	50	100.
III. Vessel: ^{a b}
1. Hold, compartment or defined deck area:
i. Packages, overpacks, small freight containers	50	100.
ii. Large freight containers	50	100.
2. Total vessel:
i. Packages, overpacks, small freight containers	200 ^c	200 ^d.
ii. Large freight containers	No limit ^c	No limit ^d.

Notes:

^a For vessels, the requirements in both 1 and 2 must be fulfilled.

^c The consignment must be handled and stowed such that the total sum of CSIs in any group does not exceed 50, and such that each group is handled and stowed so that the groups are separated from each other by at least 6 m (20 ft).

^d The consignment must be handled and stowed such that the total sum of CSIs in any group does not exceed 100, and such that each group is handled and stowed so that the groups are separated from each other by at least 6 m (20 ft). The intervening space between groups may be occupied by other cargo.

[69 FR 3694, Jan. 26, 2004]

§ 176.708 - Segregation distances.

(a) Table IV lists minimum separation distances between radioactive materials and spaces regularly occupied by crew members or passengers, or between radioactive materials and undeveloped photographic film. It expresses the separation distances as a function of the sum of the TIs of all packages in a single consignment, in the case of 0 or 3 feet of intervening cargo of unit density for persons, and 0, 3, or 6 feet of intervening cargo of unit density for undeveloped film. Cargo of unit density is stowed cargo with a density of 1 long ton (2240 lbs.) per 36 cubic feet. Separation distances may be interpolated from the table where appropriate.

(b) Table IV is to be used to determine the separation distance for undeveloped film.

(c) Category YELLOW-II or YELLOW-III packages or overpacks must not be transported in spaces occupied by passengers, except those exclusively reserved for couriers specially authorized to accompany such packages or overpacks.

(d) The separation distances for crew members and passengers may be determined by one of two methods:

(1) By using Table IV to determine the minimum distances between the radioactive material packages and regularly occupied spaces or living quarters; or

(2) For one or more consignments of Class 7 (radioactive) material to be loaded on board a vessel under the exclusive use conditions described in § 176.704(f), by demonstration through direct measurement, made and documented by a suitably qualified person, that for the indicated exposure times the dose rate in regularly occupied spaces or living quarters is less than—

(i) For the crew: 7.0 µSv/h (0.70 mrem/h) up to 700 hours in a year, or 1.8 µSv/h (0.18 mrem/h) up to 2750 hours in a year; and

(ii) For the passengers: 1.8 µSv/h (0.18 mrem/h) up to 550 hours in a year, taking into account any relocation of cargo during the voyage.

(e) Any departure from the segregation provisions should be approved by the competent authority of the flag state of the ship and, when requested, by the competent authority at each port of call.

(f) Table IV is as follows:

Table IV

Sum of transport indexes of the packages	Minimum distance in feet from living accommodation or regularly occupied working space		Minimum distance in feet from undeveloped film and plates
			1 day voyage			2 day voyage			4 day voyage			10 day voyage			20 day voyage			30 day voyage			40 day voyage			50 day voyage

	Cargo thickness in feet (unit density)
	Nil	3	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6	Nil	3	6
0.1 to 0.5	5	X	6	X	X	8	X	X	11	X	X	17	4	X	25	6	X	30	7	X	35	8	X	39	9	X
0.6 to 1	6	X	8	X	X	11	X	X	16	4	X	25	6	X	35	8	X	42	10	X	50	12	X	55	13	X
1.1 to 2	9	X	11	X	X	16	4	X	22	5	X	35	8	X	50	12	X	61	14	X	70	17	X	78	19	X
2.1 to 3	10	X	14	X	X	19	5	X	27	6	X	42	10	X	61	14	X	74	18	X	86	20	X	96	23	X
3.1 to 5	13	X	17	4	X	25	6	X	35	8	X	55	13	X	78	19	X	96	23	X	110	26	X	124	29	7
5.1 to 10	19	4	25	6	X	35	8	X	50	12	X	78	19	X	110	26	X	135	33	8	155	37	9	175	42	10
10.1 to 20	26	6	35	8	X	50	12	X	69	17	X	110	26	X	155	37	9	190	46	11	220	53	13	250	59	14
20.1 to 30	32	8	43	10	X	61	14	X	85	20	X	135	32	8	190	45	11	235	56	13	270	65	16	305	72	17
30.1 to 50	42	10	55	13	X	78	19	X	110	26	X	175	42	10	245	58	14	300	73	17	350	84	20	390	94	22
50.1 to 100	59	14	78	19	X	110	26	X	155	37	9	245	59	14	350	82	20	430	105	24	515	118	28	550	130	32
100.1 to 150	72	17	96	23	X	135	32	8	190	46	11	300	72	17	425	100	24	525	125	30	600	145	35	( ⁷ )	165	39
150.1 to 200	84	20	110	26	X	155	37	9	200	53	13	350	84	20	490	115	28	600	140	35	( ⁷ )	165	40	( ⁷ )	190	45
200.1 to 300	105	24	135	32	X	190	46	11	270	64	15	425	105	25	600	145	35	( ⁷ )	180	42	( ⁷ )	205	49	( ⁷ )	230	55
300.1 to 400	120	28	160	37	9	220	53	13	310	75	18	500	120	28	( ⁷ )	165	40	( ⁷ )	205	49	( ⁷ )	235	57	( ⁷ )	265	63

Note:

(1) X—indicates that thickness of screening cargo is sufficient without any additional segregation distance.

(2) By using 6 feet of intervening unit density cargo for persons and 10 feet for film and plates, no distance shielding is necessary for any length of voyage specified.

(3) Using 1 steel bulkhead or steel deck—multiply segregation distance by 0.8. Using 2 steel bulkheads or steel decks—multiply segregation distance by 0.64.

(4) “Cargo of Unit Density” means cargo stowed at a density of 1 ton (long) per 36 cubic feet; where the density is less than this the depth of cargo specified must be increased in proportion.

(5) “Minimum distance” means the least in any direction whether vertical or horizontal from the outer surface of the nearest package.

(6) The figures below the double line of the table shall be used in those cases where the appropriate provisions of this class permit the sum of the transport indices to exceed 200.

(7) Not to be carried unless screening by other cargo and bulkheads can be arranged in accordance with the other columns.

[Amdt. 176-15, 48 FR 10245, Mar. 10, 1983, as amended by Amdt. 176-37, 60 FR 50334, Sept. 28, 1995; 69 FR 3695, Jan. 26, 2004]

§ 176.710 - Care following leakage or sifting of radioactive materials.

(a) In case of fire, collision, or breakage involving any shipment of radioactive materials, other than materials of low specific activity, the radioactive materials must be segregated from unnecessary contact with personnel. In case of obvious leakage, or if the inside container appears to be damaged, the stowage area (hold, compartment, or deck area) containing this cargo must be isolated as much as possible to prevent radioactive material from entering any person's body through contact, inhalation, or ingestion. No person may handle the material or remain in the vicinity unless supervised by a qualified person.

(b) A hold or compartment in which leakage of radioactive materials has occurred may not be used for other cargo until it is decontaminated in accordance with the requirements of § 176.715.

§ 176.715 - Contamination control.

Each hold, compartment, or deck area used for the transportation of low specific activity or surface contaminated object Class 7 (radioactive) materials under exclusive use conditions in accordance with § 173.427(b)(4), or § 173.427(c) must be surveyed with appropriate radiation detection instruments after each use. Such holds, compartments, and deck areas may not be used again for Class 7 (radioactive) materials exclusive use transport service, and then only for a subsequent exclusive use shipment utilizing the provisions of § 173.427(b)(4), or § 173.427(c) until the radiation dose rate at every accessible surface is less than 0.005 mSv/h (0.5 mrem/h), and the non-fixed contamination is not greater than the limits prescribed in § 173.443(a) of this subchapter.

[79 FR 40618, July 11, 2014]

§ 176.720 - Requirements for carriage of INF cargo in international transportation.

In addition to all other applicable requirements of this subchapter, a vessel carrying INF cargo (see § 176.2, under INF cargo definition) in international transportation must meet the requirements of the INF Code contained in the IMDG Code (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

[68 FR 75748, Dec. 31, 2003]

authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128; 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97

source: Amdt. 176-1, 41 FR 16110, Apr. 15, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

cite as: 49 CFR 176.708