such a manner as to prevent its use for that purpose. (4) Each lifting device which is a structural part of the package shall be so designed that failure of the device under excessive load would not impair the containment or shielding properties of the package. (d) Tie-down devices: (1) If there is a system of tie-down devices which is a structural part of the package, the system shall be capable of withstanding, without generating stress in any material of the package in excess of its yield strength, a static force applied to the center of gravity of the package having a vertical component of two times the weight of the package with its contents, a horizontal component along the direction in which the vehicle travels of 10 times the weight of the package with its contents, and a horizontal component in the transverse direction of 5 times the weight of the package with its contents. (2) If there is a structural part of the package which could be employed to tie the package down and which does not comply with paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the part shall be securely covered or locked during transport in such a manner as to prevent its use for that purpose. (3) Each tie-down device which is a structural part of the package shall be so designed that failure of the device under excessive load would not impair the ability of the package to meet other requirements of this subpart. § 71.32 Structural standards for type B and large quantity packaging. Packaging used to ship a type B or a large quantity of radioactive material, as defined in § 71.4 (q) and (f), shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the structural standards of this section. Standards different from those specified in this section may be approved by the Commission if the controls proposed to be exercised by the shipper are demonstrated to be adequate to assure the safety of the shipment. (a) Load resistance. Regarded as a simple beam supported at its ends along any major axis, packaging shall be capable of withstanding a static load, normal to and uniformly distributed along its length, equal to 5 times its fully loaded weight, without generating stress in any material of the packaging in excess of its yield strength. (b) External pressure. Packaging shall be adequate to assure that the containment vessel will suffer no loss of contents if subjected to an external pressure of 25 pounds per square inch gauge. [31 FR 9941, July 22, 1966, as amended at 38 FR 10439. Apr. 27, 1973] § 71.33 Criticality standards for fissile material packages. (a) A package used for the shipment of fissile material shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited that it would be subcritical if it is assumed that water leaks into the containment vessel, and: (1) Water moderation of the contents occurs to the most reactive credible extent consistent with the chemical and physical form of the contents; and (2) The containment vessel is fully reflected on all sides by water. (b) A package used for the shipment of fissile material shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited that it would be subcritical if it is assumed that any contents of the package which are liquid during normal transport leak out of the containment vessel, and that the fissile material is then: (1) In the most reactive credible configuration consistent with the chemical and physical form of the material; (2) Moderated by water outside of the containment vessel to the most reactive credible extent; and (3) Fully reflected on all sides by water. (c) The Commission may approve exceptions to the requirements of this section where the containment vessel incorporates special design features which would preclude leakage of liquids in spite of any single packaging error and appropriate measures are taken before each shipment to verify the leak tightness of each containment vessel. (a) Any number of such undamaged packages would be subcritical in any arrangement, and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered; and (b) Two hundred fifty such packages would be subcritical in any arrangement, if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop. Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. $71.39 Specific standards for a Fissile Class II package. (a) A Fissile Class II package shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited, and the number of such packages which may be transported together so limited, that: (1) Five times that number of such undamaged packages would be subcritical in any arrangement if closely reflected by water and (2) Twice that number of such packages would be subcritical in any arrangement if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. (b) The transport index for each Fissile Class II package is calculated by dividing the number 50 by the number of such Fissile Class II packages which may be transported together as deter mined under the limitations of paragraph (a) of this section. The calculated number shall be rounded up to the first decimal place. [31 FR 9941. July 22, 1966, as amended at 33 FR 17623. Nov. 26, 1968] $71.10 Specific standards for a Fissile Class III shipment. A package for Fissile Class III shipment shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited. and the number of packages in a Fissile Class III shipment shall be so limited, that: (a) The undamaged shipment would be subcritical with an identical shipment in contact with it and with the two shipments closely reflected on all sides by water; and (b) The shipment would be subcritical if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with the packages in the most reactive arrangement and with the most reactive degree of interspersed hydrogenous moderation which would be credible considering the controls to be exercised over the shipment. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. Hypothetical accident conditions different from those specified in this paragraph may be approved by the Commission if the controls proposed to be exercised by the shipper are demonstrated to be adequate to assure the safety of the shipment. § 71.11 Previously constructed packages for irradiated solid nuclear fuel. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subpart, a package, the use of which has been authorized by the Atomic Energy Commission for the transport of irradiated solid nuclear fuel on or after September 23, 1961. and which has been completely constructed prior to January 1, 1967, shall be deemed to comply with the package standards of this subpart for that purpose, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section. $71.36 Standards for hypothetical acci dent conditions for a single package. (a) A package used for the shipment of more than a type A quantity of radioactive material, as defined in § 71.4(q), shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited that if subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the free drop, puncture, thermal, and water immersion conditions in the sequence listed in Appendix B, it will meet the following conditions: (1) The reduction of shielding would not be sufficient to increase the external radiation dose rate to more than 1,000 millirems per hour at 3 feet from the external surface of the package. (2) No radioactive material would be released from the package except for gases and contaminated coolant containing total radioactivity exceeding neither: (i) 0.1 percent of the total radioactivity of the package contents; nor (ii) 0.01 curie of Group I radionuclides, 0.5 curie of Group II radionuclides, 10 curies of Group III radionuclides, 10 curies of Group IV radionuclides, and 1.000 curies of inert gases irrespective of transport group. A package need not satisfy the requirements of this paragraph if it contains only low specific activity materials, as defined in § 71.4(g), and is transported on a motor vehicle, railroad car, aircraft, inland water craft, or hold or deck of a seagoing vessel assigned for the sole use of the licensee. (b) A package used for the shipment of fissile material shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited that if subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Puncture, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, the package would be subcritical. In determining whether this standard is satisfied, it shall be assumed that: (1) The fissile material is in the most reactive credible configuration consistent with the damaged condition of the package and the chemical and physical form of the contents; (2) Water moderation occurs to the most reactive credible extent consistent with the damaged condition of the package and the chemical and physical form of the contents; and (3) There is reflection by water on all sides and as close as is consistent with the damaged condition of the package. [31 FR 9941. July 22, 1966, as amended at 33 FR 17623. Nov. 26, 1968: 38 FR 10439. Apr. 27, 1973] $71.37 Evaluation of an array of packages of fissile material. (a) The effect of the transport environment on the nuclear safety of an array of packages of fissile material shall be evaluated by subjecting a sample package or a scale model, by test or other assessment, to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in $71.38, $71.39, or $71.40 for the proposed fissile class, and by assuming that each package in the array is damaged to the same extent as the sample package or scale model. In the case of a Fissile Class III shipment, the Commission may, taking into account controls to be exercised by the shipper, permit the shipment to be evaluated as a whole rather than as individual packages, and either with or without the transporting vehicle, for the purpose of one or more tests. (b) In determining whether the standards of $$71.38(b), 71.39(a)(2), and 71.40(b) are satisfied, it shall be assumed that: (1) The fissile material is in the most reactive credible configuration consistent with the damaged condition of the package, the chemical and physical form of the contents, and controls exercised over the number of packages to be transported together; and (2) Water moderation occurs to the most reactive credible extent consistent with the damaged condition of the package and the chemical and physical form of the contents. (a) Any number of such undamaged packages would be subcritical in any arrangement, and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered; and (b) Two hundred fifty such packages would be subcritical in any arrangement, if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. $71.39 Specific standards for a Fissile Class II package. (a) A Fissile Class II package shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited, and the number of such packages which may be transported together so limited, that: (1) Five times that number of such undamaged packages would be subcritical in any arrangement if closely reflected by water and (2) Twice that number of such packages would be subcritical in any arrangement if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with optimum interspersed hydrogenous moderation unless there is a greater amount of interspersed moderation in the packaging, in which case that greater amount may be considered. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. (b) The transport index for each Fissile Class II package is calculated by dividing the number 50 by the number of such Fissile Class II packages which may be transported together as deter mined under the limitations of paragraph (a) of this section. The calculated number shall be rounded up to the first decimal place. [31 FR 9941. July 22, 1966, as amended at 33 FR 17623. Nov. 26, 1968] $71.10 Specific standards for a Fissile Class III shipment. A package for Fissile Class III shipment shall be so designed and constructed and its contents so limited. and the number of packages in a Fissile Class III shipment shall be so limited, that: (a) The undamaged shipment would be subcritical with an identical shipment in contact with it and with the two shipments closely reflected on all sides by water; and (b) The shipment would be subcritical if each package were subjected to the hypothetical accident conditions specified in Appendix B of this part as the Free Drop, Thermal, and Water Immersion conditions, in the sequence listed in Appendix B, with close reflection by water on all sides of the array and with the packages in the most reactive arrangement and with the most reactive degree of interspersed hydrogenous moderation which would be credible considering the controls to be exercised over the shipment. The condition of the package shall be assumed to be as described in § 71.37. Hypothetical accident conditions different from those specified in this paragraph may be approved by the Commission if the controls proposed to be exercised by the shipper are demonstrated to be adequate to assure the safety of the shipment. $71.11 Previously constructed packages for irradiated solid nuclear fuel. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subpart, a package, the use of which has been authorized by the Atomic Energy Commission for the transport of irradiated solid nuclear fuel on or after September 23, 1961. and which has been completely constructed prior to January 1, 1967, shall be deemed to comply with the package standards of this subpart for that purpose, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section. (b) The holder (licensee) of the specific approval providing the authority specified in paragraph (a) of this section shall, within 6 months after October 18, 1977, file a consolidated application for superseding approval for the use of such packages, demonstrating that the packages satisfy the package standards of this subpart. If the licensee fails to submit such an application, the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section and the authority granted by the approval to deliver the material to a carrier for transport in such packages shall expire at the end of that 6 month period. The Commission may issue a new approval superseding the existing approval, may confirm the existing approval with or without modification, or may deny the application in whole or in part and terminate the existing approval in whole or in part. If modification of the design of a package being used under the authority of this section in effect prior to October 18, 1977, is proposed by a licensee in his application for a superseding approval in accordance with this paragraph, the licensee shall designate in his application the time period needed to modify the package(s) after approval by the Commission. (Sec. 62, Pub. L. 83-703, 88-489; 68 Stat. 932. 78 Stat. 602 (42 U.S.C. 2092); sec. 201. Pub. L. 93-438. 88 Stat. 1242 (42 U.S.C. 5841)) [42 FR 39365, Aug. 4, 1977] $71.42 Special requirements for plutonium shipments after June 17, 1978. (a) Notwithstanding the exemption in $71.9, plutonium in excess of twenty (20) curies per package shall be shipped as a solid. (b) Plutonium in excess of twenty (20) curies per package shall be packaged in a separate inner container placed within outer packaging that meets the requirements of Subpart C for packaging of material in normal form. The separate inner container shall not release plutonium when the entire package is subjected to the normal and accident test conditions specified in Appendices A and B. Solid plutonium in the following forms is exempt from the requirements of this paragraph: (1) Reactor fuel elements; (3) Other plutonium bearing solids that the Commission determines should be exempt from the requirements of this section. (c) Authority in licenses issued pursuant to this part for delivery of plutonium to a carrier for transport under conditions which do not meet the limitations of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall expire on June 17, 1978. [39 FR 20960, June 17, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 8792, Mar. 3, 1975] Subpart D-Operating Procedures $71.51 Establishment and maintenance of a quality assurance program. (a) The licensee shall establish, maintain and execute a quality assurance program satisfying each of the applicable criteria specified in Appendix E to this part, "Quality Assurance Criteria for Shipping Packages for Radioactive Material," and satisfying any specific provisions which are applicable to the licensee's activities including procurement of packaging. The description of the quality assurance program shall include a discussion of which requirements of Appendix E to this part are applicable and how they will be satisfied. A description of that program shall be filed, in accordance with this section, by January 1, 1979, with the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555. If a person has filed such a description, the continued use of his existing quality assurance program is authorized until the acceptability of the program has been finally determined by the Commission. (b) The provisions of this paragraph deal with packages which have been approved for use in accordance with this part prior to January 1, 1979, and which have been designed in accordance with the provisions of this part in effect at the time of package approval. Notwithstanding the provisions of The pertinent requirements of Appendix E should be applied in a graded approach, i.e.. applied to an extent consistent with their importance to safety as described in section 2 of Appendix E. |