Rules and Regulations

Rules & Regulations

The two most important sets of rules and regulations from our government is the one that deals with the legality of having the radioactive materials in your possession and the one that deals with transport of that material through the mail . Listed below are the two documents reprinted from government sources. I spent many hours looking for this stuff, so have fun reading it.

Show below is Section 13 from part 40 of the NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules and regulations located at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/CFR/PART040/index.html

PART 40 -- DOMESTIC LICENSING OF SOURCE MATERIAL

§40.13 Unimportant quantities of source material.

(a) Any person is exempt from the regulations in this part and from the requirements for a license set forth in section 62 of the Act to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, transfers or delivers source material in any chemical mixture, compound, solution, or alloy in which the source material is by weight less than one-twentieth of 1 percent (0.05 percent) of the mixture, compound, solution or alloy. The exemption contained in this paragraph does not include byproduct material as defined in this part.

(b) Any person is exempt from the regulations in this part and from the requirements for a license set forth in section 62 of the act to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, or transfers unrefined and unprocessed ore containing source material; provided, that, except as authorized in a specific license, such person shall not refine or process such ore.

(c) Any person is exempt from the regulation in this part and from the requirements for a license set forth in section 62 of the Act to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, or transfers:

(1) Any quantities of thorium contained in (i) incandescent gas mantles, (ii) vacuum tubes, (iii) welding rods, (iv) electric lamps for illuminating purposes: Provided, That each lamp does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium, (v) germicidal lamps, sunlamps, and lamps for outdoor or industrial lighting: Provided, That each lamp does not contain more than 2 grams of thorium, (vi) rare earth metals and compounds, mixtures, and products containing not more than 0.25 percent by weight thorium, uranium, or any combination of these, or (vii) personnel neutron dosimeters: Provided, That each dosimeter does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium.

(2) Source material contained in the following products:

(i) Glazed ceramic tableware, provided that the glaze contains not more than 20 percent by weight source material;

(ii) Piezoelectric ceramic containing not more than 2 percent by weight source material;

(iii) Glassware containing not more than 10 percent by weight source material; but not including commercially manufactured glass brick, pane glass, ceramic tile, or other glass or ceramic used in construction;

(iv) Glass enamel or glass enamel frit containing not more than 10 percent by weight source material imported or ordered for importation into the United States, or initially distributed by manufacturers in the United States, before July 25, 1983.⁽¹⁾

(3) Photographic film, negatives, and prints containing uranium or thorium;

(4) Any finished product or part fabricated of, or containing tungsten or magnesium-thorium alloys, provided that the thorium content of the alloy does not exceed 4 percent by weight and that the exemption contained in this subparagraph shall not be deemed to authorize the chemical, physical or metallurgical treatment or processing of any such product or part; and

(5) Uranium contained in counterweights installed in aircraft, rockets, projectiles, and missiles, or stored or handled in connection with installation or removal of such counterweights: Provided, That:

(i) The counterweights are manufactured in accordance with a specific license issued by the Commission or the Atomic Energy Commission authorizing distribution by the licensee pursuant to this paragraph;

(ii) Each counterweight has been impressed with the following legend clearly legible through any plating or other covering: "Depleted Uranium";⁽²⁾

(iii) Each counterweight is durably and legibly labeled or marked with the identification of the manufacturer, and the statement: "Unauthorized Alterations Prohibited";2 and

(iv) The exemption contained in this paragraph shall not be deemed to authorize the chemical, physical, or metallurgical treatment or processing of any such counterweights other than repair or restoration of any plating or other covering.

(6) Natural or depleted uranium metal used as shielding constituting part of any shipping container: Provided, That:

(i) The shipping container is conspicuously and legibly impressed with the legend "CAUTION -- RADIOACTIVE SHIELDING -- URANIUM"; and

(ii) The uranium metal is encased in mild steel or equally fire resistant metal of minimum wall thickness of one-eighth inch (3.2 mm).

(7) Thorium contained in finished optical lenses, provided that each lens does not contain more than 30 percent by weight of thorium; and that the exemption contained in this subparagraph shall not be deemed to authorize either:

(i) The shaping, grinding or polishing of such lens or manufacturing processes other than the assembly of such lens into optical systems and devices without any alteration of the lens; or

(ii) The receipt, possession, use, transfer, or of thorium contained in contact lenses, or in spectacles, or in eyepieces in binoculars or other optical instruments.

(8) Thorium contained in any finished aircraft engine part containing nickel-thoria alloy, Provided, That:

(i) The thorium is dispersed in the nickel-thoria alloy in the form of finely divided thoria (thorium dioxide); and

(ii) The thorium content in the nickel-thoria alloy does not exceed 4 percent by weight.

(9) The exemptions in this paragraph (c) do not authorize the manufacture of any of the products described.

(d) Any person is exempt from the regulations in this part and from the requirements for a license set forth in section 62 of the Act to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, or transfers uranium contained in detector heads for use in fire detection units, provided that each detector head contains not more than 0.005 microcurie of uranium. The exemption in this paragraph does not authorize the manufacture of any detector head containing uranium.

[26 FR 284, Jan. 14, 1961, as amended at 26 FR 10929, Nov. 22, 1961; 28 FR 8021, Aug. 7, 1963; 28 FR 14309, Dec. 27, 1963; 30 FR 15802, Dec. 22, 1965; 32 FR 15873, Nov. 18, 1967; 34 FR 14067, Sept. 5, 1969; 34 FR 19546, Dec. 11, 1969; 35 FR 6313, Apr. 18, 1970]

Editorial Note: For additional Federal Register citations affecting §40.11, see the Finding Aids section of this volume.

[ CFR Index | Part 40 Index | NRC Home Page ]

¹ On July 25, 1983, the exemption of glass enamel or glass enamel frit was suspended. The exemption was eliminated on September 11, 1984.

² The requirements specified in paragraphs (c)(5) (ii) and (iii) of this section need not be met by counterweights manufactured prior to Dec. 31, 1969: Provided, That such counterweights were manufactured under a specific license issued by the Atomic Energy Commission and were impressed with the legend required by §40.13(c)(5)(ii) in effect on June 30, 1969.

This next section deals with transport, specifically postal regulations. Yes you can mail radioactive material through the mail but you must follow the rules! The rules are found in Publication 52 from the US Postal Service site at http://www.usps.gov

USPS Packaging Instruction 7A

Radioactive Materials

Radioactive material is prohibited if required to bear a Class 7 Radioactive

White-I, Radioactive Yellow-II, or Radioactive Yellow-III DOT hazardous

materials warning label (49 CFR 172.436, 172.438, or 172.440).

The only categories of radioactive material that are mailable are those that

can be classified as a limited quantity under 49 CFR and that meet the limits

in Exhibit 347.22; excepted instruments, articles, and devices; and excepted

articles containing natural uranium and thorium. Accurate documentation of

the activity limits, which must not exceed those specified in Exhibit 347.22,

must be provided.

Proper Shipping Name and ID Number

Radioactive Material, excepted package-limited quantity, UN2910

Radioactive Material, excepted package-instruments or articles,

UN2910

Radioactive Material, excepted package-articles manufactured from

natural uranium (or natural thorium), UN2910

Mailability

International Mail: Only as permitted in 622.3 and IMM 135, and when

sent as a registered air letter package.

Domestic Mail: Permitted only via surface transportation (i.e., Standard

Mail rates) and if the applicable requirements in 347 are met.

Required Packaging

Separate packaging requirements apply as follows.

Domestic Mail for Limited Quantities (49 CFR 173.421) whose

activity per package does not exceed the limits specified in

Exhibit 347.22:

Primary Receptacle

The materials are packaged in strong, tight inner receptacles that will

not leak any of the radioactive materials during normal postal handling.

Absorbent and Cushioning Material

Sufficient and suitably positioned absorbent material capable of

absorbing at least twice the volume of the liquid contents in the event

of leakage is required.

Adequate cushioning material to withstand shock and pressure

changes must surround the primary receptacle.

Secondary Packaging

Liquid radioactive materials must be packaged within a leak-resistant

and corrosion-resistant secondary packaging.

306 Publication 52

Outer Packaging

The inner receptacle and the secondary packaging (when required)

must be securely packed within a strong outer packaging.

The radiation level at any point on the external surface of the mailpiece

must not exceed 0.5 millirem per hour.

The nonfixed (removable) radioactive surface contamination on the

external surface of the mailpiece does not exceed the applicable limits

specified in 49 CFR 173.443(a).

Except as provided in 49 CFR 173.426, each mailpiece must not

contain more than 15 grams of uranium-235.

No single dimension of the external mailpiece can be less than

2.5 centimeters (1 inch), and the length and girth can be no less than

30 centimeters (12 inches).

Marking

The outside of the inner receptacle or the outside of the secondary

packaging must be clearly marked "Radioactive."

The address side of the mailpiece must clearly display the following

marking: "This package conforms to the conditions and limitations

specified in 49 CFR 173.421 for radioactive material, excepted

package-limited quantity of material, UN2910 and is within Postal

Service activity limits for mailing."

A complete return address and delivery address must be used.

Domestic Mail for Mailable Instruments and Articles (49 CFR

173.424) permitted under 347:

Instruments and manufactured articles (including clocks, electronic tubes, or

apparatus) or similar devices having radioactive materials in gaseous or

nondispersible solid form as a component part must be packed as follows:

Primary Receptacle

The activity of the instrument or device must not exceed the relevant

limit listed in Exhibit 347.22.

The radiation level at 10 centimeters (4 inches) from any point on the

external surface of the unpackaged instrument or device must not

exceed 10 millirem per hour.

Cushioning Material

Adequate cushioning material to withstand shock and pressure

changes must surround the primary receptacle.

Outer Packaging

The inner receptacle and cushioning material must be securely packed

within a strong outer packaging.

The total activity per mailpiece must not exceed the relevant limit listed

in Exhibit 347.22.

The radiation level at any point on the external surface of the mailpiece

containing the device or instrument must not exceed 0.5 millirem per

hour.

307 July 1999

The nonfixed (removable) radioactive surface contamination on the

external surface of the mailpiece must not exceed the applicable limits

specified in 49 CFR 173.443(a).

Except as provided in 49 CFR 173.426, the mailpiece must not contain

more than 15 grams of uranium-235.

At least one external dimension of the mailpiece must be no less than

10 centimeters (4 inches).

Marking

The outside of the inner receptacle or the outside of the secondary

packaging must be clearly marked "Radioactive."

The address side of the mailpiece must clearly display the following

marking: "This package conforms to the conditions and limitations

specified in 49 CFR 173.424 for radioactive material, excepted

package-instruments or articles, UN2910 and is within Postal Service

activity limits for mailing."

A complete return address and delivery address must be used.

Domestic Mail for Mailable Excepted Articles Containing

Uranium or Thorium (49 CFR 173.426) permitted under 347:

Manufactured articles excepted under 347 and in which the sole radioactive

material is natural or depleted uranium or natural thorium must be packaged

as follows:

Primary Receptacle

The outer surface of the uranium or thorium is enclosed in an inactive

sheath made of metal or other durable protective material.

Cushioning Material

Adequate cushioning material to withstand shock and pressure

changes must surround the primary receptacle.

Outer Packaging

The inner receptacle and cushioning material must be securely packed

within a strong outer packaging.

The radiation level at any point on the external surface of the mailpiece

must not exceed 0.5 millirem per hour.

The nonfixed (removable) radioactive surface contamination on the

external surface of the mailpiece must not exceed the applicable limits

specified in 49 CFR 173.443(a).

Marking

The outside of the inner receptacle or the outside of the secondary

packaging must be clearly marked "Radioactive."

The address side of the mailpiece must clearly display the following

marking: "This package conforms to the conditions and limitations

specified in 49 CFR 173.46 for radioactive material, excepted

package-articles manufactured from natural uranium (or natural

thorium), UN2910 and is within Postal Service activity limits for

mailing."

A complete return address and delivery address is required.

International Mail:

The requirements specified in 622.3 and IMM 135.6 apply in addition to

the packaging instructions for domestic mail.

Note: A shipperï¿½s declaration for dangerous goods is not required for

mailable radioactive materials.