Re: Transportation accident

["Alan R. Marchand" <radarm@accessnv.com>]

173.428 discusses empty packaging. Internal contamination
can be 100 times the limits in 173.421 (a)(2,(3), and (5). Radioactive
material, Excepted package- Empty package is exempted from most of the 49
CFR in section 173.422.

Alan R. Marchand
radarm@accessnv.com
Las Vegas, NV

At 04:34 PM 2/9/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Susan,
>
>As noted previously, there are levels of distinction used in 
the
>placarding of radioactive transport. A thorough read of 49CFR
will
>reveal the details.
>
>Also, note that although a container is empty, placarding of a
vehicle
>might still be required (at least the way I read the
reg).   I would
>think it's somewhat unusual to have to placard a vehicle for an
empty
>container, but I don't think it's impossible.  Most probably
would come
>into play with containers which were used for LSA or SCO that might
have
>residual contamination. (Anyone have any experience with placards
under
>such a situation?)  I didn't read the original article, so I
apologize
>if I'm not picking up the thread on an accurate note.  If, in
fact the
>containers were decontaminated or otherwise given a  free
release, then
>of course there would not be a need for placards.
>
>Keith Welch
>welch@jlab.org
>-----------------
>
>> The following is an except from a recent message about
"False Fears Jam
>> Kennedy"
>>
>> > "It was transporting approximately 25 empty
containers, each marked
>> > radioactive,
>> > when it smacked the top of the Hubbard Street bridge,
overturned and 
>dumped the
>> > containers, according to Bob Fleischmann, an official with
the Illinois
>> > Department of Transportation.
>>
>> The public was right to be fearful.  Radiation markings are
to warn
>> people of potential danger.  If these markings were not
removed from
>> cylinders that had met free release standards, than the D&D
company
>> should be held accountable.  If these were DOT placards
that were no
>> longer valid, the transportation company may even be subject to
an
>> enforcement action.
>>
>> I see a lot of posts with transportation questions. 
RadSafers should be
>> aware that there are lots of regulations governing
transportation of
>> radioactive materials on public streets and by common
carriers.  Consult
>> with the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) if you have a
question.  It's
>> better to navigate the bureaucracy than end up with a mega fine
over a
>> stupid incident.
>>
>> One gripe of mine, however, is that with radioactive substances,
one
>> placard covers all situations.  We know that the risks can
vary
>> enormously, depending on the material and quantity.  This
is of special
>> concern to the emergency services who first respond to an
accident.
>> Perhaps this is an area where radiation experts can work with
the DOT to
>> divide the radiation placards into categories, much like what is
done
>> for explosives.
>>
>
>
>
>
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