Petitions for Nonspecification Packaging (AR 385-11, AR 55-355)

TM 55-315

shall be packaged in a separate inner container placed within the outer packaging that meets the requirements of

paragraph 4-11 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 paragraphs 4-9 and 4-10. Solid

plutonium in the following forms is exempt from the requirements of this paragraph:

(1) Reactor fuel elements.

(2) Metal or metal alloy.

(3) Other plutonium-bearing solids that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines should be exempt

from the requirements of this paragraph.

4-18. Petitions for Nonspecification Packaging (AR 385-11, AR 55-355)

Petitions for authorizing nonspecification packaging for fissile radioactive materials must be submitted through command

channels to HQDA (DAPE-HRS), WASH DC 20310-0300, with a copy to Cdr, USAMC, ATTN: AMCSF-P, Alexandria,

Virginia 22333-0001 and to Cdr, MTMC, ATTN: MT-SS, Washington, DC 20315. The petition must include the following:

a. Type and amount of fissile radioactive materials to be carried in each package, including:

(1) The transport index to be assigned to the package for the proposed package loading when shipped as

Fissile Class II; and

(2) The maximum number of packages proposed when shipped as Fissile Class III.

b. A nuclear criticality safety evaluation demonstrating that the package design and contents limitation are

adequate to assure nuclear criticality safety. Any tests performed in this respect should be described.

NOTE

When DOT authorization of packages for fissile radioactive materials to be used in shipments by

the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission or by one of its contractors or licenses is applied for, a

copy of the license amendment or other approval issued by that commission will be accepted in

place of the nuclear criticality safety evaluation and the package structural integrity evaluation.

4-19. Special Permits (AR 385-11, AR 55-355)

a. Special permits may be granted by the appropriate regulatory bodies under circumstances where the shipment

does not conform to existing regulatory controls, and where it can be demonstrated that equivalent protection to people

and to property can be assured in some other manner.

b. The Commander, Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) will obtain new or modified DOT special

permits for the shipment of radioactive materials. However, in emergencies, the military services are authorized to

contact the appropriate regulatory body in such matters, provided the Commander, MTMC is promptly informed of each

such emergency action. Except in emergencies, requests for special permits will be forwarded through appropriate

command channels to the Commander, MTMC. These requests will be submitted in duplicate at least 45 days before the

requested effective date and will include the following information, as applicable:

(1) Complete description of commodity, including hazard classification.

(2) Report of tests conducted to determine the hazard classification when the commodity is not covered by the

DOT, State, or municipal regulations governing the safe transport of explosives and other dangerous articles.

(3) Origin and destination.

(4) Type of packaging and packing.

(5) Supporting information indicating that proposed shipments are safe for transport.

(6) Justification for special permit, citing specific regulation(s) under which exemption is required.

(7) Estimated total weight of shipment.

(8) Period of time special permit will be required.

(9) Anticipated shipping date(s).

(10) Mode(s) of transportation required.

4-20. Exemption for Limited Quantities of Radioactive Materials (49 CFR 173.421)

Radioactive materials whose activity per package does not exceed the limits specified in table 4-7 are excepted from the

specification packaging, shipping paper and certification, marking, and labeling requirements if:

a. The materials are packaged in strong, tight packages that will not leak any of the radioactive materials during

normal transport conditions.

b. The radiation level at any point on the external surface of the package does not exceed 0.5 millirem per hour.

c. The nonfixed (removable) radioactive surface contamination on the external surface of the package does not

exceed the limits specified in paragraph 3-11.

d. The outside of the inner packaging or, if there is no inner packaging, the outside of the packaging itself bears

the marking "Radioactive."

e. Except for the excepted articles containing natural uranium or thorium (49 CFR 173.424), the package

4-11