ML20206D368
| ML20206D368 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/27/1987 |
| From: | Stohr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Saldana D PUERTO RICO, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8704130314 | |
| Download: ML20206D368 (1) | |
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"0FFICIAL RECORD COPY" MAR 2 71987 mmonwealth of Puerto Rico Dept. of Health ATTN: Mr. David Saldana San Juan, PR 00908
Dear Mr. Saldana:
SUBJECT:
HAZARD 0US MATERIAL LABELS ON EMPTY CONTAINERS We appreciate your letter of February 10, 1987, to our Regional Administrator, Dr. Grace, informing us of discarded lead containers with empty Ga-67 vials labeled with the radiation symbol.
It appears that this particular event-is not under NRC jurisdiction, since Ga-67 is not byproduct material as defined in 10 CFR 30.4(d). However, your efforts to date have been thorough and should result in defaced or removed labels from similar discarded vials in the future.
At this point, we plan no investigative action; however, during our next inspection of hospitals in the Ponce area, we will review the matter as. it might_also relate to radioisotopes under our jurisdiction. Since the incident occurred near Ponce, where the three hospitals maintain nuclear medicine programs, the lead containers were probably associated with the Ga-67 vials.
If the lead containers had been associated with byproduct material the disposal of empty containers would be regulated under 10 CFR 20.203(f)(4) wherein each licensee shall, prior to disposal of an empty uncontaminated container to unrestricted areas, remove or deface the radioactive material label or other-wise clearly indicate that the container no longer contains radioactive materials.
The USD0T rule in 49 CFR 172.401 would prohibit the actual transport of containers with improper hazard labeling.
Their rule is applicable to all types of radioactive material, whether subject to NRC jurisdiction or not.
If your have any further questions regarding this matter, please contact Mr. John Potter of this office at (404) 331-5571.
Sincerely, 8704130314 870327 REG 2 LIC30 J. Philip Stohr, Director PDR Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards bec: Document Control Desk Commonwealth of Puerto Rico J otter:lb ne 3/R/87 3
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