RIS 2005-03, 10 CFR Part 40 Exemptions for Uranium Contained in Aircraft Counterweights - Storage and Repair

10 CFR Part 40 Exemptions for Uranium Contained in Aircraft Counterweights - Storage and Repair

ML050590006
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/28/2005
Revision:	0
From:	Miller C L NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
RIS-05-003
Download: ML050590006 (5)

UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDSWASHINGTON, February 28, 2005NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARY 2005-0310 CFR PART 40 EXEMPTIONS FOR URANIUM CONTAINED IN AIRCRAFT COUNTERWEIGHTS - STORAGE AND REPAIR

ADDRESSEES

All persons possessing aircraft counterweights containing uranium under the exemption in10 CFR 40.13(c)(5).

INTENT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this regulatory issue summary (RIS)to emphasize the scope and restrictions of the exemption from licensing requirements in 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5) as applied to counterweights containing uraniu This RIS does not transmit any new requirements or new staff position No specific action or written response is require

BACKGROUND

NRC has received a petition (see Federal Register 65 FR 3394, January 21, 2000) whichrequests additional rulemaking to define and clarify the responsibilities associated with certaindepleted uranium counterweight In particular, the petitioner focused upon the applicability ofthe exemption to long-term storage of depleted uranium counterweight In response to the petitioner's request for immediate notification to advise those organizations holding counterweights under the exemption of their responsibilities to the public, NRC issuedRIS 2001-13 on July 20, 200 RIS 2001-13 primarily discussed disposal alternatives for depleted uranium counterweights held under the exemption in 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5). This RISresponds to the petitioner's request for clarification of issues regarding long-term storage and restoration or repair of plating.

SUMMARY OF ISSUE

Source material includes natural or depleted uranium or thorium, or any combination thereof, inany physical or chemical for CFR 40.13 describes unimportant quantities of source material, and provides exemptions from the requirements for a license, and from the regulationsin Part 40, subject to certain restriction One provision, 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5), exempts persons receiving, possessing, using, or transferring the uranium contained in counterweights installedin aircraft, rockets, projectiles, and missile These counterweights may also be stored or handled in connection with the installation or removal from such vehicle The restrictions associated with this exemption are: 1) the counterweights must have been manufactured inaccordance with a specific license to manufacture and distribute such items; 2) each counterweight must be impressed, legibly, through any plating or covering, with the words

"Depleted Uranium;" 3) the counterweight must have durable and legible markings or labels with the identification of the manufacturer, and a statement, "Unauthorized Alteration Prohibited;" and 4) the exemption does not authorize any chemical, physical, or metallurgical treatment or processing of the counterweight, other than repair or restoration of any plating orother covering. LONG-TERM STORAGE Because storage is only permitted to the extent the storage is incidental to installation orremoval of the counterweight, long-term storage of the counterweight is not considered to be covered under this exemptio As a result, when the counterweights are no longer to be used for their intended purposes, the end user should transfer the counterweights as discussed inRIS-01-013. NRC believes that a period of 24 months is sufficient for a person holding a counterweight notinstalled in an aircraft to either reinstall the counterweight in an aircraft or dispose of the counterweight using an alternative provided in RIS-01-01 After a period of 24 months in storage, the counterweights should be deemed to no longer be stored incidental to installation or removal and the holder should apply for a specific license per 10 CFR 40.31 in order to continue to store the counterweight Storage for a period of greater than 24 months may beconsidered allowable under the exemption if: (1) the person storing the counterweight canclearly show an intent to re-use the counterweight in an aircraft, (2) the counterweight has apart tag or some other means of indicating where the counterweight came from per the carrier's maintenance program, and (3) the counterweight is periodically inspected to ensure that thecounterweight remains in proper condition (i.e., the plating remains intact) for use in an aircraft.Similarly, counterweights stored in an aircraft, projectile, rocket, or missile that is no longerplanned to be operated should be removed and disposed of using an alternative provided in RIS-01-01 Removal of the counterweights must be accomplished in a manner that does not disturb the integrity of the counterweigh If an aircraft is held for possible future use, but not operated, the holder should maintain the aircraft per its maintenance plan and minimally inspect the counterweights every 5 years to ensure the counterweight remains in proper condition (i.e.,

the plating remains intact). If the aircraft is transferred to a new owner, the new owner should be notified of the existence of the depleted uranium counterweights installed in the aircraft andthe applicability of 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5).REPAIR AND RESTORATION In order to maintain the counterweight, 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5)(iv) allows repair or restoration of theplating or coverin However, the exemption does not allow any repair or restoration process that would disturb the integrity of the underlying uranium within the counterweight; suchprocesses would require a specific licens Examples of restoration or repair processes that would not fall under the exemption include acid baths or electroplating, both of which maychemically or metallurgically impact the underlying uranium in the counterweigh Allowable restoration techniques may include painting or placing a new covering over the counterweight(to the extent that the process for installing the new covering does not result in chemical,physical, or metallurgical interactions with the underlying uranium). In addition, any repair or restoration must also maintain the legibility of the impressings, labels, and markings on thecounterweight required under 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5)(ii) and (iii).

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION

A notice of opportunity for public comment on this RIS was not published in the FederalRegister because it does not represent a departure from current regulatory requirements.SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FAIRNESS ACTThe NRC has determined that this action is not subject to the Small Business RegulatoryEnforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT

This RIS does not contain information collections and, therefore, is not subject to therequirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)This RIS requires no specific action nor written respons If you have any questions about thissummary, please contact the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office./RA/Charles L. Miller, DirectorDivision of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Technical Contact:

Gary Comfort, NMSS (301) 415-8106 E-mail: gcc1@nrc.gov

Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NMSS Generic Communications restoration techniques may include painting or placing a new covering over the counterweight(to the extent that the process for installing the new covering does not result in chemical,physical, or metallurgical interactions with the underlying uranium). In addition, any repair or restoration must also maintain the legibility of the impressings, labels, and markings on thecounterweight required under 10 CFR 40.13(c)(5)(ii) and (iii).

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION

A notice of opportunity for public comment on this RIS was not published in the FederalRegister because it does not represent a departure from current regulatory requirements.SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FAIRNESS ACTThe NRC has determined that this action is not subject to the Small Business RegulatoryEnforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT

This RIS does not contain information collections and, therefore, is not subject to therequirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)This RIS requires no specific action nor written respons If you have any questions about thissummary, please contact the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office./RA/Charles L. Miller, DirectorDivision of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Technical Contact:

Gary Comfort, NMSS (301) 415-8106 E-mail: gcc1@nrc.gov

Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NMSS Generic CommunicationsDISTRIBUTION: 2003000082RGB r/fIMNS r/fML050590006*See Previous ConcurrenceOFCRGBRGBRGBIMNSNAMEGComfort*CAbrams*SMoore*CMiller*DATE 2/25/05 2/25/05 2/25/05 2/28/05OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Recently Issued NMSS Generic CommunicationsDateGC No.Subject

Addressees

12/16/2004RIS-04-020NRC Regulatory IssueSummary 2004-20:

Lessons Learned from Review of 10 CFR Parts 71 and 72 ApplicationsAll holders of, and applicants for,a (1) 10 CFR Part 71 certificate of compliance for a radioactive material transportation package; (2) 10 CFR Part 72 certificate of compliance for a spent fuel storage cask; and (3) 10 CFR Part 72 specific license for an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI).12/01/2004RIS-04-018NRC Regulatory IssueSummary 2004-18:

Expiration Date for 10 CFR Part 71 Quality Assurance Program ApprovalsAll holders of U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission (NRC) -approved 10 CFR Part 71 Quality Assurance Programs (QAPs).11/23/2004RIS-04-017NRC Regulatory IssueSummary 2004-17:

Revised Decay-in-Storage Provisions for the Storage of Radioactive Waste Containing Byproduct MaterialAll licensees regulated under 10CFR Parts 30, 32, 33, and 50.10/26/2004IN-04-018Recent Safety-RelatedEvent at Panoramic Wet-Source-Storage IrradiatorAll licensees authorized topossess and use sealed sources in panoramic wet-source-storage irradiators, and irradiator vendors.07/19/2004IN-04-014Use of less than OptimalBounding Assumptions in Criticality Safety Analysis at Fuel Cycle FacilitiesAll licensees authorized topossess a critical mass of special nuclear material.Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public website,http://www.nrc.gov, under Electronic Reading Room/Document Collection Attachment