SSINS No.  6835 
                                                            IN 86-86 

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                              October 10, 1986

Information Notice No. 86-86:   CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR 
                                   FABRICATION AND EXPORT OF CERTAIN 
                                   PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TYPE B PACKAGES 
Addressees: 

All registered users of NRC certified packages. 

Purpose: 

This notice is provided to clarify the application of certain provisions of 
10 CFR 71 pertaining to the use of certain previously approved Type B 
packages. It is suggested that recipients review this information for 
applicability to their transportation activities and consider actions, if 
appropriate, to preclude any problems for continued use of NRC-certified 
packages or Department of Transportation (DOT) specification Type B/Fissile 
packages. However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute 
NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is 
required. 

Discussion: 

The NRC regulations in 10 CFR 71.13(a) prescribe certain limitations for the
continued use of a Type B package previously approved by the NRC but not 
designated as B(U) or B(M) in the NRC certificate of compliance.  

1.   Fabrication of the packaging must be satisfactorily completed before 
     August 31, 1986, as demonstrated by the application of its model number
     in accordance with 10 CFR 71.85(c). 

     The above provision is applicable to any packaging where the Package 
     Identification Number (Item 1.c in the Certificate of Compliance) 
     includes ..../B( ), .../B( )F or B. It is not applicable where the    
     Package Identification Number is ..../A or AF. 

2.   The packaging may not be used for a shipment to a location outside the 
     United States after August 31, 1986, except under special arrangement 
     approved by DOT in accordance with 49 CFR 173.471. A similar provision 
     is included in 10 CFR 71.14(d) concerning use of DOT specification Type
     B/Fissile packages. 

The above provisions were originally included in 10 CFR 71 for the purpose 
of allowing interim use of Type B packages manufactured to designs approved 
under provisions of the 1967 Edition of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) 

8610080068 

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                                                       IN 86-86 
                                                       October 10, 1986 
                                                       Page 2 of 2 

regulations for the safe transport of radioactive materials, which were the 
basis for 10 CFR 71 before 1983. Only a few of these packages have been 
submitted and approved as meeting the requirements of the 1973 Edition of 
the IAEA regulations. Subsequent to the 1983 promulgation of the regulations 
in 10 CFR 11.13(a) and 71.14(d), the 1985 Edition to the IAEA regulations 
was issued. This latest revision of the international regulations provides 
for continued acceptance, ,@under certain conditions, of packages approved 
under the provisions of the 1967 Edition and the 1973 Edition of IAEA 
regulations. Consequently, the need for special arrangements has been 
minimized. 

The DOT has advised the NRC that after August 31, 1986, certificates of 
competent authority, which the DOT issues pursuant to 49 CFR 173.471(d) or 
49 CFR 173.472, will include statements explicitly stating the edition of 
the IAEA regulations against which the package has been evaluated. A package 
evaluated against only the IAEA 1967 Edition and used for export shipment 
will be subject to multilateral approval. Current certificates of competent 
authority implicitly subject packages to multilateral approval if they are 
designated as B( ) or B( )F. Additionally, licensees should recognize that 
there may be some countries that may choose not to accept packages approved 
only under the 1967 IAEA regulations. In these cases, such country may 
accept a special arrangement certificate of competent authority which would 
have to be obtained from DOT. To avoid the additional administrative burden 
of a special arrangement certificate and to assure the acceptability of 
packaging in other countries, it is suggested that package designs be 
upgraded to meet the standards of the 1973 or 1985 Editions of the IAEA  
regulations. 

Please note that the NRC will revise the package identification number to 
designate previously approved Type B package designs as B(U) or B(M) after 
receipt and review of an application demonstrating that the design meets the
current requirements of 10 CFR 71. 

No specific action or written response to this information notice is 
required. If you have any questions in this matter, please contact the 
appropriate NRC regional office, the DOT contact listed below, or this 
office. 


                                   Edward L. Jordan, Director 
                                   Division of Emergency Preparedness 
                                     and Engineering Response 
                                   Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contacts:  NRC - A. W. Grella, IE 
                         (301) 492-7746 

                     DOT - M. Wangler 
                         (202) 366-4498 

Attachment:  List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices