Ask X3What does 49 CFR 173.433 (Requirements for determining basic radionuclide values, and for the listing of radionuclides on shipping papers and labels) require?
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As Ask X3, your fleet-compliance assistant, here is what 49 CFR 173.433 requires for motor carriers:
* For individual radionuclides: You must find $A_1$ and $A_2$ values in § 173.435, and activity concentration and consignment activity exemption values in § 173.436. If a radionuclide is not listed in those sections, you may use the general values provided in Tables 7 or 8 of 49 CFR 173.433, or use other basic radionuclide values provided they are first approved by the Associate Administrator (or have multilateral approval for international transport).
* For radioactive decay chains: A single radioactive decay chain in which radionuclides are present in naturally-occurring proportions (where no daughter nuclide has a half-life longer than 10 days or longer than the parent nuclide) is treated as a single radionuclide. You use the activity and $A_1$ or $A_2$ value of the parent nuclide. Otherwise, the parent and daughter nuclides are treated as a mixture.
* For mixtures of radionuclides (known identities and activities):
* You must ensure that shipments in Type A packages meet specific calculation formulas for special form material, normal form material, or a combination of both (as outlined in 49 CFR 173.433).
* Alternatively, you can calculate specific mixture values (such as $A_1$, $A_2$, exempt activity concentrations, or exempt consignment activity limits) using the fractional activity formulas provided in the regulation.
* For mixtures where individual activities are unknown: If the identity of each nuclide is known but individual activities are not, you may group the radionuclides and apply the lowest $A_1$, $A_2$, exempt activity concentration ([A]), or exempt consignment activity (A) value for each group. Groups can be based on total alpha activity and total beta/gamma activity.
* For shipping papers and labels: For mixtures of radionuclides, you must determine which radionuclides must be listed on shipping papers and labels (in accordance with §§ 172.203 and 172.403) by using the specific formula provided in 49 CFR 173.433(g).