UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
OFFICE OF FEDERAL AND STATE MATERIALS
AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
MAY 2, 2013
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2013-08: PENDING EXPIRATION OF THE NRC TYPE B
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE CERTIFICATE
FOR SENTINEL™ MODEL 660 SERIES
RADIOGRAPHIC PROJECTORS ON JUNE 30,
2013
ADDRESSEES
All holders of radiography licenses for SENTINEL™ Model 660 Series radiographic projectors.
All Radiation Control Program Directors and State Liaison Officers.
PURPOSE
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this Information Notice (IN) to alert
addressees to the June 30, 2013, expiration of Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 9283 for the
SENTINEL™ Model 660 Series radiographic projectors. It is expected that recipients will review
the information for applicability to their facilities and consider other arrangements, as
appropriate. The NRC is providing this IN to the Agreement States for their information and for
distribution to their radiography licensees, as appropriate.
DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES
In August 2009, QSA Global, Inc. (QSA) notified its customers that it does not intend to renew
the CoC (for NRC Package Identification No. USA/9283/B(U)-96) for the Model 660 Series of
radiographic projectors and that the Type B(U) CoC No. 9283 will expire on June 30, 2013 (as
stated on Condition No. 11 of the CoC). QSA also indicated that their Type A package
certification will lapse on the same day.
QSA offered several factors for its business decision: “S” Tube wear, age of the units, resources
required to manufacture replacement parts and maintain documentation, and the inability to
meet the ISO 3999-1 2000E standard.
ML13107A027IN 2013-08
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BACKGROUND
As specified in the regulations, once a certification expires, the package cannot be shipped or
transported legally. A valid certificate must be in place to allow legal transport in accordance
with international and United States regulations.
DISCUSSION
Users may continue to use the package in accordance with the CoC until June 30, 2013. Users
of the package should specifically note Condition 8(c) of the CoC which states that “No service
operations shall include the replacement of the shell, of the depleted uranium shield, or any
shell weld repair.” The safety evaluation report details the reasons for condition 8(c). In
particular, the model is no longer manufactured (as of 2001) and QSA confirmed that it was not
willing to repair or replace the shell on packages currently in use or repair welds.
On July 1, 2013, the Model 660 Series device will no longer be an NRC-authorized
transportation package. On this date, an approved package other than the Model 660 Series
must be used for transport of the 660 Series radiography sources. This applies to the following
models: 660, 660E, 660A, 660AE, 660B, and 660BE.
After June 30, 2013, a certified Type B container (overpack) may be used to lawfully transport
the projectors containing a radiography source inside. If licensees have a need to transport 660
Series radiography projectors containing a radiography source inside after June 30, 2013,
without a certified Type B container (overpack) they may request that the NRC approve a limited
number of shipments pursuant to 10 CFR 71.17(a). These approvals are issued on a limited
basis to address unique situations. The Model 660 Series device incorporates depleted
uranium for shielding; therefore, even without a radiography source inside, the device must
meet the transportation requirements for a manufactured article containing depleted uranium.
Users are encouraged evaluate their program to identify the best option for them to be in
compliance with NRC regulations regarding transport of the 660 Series radiography projectors
with or without radiography sources. These options include making arrangements for final
disposition of the 660 Series radiography devices in their possession prior to the June 30, 2013,
expiration date. However, per 10 CFR 71.5(a), the projectors may still be used at an NRC or
Agreement State-licensed site provided that they are not moved while containing a radiography
source without a certified overpack.
If users dispose of the current radiography projector or obtain a radiography projector that has a
current CoC, they should be aware that changes in material held under its license may require
changes to its possession and use licenses issued by the NRC or an Agreement State. IN 2013-08
Page 3 of 3
CONTACT
This IN requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any questions about the
information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate
regional office.
/RA Eric Benner for/ /RA/
Mark D. Lombard, Director Brian J. McDermott, Director
Division of Spent Fuel Storage Division of Materials Safety
and Transportation and State Agreements
Office of Nuclear Material Safety Office of Federal and State Materials
and Safeguards and Environmental Management Programs
Contacts: Pierre Saverot, NMSS Katie Wagner, FSME
(301) 492-3408 (301) 415-6202
E-mail: Pierre.Saverot@nrc.gov E-mail: Katie.Wagner@nrc.gov
Enclosure: List of Recently Issued FSME Generic Communications IN 2013-08
Page 3 of 3
CONTACT
This IN requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any questions about the
information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate
regional office.
/RA Eric Benner for/ /RA/
Mark D. Lombard, Director Brian J. McDermott, Director
Division of Spent Fuel Storage Division of Materials Safety
and Transportation and State Agreements
Office of Nuclear Material Safety Office of Federal and State Materials
and Safeguards and Environmental Management Programs
Contacts: Pierre Saverot, NMSS Katie Wagner, FSME
(301) 492-3408 (301) 415-6202
E-mail: Pierre.Saverot@nrc.gov E-mail: Katie.Wagner@nrc.gov
Enclosure: List of Recently Issued FSME Generic Communications
ML13107A027
OFC MSSA/LB NMSS/DSFST/LB MSSA/LB NMSS/DSFST/LB
NAME KWagner PSaverot via Email MKotzalas MSampson via
DATE 04/17/2013 04/17/2013 04/18/2013 04/26/2013
OFC MSSA/RMSB FSME/MSSA FSME/MSSA NMSS/DSFST
NAME AMcIntosh
via Email
PHenderson BJMcDermott MLombard
DATE 04/18/2013 04/22/2013 05/2/2013 05/2/2013
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY