Waste Shipping

DOE-HDBK-1129-99

containing particulate enclosed in another drum; and wooden or steel box with particulate

enclosed in a 6-mil sealed plastic liner inside the box.

Gases: Pressure in the waste box shall not exceed 1.5 atmospheres absolute at 20oC.

Compressed gases as defined by 49 CFR 173.300 are generally not accepted for disposal

unless the valve mechanism has been removed or it is obvious that the container has been

punctured.

Containers, Vessels, Manifolds: Containers, vessels, and manifolds that have been exposed to

tritium and should remain sealed, must be certified to contain no pressure greater than 1.5

atmospheres absolute prior to packaging as waste.

Stabilization: Where practical, waste should be treated to provide a more structurally and

chemically stable waste form.

Etiologic Agents: LLW containing pathogens, infectious wastes, or other etiologic agents as

defined in 49 CFR 173.386 are generally not accepted.

Chelating Agents: Chelating or complexing agents at concentrations greater than 1 percent by

weight of the waste form are generally not accepted.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Polychlorinated Biphenyls contaminated LLW is generally not

accepted unless the Polychlorinated Biphenyls concentration is less than 50 ppm

Explosives and Pyrophorics: Material in a form that may explode spontaneously or combust if

the container is breached is generally not accepted for disposal.

8.4 Waste Shipping

The shipping requirements for Class 7 (radioactive) material can be found in Section 6.1. If the

tritium waste is mixed with RCRA constituents, a hazardous waste manifest and Land Disposal

Restriction notification is required for offsite shipments. See Section 7.1 for RCRA pre-transport

requirements associated with mixed waste. In addition, any containers less than 110 gallons in

capacity must be marked as hazardous waste in accordance with 40 CFR 262.32.

During shipment, the waste package must meet the current DOE and DOT regulations for

shipment of the form and quantity of radioactive material; i.e. Limited Quantity, Type A Quantity,

and Type B Quantity.

DOE Order 5820.2A, from which the 1.5 atmospheres requirement is taken, has been superceded by DOE

O 435.1, but in the revised Order the 1.5 atmosphere requirement only applies to initial gaseous forms

("Low-level waste in a gaseous form must be packaged such that the pressure does not exceed 1.5

atmospheres absolute at 20C.") Another requirement from DOE O 435.1 states, "When waste is packaged,

vents or other measures should be provided if the potential exists for pressurizing containers or generating

flammable or explosive concentrations of gases within the waste package.