WAC 246-232-009   Exemption of certain items containing radioactive material.   A person is exempt from these regulations to the extent the person receives, possesses, uses, transfers, owns or acquires, and does not apply radioactive material to, or incorporate radioactive material into, the following products:*

*Note:

Authority to transfer possession or control by the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing source material or by-product material whose subsequent possession, use, transfer and disposal by all other persons who are exempted from regulatory requirements may be obtained only from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555.

     (1) Lock illuminators containing 555 megabecquerels (15 millicuries) or less of tritium or 74 megabecquerels (2 millicuries) or less of promethium-147 installed in automobile locks. The levels of radiation from each lock illuminator containing promethium-147 will not exceed 10 micrograys (1 millirad) per hour at 1 centimeter from any surface when measured through 50 milligrams per square centimeter of absorber.

     (2) Precision balances containing 37 megabecquerels (1 millicurie) or less of tritium per balance or 18.5 megabecquerels (0.5 millicurie) or less of tritium per balance part.

     (3) Automobile shift quadrants containing 925 megabecquerels (25 millicuries) or less of tritium.

     (4) Marine compasses containing 27.8 gigabecquerels (750 millicuries) or less of tritium gas and other marine navigational instruments containing 9.25 gigabecquerels (250 millicuries) or less of tritium gas.

     (5) Thermostat dials and pointers containing 925 megabecquerels (25 millicuries) or less of tritium per thermostat.

     (6) Electron tubes* if each tube contains no more than one of the following specified quantities of radioactive material and the levels of radiation from each electron tube do not exceed 10 micrograys (1 millirad) per hour at 1 centimeter from any surface when measured through 7 milligrams per square centimeter of absorber:

     (a) 5.55 gigabecquerels (150 millicuries) or less of tritium per microwave receiver protector tube or 370 megabecquerels (10 millicuries) or less of tritium per any other electron tube;

     (b) 37 kilobecquerels (1 microcurie) or less of cobalt-60;

     (c) 185 kilobecquerels (5 microcuries) or less of nickel-63;

     (d) 1.11 megabecquerels (30 microcuries) or less of krypton-85;

     (e) 185 kilobecquerels (5 microcuries) or less of cesium-137;

     (f) 1.11 megabecquerels (30 microcuries) or less of promethium-147;

     (g) 37 kilobecquerels (1 microcurie) or less of radium-226:

*Note:

For purposes of this subdivision, "electron tubes" include spark gap tubes, power tubes, gas tubes including glow lamps, receiving tubes, microwave tubes, indicator tubes, pick-up tubes, radiation detection tubes, and any other completely sealed tube that is designed to conduct or control electrical currents.

     (7) Ionizing radiation measuring instruments containing, for purposes of internal calibration or standardization, one or more but not to exceed 10 exempt sources of radioactive material.

     (a) Each individual source shall not exceed 1.85 kilobecquerels (0.05 microcuries) of americium-241 or the applicable exempt quantity set forth in WAC 246-232-120, Schedule B.

     (b) An individual source may contain more than one radionuclide but the total quantity in the individual source shall not exceed unity based on the sum of the fractional parts of one or more of the exempt quantities set forth in WAC 246-232-120, Schedule B. For purposes of this subsection, 1.85 kilobecquerels (0.05 microcuries) of americium-241 is considered an exempt quantity.

     (8) Spark gap irradiators containing 37 kilobecquerels (1 microcurie) or less of cobalt-60 per spark gap irradiator for use in electrically ignited fuel oil burners having a firing rate of at least three gallons (11.4 liters) per hour.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and 70.98.080. 09-06-003, § 246-232-009, filed 2/18/09, effective 3/21/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050. 01-02-068, § 246-232-009, filed 12/29/00, effective 1/29/01.]