OAR 333-102-0005: Exemptions: Unimportant Quantities of Source Material

(1) Any person is exempt from this division to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, owns or transfers source material in any chemical mixture, compound, solution or alloy in which the source material is by weight less than 1/20 of one percent (0.05 percent) of the mixture, compound, solution or alloy. (2) Any person is exempt from this division to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses or transfers unrefined and unprocessed ore containing source material; provided that, except as authorized in a specific license, such person must not refine or process such ore. (3) Any person is exempt from this division and divisions 111 and 120 to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses or transfers: (a) Any quantities of thorium contained in: (A) Incandescent gas mantles; (B) Vacuum tubes; (C) Welding rods; (D) Electric lamps for illuminating purposes provided that each lamp does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium; (E) Germicidal lamps, sun lamps and lamps for outdoor or industrial lighting provided that each lamp does not contain more than two grams of thorium; (F) Rare earth metals and compounds, mixtures and products containing not more than 0.25 percent by weight thorium, uranium or any combination of these; or (G) Personnel neutron dosimeters, provided that each dosimeter does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium. (b) Source material contained in the following products: (A) Glazed ceramic tableware manufactured before August 27, 2013, provided that the glaze contains not more than 20 percent by weight source material; (B) Piezoelectric ceramic containing not more than two percent by weight source material; (C) Glassware containing more than two percent by weight source material or, for glassware manufactured before August 27, 2013, not more than ten percent by weight source material; but not including commercially manufactured glass brick, pane glass, ceramic tile or other glass or ceramic used in construction; or (D) Glass enamel or glass enamel frit containing not more than ten percent by weight source material imported or ordered for importation into the United States, or initially distributed by manufacturers in the United States, before July 25, 1983. (c) Photographic film, negatives and prints containing uranium or thorium; (d) Any finished product or part fabricated of, or containing tungsten-thorium or magnesium-thorium alloys, provided that the thorium content of the alloy does not exceed four percent by weight and that this exemption must not be deemed to authorize the chemical, physical or metallurgical treatment or processing of any such product or part; (e) Uranium contained in counterweights installed in aircraft, rockets, projectiles and missiles or stored or handled in connection with installation or removal of such counterweights, provided that: (A) Each counterweight has been impressed with the following legend clearly legible through any plating or other covering: "DEPLETED URANIUM"; NOTE: The requirements specified in paragraphs (3)(e)(A) and (3)(e)(B) of this rule need not be met by counterweights manufactured prior to December 31, 1969 provided, that such counterweights were manufactured under a specific license issued by the Atomic Energy Commission and are impressed with the legend required by paragraph (3)(e)(B) of this rule in effect on June 30, 1969. (B) Each counterweight is durably and legibly labeled or marked with the identification of the manufacturer and the statement: "UNAUTHORIZED ALTERATIONS PROHIBITED"; and (C) This exemption must not be deemed to authorize the chemical, physical or metallurgical treatment or processing of any such counterweights other than repair or restoration of any plating or other covering. (f) Natural or depleted uranium metal used as shielding constituting part of any shipping container, provided that: (A) The shipping container is conspicuously and legibly impressed with the legend "CAUTION — RADIOACTIVE SHIELDING — URANIUM"; and (B) The uranium metal is encased in mild steel or equally fire resistant metal of minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm). (g) Thorium or uranium contained in or on finished optical lenses and mirrors, provided that each lens does not contain more than 10 percent by weight of thorium or uranium or, for lenses manufactured before August 27, 2013, 30 percent by weight of thorium; and that this exemption must not be deemed to authorize either: (A) The shaping, grinding or polishing of such lens or mirrors or manufacturing processes other than the assembly of such lens or mirror into optical systems and devices without any alteration of the lens or mirror; or (B) The receipt, possession, use or transfer of uranium or thorium contained in contact lenses, or in spectacles, or in eyepieces in binoculars or other optical instruments. (h) Thorium contained in any finished aircraft engine part containing nickel-thoria alloy, provided that: (A) The thorium is dispersed in the nickel-thoria alloy in the form of finely divided thoria (thorium dioxide); and (B) The thorium content in the nickel-thoria alloy does not exceed four percent by weight. (4) The exemptions in section (3) of this rule do not authorize the manufacture of any of the products described. (5) No person may initially transfer for sale or distribution a product containing source material to persons exempt under this rule, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or equivalent regulations of an Agreement State, unless authorized by a license issued under OAR 333-102-0300 and 333-102-0305 to initially transfer such products for sale or distribution. (a) Persons initially distributing source material in products covered by the exemptions in this rule before August 27, 2013, without specific authorization may continue such distribution for one year beyond this date. Initial distribution may also be continued until the Authority takes final action on a pending application for license or license amendment to specifically authorize distribution submitted no later than one year beyond this date. (b) Persons authorized to manufacture, process, or produce these materials or products containing source material by an Agreement State, and persons who import finished products or parts, for sale or distribution must be authorized by a license issued under OAR 333-102-0300 and 333-102-0305 for distribution only and are exempt from the requirements of divisions 111 and 120 of this chapter, and OAR 333-102-0200(2) and (3). [Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]