# College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 00-0276  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-11-29

00-0276 response to College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources concerning 172.704.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S.Department
400 Seventh Street. S.W.
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
NOV 2 9 2000
:
Mr. Ken M. Ikeda
Environmental Safety Specialist
Ref. No. 00-0276
College of Tropical Agriculture
University of Hawaii at Manoa
and Human Resources
2040 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI
96822
Dear Mr. Ikeda:
This
applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CER
is in response to your October 2, 2000, letter regarding the
Parts 171-180).
whether employees receiving hazardous materials require DOT.
Specifically, you request clarification on
training and when the applicability of the HMR ceases.
not perform duties that are regulated under the HMR (e.g., unload
A person who receives hazardous materials (a consignee) that does
training).
a transport vehicle) is not subject to the HMR (including
employer
and who in the course of employment directly affects
A hazmat employee is a person employed by a hazmat
hazardous materials transportation safety (see § 171.8).
the HMR is considered to be a hazmat employee.
person who performs duties that are regulated
hazmat employee includes an individual employed by a hazmat
handles hazardous materials.
employer who, during the course of
Section 172.704 requires a hazmat
employment loads, unloads, or
safety training.
employee to receive general awareness, function specific, and
As specified in $ 171.1, the HMR govern the safe transportation
of hazardous materials
commerce.
"Transportation" is defined as "the movement of
in intrastate, interstate and foreign
property
movement" (49 U.S.C.
and loading, unloading, or storage incidental to the
5102(12)).
or transportation in the jurisdiction of the United States
"Commerce" is defined as "trade
between a place in a state or a place outside of the state; or
that affects trade or transportation between a place in a state
and a place outside of the state" (49 U.S.C. 5102(1)).
л
000276
112.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

On April 29, 1999, the Research and Special Programs
Administration published a supplemental advance notice of
proposed rulemaking inviting comment on the applicability of the
HMR to loading, unloading, and storage of hazardous materials (64
FR 22718; HM-223). We are continuing to evaluate comments from
and whether particular activities are covered by that term, and
the public regarding the meaning of "transportation in commerce"
therefore, subject to regulation under the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Transportation Regulations
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Specialist

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000276.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `80372ab79b4195af8940a2f94b81f9c507bc19c647a3c72785afcd26b0a21ae1`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T04:04:35.152Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-00-0276`

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