# Nalco Chemical Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0003  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-01-19

01-0003 response to Nalco Chemical Company concerning 172.514.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

:
f Transportatic
5. Departmer
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
JAN 1 9 2001
Mr. Everett Gauthier
Ref. No. 01-0003
Manager Quality, Safety, and Training
Nalco Chemical Company
One Nalco Center
Naperville, Illinois 60563
Dear Mr. Gauthier:
This responds to your letter, dated January 5, 2001, requesting clarification of the requirements in
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for determining reportable
quantities of hazardous substances. Specifically, you ask if you must consider the entire quantity
of hazardous substance being transported in a multi-unit cargo tank motor vehicle (CTMV) to
determine whether you have a reportable quantity.
The answer is no. Hazardous substances are regulated under the HMR when the quantity in one
package equals or exceeds the reportable quantity listed in Appendix A to § 172.101 for that
material (see the definition for "hazardous substance" in § 171.8 of the HMR). For purposes of
the HMR, each compartment of a multi-unit CTMV is considered a separate bulk packaging.
Thus, in the example you provide in your letter, for a material that meets or exceeds the
reportable quantity listed in Appendix A to § 172.101 in an amount of 18,000 pounds or more, if
the amount of material in each compartment of a multi-unit CTMV is under 18,000 pounds, the
material is not regulated as a hazardous substance even if the aggregate amount of material in all
compartments of the CTMV meets or exceeds 18,000 pounds.
Hazardous substances that do not meet the definition of another hazard class are regulated as
Class 9 materials under the HMR. For domestic transportation, a Class 9 placard is not required.
identification number displayed on a Class 9 placard, an orange panel, or a white square-on-point
However, a bulk packaging containing a Class 9 material must be marked with the appropriate
display configuration c 725 mament of temple uni Cr meets or excels the
reportable quantity for that material, then the CTMV must be marked with the appropriate
identification number in accordance with subpart D of part 172 of the HMR. However, if the
amount of material in each compartment of the CTMV is under the reportable quantity for that
172.514
010003

<<<PAGE 2>>>

:
material, then the material is not regulated as a hazardous substance and need not be marked with
an identification number even if the aggregate amount of material on the CTMV meets or
exceeds the reportable quantity.
this office.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Sincerely,
Thomas G. Allan
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

01/05/01 FRI 08:21 FAX 630 305 2930
NALCO LOGISTICS
Ø002
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
ONE NALCO CENIER U NAPEHVII LE, ILLINUIS 60S63•1198 " ALA
borsku
$172.514
Placarding
00-037°
Edward Mazzullo
1-05-01
Director Office of Hazardous
Material Standards
US DOT -RSPA (DHM-10)
400 g' ST South West
Washington, DC 20596-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo
I have a question regarding the placarding of multi compartment trailers. The product we
I can be contacted at Nalco Chemical Company, One Naico Center, Naperville, IL
60563-1198. The phone number (630) 305-1134 and the fax number is (630) 305-
2930. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Sincerely
Earl
Everett Gauthier
Manager Quality, Safety and Training

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010003.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `664c593fd39fcf82680051a53aee5cf4cb4512caa2d6135c3f3744cfe1b7d656`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T17:25:15.403Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0003`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Nalco Chemical Company"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. Everett Gauthier"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "01-0003"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2001-01-19"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    172
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/46061"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "172.514",
    "172.101",
    "171.8"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172514"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010003.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010003.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010003.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/01-0003-2fd4c28a5c.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "f32ece896d0ae39dc9e115a69d58b71b51f097ebf497dd386c79cafe12be7696",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/01-0003-2fd4c28a5c.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "a0b2f234e163182bc23977d6d05f6329a100b341962a3b21ac5a10aa671e984b",
      "pageCount": 3,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```
