# Gulf Trading (Alabama), Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 03-0201  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2003-11-21

03-0201 response to Gulf Trading (Alabama), Inc. concerning 173.22.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Research and
NOV 21 2003
400 Soventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Administratior
Mr. Mark Walker
Sr. Vice President
Reference No.: 03-0201
Gulf Trading (Alabama), Inc.
1100 Washington Ave., Suite 312
Carnegie, PA 15106-3617
Dear Mr. Walker:
This is in response to your letter concerning the classification of Calcium Silicide under the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You submitted test data based
material contains 27.07% Calcium and 55.75% Silicon. It is your opinion that the material does
on the classification criteria in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria which indicates your
not meet the definition of a Division 4.3 Dangerous when wet material.
Under § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to classify a hazardous material. This office
does not normally perform this function. However, based on the test data you submitted, it is the
opinion of this office that your material does not meet the definition of a Division 4.3 material
and provided it does not meet any other hazard class, it is not subject to the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Hotle z. mither
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chiet, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
17322
030201

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Interpretation
July 29, 2003
Corbin
§ /73.124
GULF TRADING
Mr. Delmer Billings
Classification
GULF TRADING
Chief Regulations Development
(ALABAMA), ING.
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards 03-0201
1100 Washington Ave.
Pittsburgh Office
400 Seventh St. S.W.
Suite 312
Washington, DC 20590
Phone
Carnegie, PA 15106-3617
Fax
(412) 276-6323
(412) 276-6311
Dear Mr. Billings,
Email:gulfpitt@bellatlantic.net
Gulf Trading (Alabama) has tested our Calcium Silicide at the laboratories
of Andrew S. McCreath and Son, Inc. and we submit the test results for your
review. It is our contention that our calcium silicide does not meet the
criteria of a division 4.3 material under HMR: 49 CFR Parts 171-180.
McCreath tested the material in accordance with the method described in
Appendix E part 173 and their results are attached to this letter.
We request that the department issue an exemption for our Calcium silicide.
Thanking you in advance, I remain
Sincerely y
yours
Mack flower
Mark Walker
Sr. Vice President
03 AUG |1 PM 3:20
DOT/RSPA
HAZMAL SAFETY

<<<PAGE 3>>>

07/29/2003: 15:37
17172384843
MCCREATH
PAGE 02/03
610 Wilow Street
Andren S. Melreath & Son, Ine.
P.O. Box 1453
Harrisburg, PA 17105-1453
Telephone: (717) 238-9331
AMALYTICAL AND CORSULTING CHEMISTS
Fax: (717) 238-4843
Telex: 84-2321
July 29,2003
Gulf Trading (Alabara), Inc.
1100 Washington Avenue - Suite 312
Carnegie, Pennsylvania
• 15106-3617
Gentlemen:
The sample received from you on July 24, 2003, identified as: Calcium Silicide,
produced by China National Nonferrous Metals I/E Corp., Jiangsu Branch, was tested
in accordance with DOT Standard 173, Appendix E, Division 4.3 (Dangerous when wet
material). Results are as follows:
Spontaneous Ignition Test
Division 4.3 a (2)
Division 4.3 a (1)
No Spontaneous Ignition
To Spontaneous Ignitio
Division 43 a (3)
No Spontaneous Ignitio
Gas Evolution Measurement
Total volume in MI each hour.
Time Interval
Test I
Test 2
1 Hour
1.00 MI
1.50 MI
2 Hour
1.00 MI
1.50 MI
3 Hour
1.00 MI
1.50 MI
5 Hour
4 Hour
1.00 MI
1.50 MI
1.00 MI
1.50 Ml
6 Hour
1.00 MI
1.50 MI
7 Hour
1.00 M
1.50 MI
Total
1.00 MI
1.50 MI

<<<PAGE 4>>>

07/29/2003 15:37
17172384843
MCCREATH
PAGE 03/03
Page No. 2
July 29, 2003
DOT Test
Calcium Silicide
Maximum Rate - 0.060 Liter/hour/kilogram
Average Rate - 0.007 liter/how/kilogram
Yours very truly,
ANDREW S. MCCREATH & SON, INC.
Lenge hala

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030201.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `0fe0920eed990cabc7fd39edbbdfb0903ef12b15adc39e1bbc9cd72fa0ef15bc`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T12:12:38.989Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-03-0201`

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