# Shane Havoc Consulting, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 04-0225  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2004-10-28

04-0225 response to Shane Havoc Consulting, LLC concerning 171.8, 172.203.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
special Programs
Research and
OCT 28 2004
Administration
Gregory Sutherland, Ph.D.
Ref. No.:
04-0225
Shane Havoc Consulting, LLC
1905 English Ivy Court
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Dear Dr. Sutherland:
clarification of the requirements for inclusion of
This is in response to your September 22, 2004 letter requesting
a technical
name for a hazardous material described as "Corrosive liquid,
acidic, organic, n.o.s."
under the Hazardous Materials
if "(contains organic acids)" is an acceptable technical name in
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask
accordance with $ 172.203 (k).
name" means
The answer is no. As defined in § 171.8 of the HMR, "technical
a
recognized chemical name
or microbiological name
currently used in scientific and technical handbooks, journals,
and
texts.
A chemical description is authorized for use as a
technical name provided it readily identifies the general
chemical group.
Examples of acceptable generic chemical
descriptions are "organic phosphate compounds" and "aqueous
amino silane polymer."
I hope this information
is helpful. Please contact us if you
require additional
assistance.
Mile x mitchel
Hattie L. Mitchell
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
111.8
040225
112.203 (к)

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Pollack
September 22, 2004
$171,8
§172-203 (к)
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Technical Name
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
04-0225
Dear Sir,
I have a client that uses the following as a proper shipping name for an N.O.S.
description;
Corrosive liquid, acidic, organic, n.o.s. (Contains Organic Acids)
They are stating that under 172.203 (k) and the definition of Technical Name in 171.8,
they are allowed to use a generic group name rather than a specific Organic acid name.
This position is being questioned by ocean carriers that state; "They cannot look up
Organic Acids in a standard reference text." They are requesting a specific Organic Acid
be listed.
I understand the client's position to disclose as little as possible about their formulas for
proprietary reasons. I also understand the carriers need to review what they are
transporting. The MSDS the client issues does not disclose the specific Organic acid.
What I need is a DOT ruling on if Organic Acids is an authorized generic group that can
be used as a technical name.
Please send your interpretation to:
Shane Havoc Consulting, LLC
1905 English Ivy Ct.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Gregory Sutherland Ph.D. (DGSA)
If you need any further clarification to my questions please give me a call at:
843-849-1463
Sincerely,
Gregory Sutherland

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040225.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `6cfe2d58c94c820f9bc0d55fb98884b312612d18185fad00a71b644a729ef566`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T18:51:28.968Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-04-0225`

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