# Space Gateway Support, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 05-0053  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2005-05-12

05-0053 response to Space Gateway Support, LLC concerning 171.1, 173.22.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and
MAY 12 2005
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
Mr. William Deneuté
Ref No.: 05-0053
P.O. Box 21237
Space Gateway Support, LLC
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32815
Dear Mr. Deneuté:
This responds to your February 23, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the weight
percent threshold for classification of mixtures of nitric oxide and dinitrogen tetroxide
under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You state
that a threshold of 11% nitric oxide in a mixture with dinitrogen tetroxide appears to be
the poin: where the characteristics of the mixture diverge from that of pure "Dinitrogen
tetroxide, UN1067." You request that 11% be the threshold level where a mixture of
nitric oxide and dinitrogen tetroxide is classified as "Nitric oxide and dinitrogen tetroxide
mixtures, UN1975" rather than "Dinitrogen tetroxide, UN1067."
In accordance with § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to determine the shipping
description for the material being transported. When selecting a proper shipping name,
the shipper must select the name that most appropriately describes the material (see
§ 173.101(c)(12)). For a mixture of nitric oxide and dinitrogen tetroxide that meets the
definition of a Division 2.3 material that is poisonous by inhalation in Hazard Zone A and
exhibits oxidizer and corrosive subsidiary hazards, it is the opinion of this Office that,
notwithstanding the percentage of nitric oxide in the mixture, the most appropriate
shipping description is "Nitric oxide and dinitrogen tetroxide mixtures, 2.3 (5.1, 8), UN
1975." The proper shipping name "Dinitrogen tetroxide" may be used only for pure
dinitrogen tetroxide that meets the definition of a Division 2.3 material that is poisonous
by inhalation in Hazard Zone A and exhibits oxidizer and corrosive subsidiary hazards.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Sincerely,
/
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
14/.1
050053
173.22

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Supko
3171:1
-
Space Gateway Support, LLC
Exemption
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32815-0237
P.O. Box 21237
05-0053
DATE:
February 23, 2005
230-05-036
TO:
Edward T. Mazullo. Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
US DOT / RSPA (DHM-10)
400 7" Street SW.
Washginton, D.C. 20590-0001
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR WRITTEN INTERPRETATION REGARDING THE WEIGHT
PERCENT THRESHOLD FOR CLASSIFYING NITRIC OXIDE AND
DINITROGEN TETROXIDE MIXTURES WITH THE UN1975 IDENTIFIER - 49
CFR 172-101.
Dear Mr. Mazullo,
Currently, NASA - KSC transports MON-1 and MON-3 (Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen and
Dinitrogen Tetroxide) under exemptions DOT-E 10887 and 11383 (as grantee) under the UN ID
1067 (DiNitrogen Tetroxide.) NASA is also a party to exemptions DOT-E 03121 and 11580 and
will forward this interpretation to the grantees (DOD and Columbiana Boilers.)
Our concerr. is that the weight percent of NO is so low (1% and 3% respectively) that the
mixtures ex nibit the same characteristics as the pure Dinitrogen Tetroxide. There are occasions
where MON-10 is transported under some of the above exemptions also. This mixture does
exhibit a higher vapor pressure so the UN 1975 designation may be prudent there but we believe
the vapor pressure really diverges above 11% NO by weight. If there is no set weight percent
which the OHM has identified, we would like to submit 11% (MON-11) as a threshold level as
that is the point where the characteristics appear to diverge from NTO. We would concede that a
conservative level would be 7% NO by weight which is the point where the vapor pressures
shows a 50% increase above atmospheric pressure.
Currently there is a modification request in by NASA for adding UN 1975 to DOT-E 11383 as an
additional Division 2.3 material in non-DOT specification Steel cylinders (FR Vol. 70, No. 13,
1/21/05 - 11383-M.) If the conservative weight percent of NO (7%) is accepted as a limit for
UN 1975, we would respectfully request the modification be cancelled as MON-10 is not
transported under that exemption.
Sincerely,
wallan C lenenti, 2/23/05
William Derieuté
Space Gateway Support, LLC
Attachments
Vapor Pressure Calculations & interpolation chart
Co:
Chuck Davis, TA-E3; Kyrn Craig, UPC-272
Dwayne Breaux, SGS-127; Hemant Solanky, SGS-127
* Recycled paper

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050053.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `96a2014d2421b030ab78c189e28885c1e1db328881d43c0623689d5b7b85c6b3`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T09:22:28.070Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-05-0053`

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