# Quarles & Brady LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 06-0196  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2006-10-13

06-0196 response to Quarles & Brady LLP concerning 173.220, 173.301.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

S. Departme
Transportatic
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Hazardous Materials Safety
Pipeline and
OCT 1 6 2006
Administration
OCT 13 2006
Mr. Lars E. Gulbrandsen
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Quarles & Brady LLP
Ref. No.: 06-0196
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4497
Dear Mr. Gulbrandsen:
This responds to your letter dated August 17, 2006 regarding the applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to a motor vehicle,
operating under its own motive power that stores energy during braking in a large
compressed gas accumulator containing nitrogen.
system for trucks, such as garbage trucks. The auxiliary power system is similar in
According to your letter, your client plans to manufacture and sell an auxiliary power
system stores the energy generated during braking in a large compressed gas accumulator
purpose to batteries incorporated into hybrid-electric vehicles. The auxiliary power
containing nitrogen, and then releases that energy to produce better fuel economy.
transportation of a self-propelled vehicle "when transported as cargo" on a transport
Specifically, you ask if your understanding is correct that § 173.220 applies to the
vehicle, but would not apply when a self-propelled vehicle is operated under its own
motive power.
Your understanding is correct. The requirements in § 173.220 do not apply to a self-
propelled vehicle not carried as cargo on a transport vehicle and operated under its own
motive power.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
John A Gale
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Chief, Standards Development
113.220
060196
173.301

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Quartese Brady us
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4497
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Attorneys at Law in:
Tel 414.277.5000
Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona
www.quarles.com
Fax 414.271.3552
Chicago, Illinois
Naples and Boca Raton, Florida
Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin
Writer's Direct Dial: (414) 277.5137
E-mail: (g9@quarles.com
Writer's Direct Fax: (414) 978-8937
Engrum
August 17, 206 $ 1 13 - 220
$173.30}
Applicalálity
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
06-0196
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
400 7th Street S.W.
Washington DC 20590-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing with a general question regarding the applicability of the
More specifically, my question is whether the HMR apply to components
Hazardous Material Regulations ("HMR") to component parts of motor vehicles.
incorporated into a motor vehicle when that motor vehicle is being operated under
its own power.
My client, Eaton Corporation, plans to manufacture and sell an auxiliary
power system for trucks, such as garbage trucks. The auxiliary power system is
referred to as the Hydraulic Launch Assist ("HLA"). The HLA is similar in purpose
to batteries incorporated into hybrid-electric vehicles. The idea is to capture energ.
enerated during braking and then release that energy in order to produce bette
fuel economy. The HLA stores the energy generated during braking in a
large compressed gas accumulator containing nitrogen.
I understand that 49 CFR ch. 173.220 applies to the transportation of self-
propelled vehicles "when transported as cargo on a transport vehicle."
understanding is that 173.220 would not apply when a vehicle is operated under its
My
own power. Does any section of the HMR apply to a vehicle operated under its own
incorporating the HLA?
offered for transportation in a cylinder must be prepared in accordance with this
For instance, 49 CFR ch. 173.301(a) provides that "[a] Class 2 material (gas)
section
and sections 173.30la through 173.305, as applicable."
Would a
vehicle incorporating the HLA, and specifically the accumulator, be regulated by
49 CFR ch. 173.301 even if the vehicle is operating under its own power?

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
August 17, 2006
Page 2
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your
response.
Very truly yours,
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
LG9 jag
Lars E. Gulbrandsen
290050.00022
5942003 1.DOC

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2006/060196.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `af71439cba4f48b9b0e1ba2aab5dfed08f028c9688a691622f3115855ccf4aa1`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T22:05:04.370Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-06-0196`

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