# LaMotte Co. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 08-0193 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2008-09-04 08-0193 response to LaMotte Co.; URS Corporation concerning 173.306, 173.4. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave. S E. Washington, DC 20590 SEP 2 2008 Ms. Erin N. Jarman Environmental Scientist URS Corporation 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Ref. No. 08-0193 Dear Ms. Jarman: This is in response to your July 24, 2008 letter requesting further clarification of our letter to you dated June 20, 2008 concerning the packaging requirements for transporting non- pressurized gas under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180). In your April 28,2008, you asked whether shipping gas samples in "Tedlar" bags placed in a one-quart metal can (similar to a paint can) with a friction lid sealed with plastic-ring seals is, permissible under the HMR. You also provided a copy of the product documentation for the friction lid metal cans indicating a hydrostatic test rating of 100kPa. In your most recent letter, you ask whether our response is the same if the hydrostatic test rating is 95 kPa instead of 100 kPa. The answer is yes. Section 173.306(a)(4)(iii) requires non-pressurized gases, flammable to be packed in hermetically sealed glass or metal inner packagings of not more than 5 L (1.3 gallons) and overpacked in a strong outer packaging. Section 17 1.8 defines "hermetically sealed" as closed by fusion, gasketing, crimping, or equivalent means, so that no gas or vapor can enter or escape. It is the opinion of this Office that a metal can with a hydrostatic test rating of 95 kPa and a friction lid sealed with plastic-ring seals as described in your letter meets the definition of "hermetically sealed," and therefore can be used as an inner packaging as specified in 4 173.306(a)(4)(iii). I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, (.-, L - ' ,+ I - > \. Susan Gorsky, ij Acting Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> July 24,2008 Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards U.S. DOTIPHMSA (PHH- 10) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20590 Dear Mr. Mazzullo: I am writing to you with regards to a clarification I recently received regarding the proper packaging needed for the purpose of transporting non-pressurized, flammable gas samples in Tedlar@ bags. In the response fiom your office dated June 20,2008 (Ref. No. 08-0139) it was confirmed that a metal can with a friction lid sealed with a plastic-ring seal that had been tested to a hydrostatic test rating of 100kPa would indeed meet the definition of "hermetically sealed and would therefore be an acceptable inner packaging as required by 9 173.306(a)(4)(iii). Upon further research, I have discovered that many can manufacturers state that their cans have been hydrostatically tested to only 95kPa, rather than the 100kPa presented in my initial interpretation request. I was wondering if it would still be the opinion of your office that a metal can with a fkiction lid and sealed with a plastic-ring seal with a hydrostatic test rating of 95kPa would still meet the definition :;f "hermetically sealed" and would therefore still be an acceptable inner packaging as required by 173.306(a)(4)(iii). Thank you in allvance for your assistance. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Erin N. Jarman Environmental Scientist URS Corporation 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Tel: 9 19-46 1 - 1478 Fax: 919-461-1371 Erin-Jarman@urscorp.com ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `5881eddf06fc56ed35dd373d1749a30a08bc0284456db5f65dd227d5d7767cf2` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T06:26:47.831Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0193` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "LaMotte Co.", "URS Corporation" ], "individuals": [ "Ms. Erin N. 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