# NASA Wallops Flight Facility — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 08-0234 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2008-10-29 08-0234 response to NASA Wallops Flight Facility concerning 171.8, 172.101. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Aver. SE Washington, DC 20590 Ms. Ernest Conwell NSROC Program Office P.O. Box 99 Building M16 Room 107 NASA Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, Virginia 23337 Ref. No. 08-0234 Dear Mr. Conwell: This responds to your September, 23 2008 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180). Specifically, you ask if a rocket motor containing fuel comprised of 38.6% (.05 ppm) Nitroglycerin meets the definition of a "hazardous substance" under the HMR. The referenced concentration in the rocket motor equals approximately 700 pounds of nitroglycerin. The answer is yes. A Hazardous substance is defined in 5 171.8 as a material, including its mixtures and solutions, that is listed in Appendix A to 5 172.10 1, and is in a quantity, in one package, that equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) for the material listed in Appendix A. Nitroglycerin is listed in Appendix A to 5 172.101 with a reportable quantity of 10 pounds. The concentration of Nitroglycerin in the rocket motor exceeds the reportable quantity in one package (700 pounds of Nitroglycerin in the rocket motor). Therefore, the rocket motor meets the definition of a hazardous substance. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance. Sincerely, Susan Gorsky Y Acting Chief, Standards Development Ofice of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> E i c h e n h b $ 172- 101 Page 1 of 2 Drakeford, Carolyn cPHMSA> From: INFOCNTR Sent: Tuesday, September 23,2008 8:31 AM To: Drakeford, Carolyn Subject: FW: Request for Clarification on Hazardous Substance Attachments: UN0280 MSDS.pdf From: Cornwell Ernest [mailto:Cornwell-Ernest@nsroc.net] Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 4:00 PM To: INFOCNTR Subject: Request for Clarification on Hazardous Substance Ernest R. Cornwell, Magazine Manager On behalf of National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASAIGSFCNVFF Building M-16 Room 107 Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, Virginia 23337 Phone: 757-824-2548 Fax: 757-824-2551 Email: ernest.r.cornwell@nasa.gov Reference: 49CFR 171.8 Enclosure: MSDS for UN0280 Rocket Motor, 1.1 C, PGll This is a request for written clal.ification concerning the definition of Hazardous In definitions and abbreviations, Sec. 171.8: Hazardous substance for the purposes of this subchapter, means a material, inclu (1) I s l i s t e d i n the appendix A t o Sec. 172.101 of t h i s subchapter; (2) I s i n a quantity, i n one package, which equals or exceeds the reportable qua (3) When i n a mixture or solution-- (ii) For other than radionuclides, is in a concentration by weight which equals or exceeds the concentration c o ~ Concentration by weight RQ pounds (kilograms) Percent PPM Table I to Appendix A --Hazardous Substances Other Than Radionuclides Nitroglycerine 10 Pounds (4.54 Kilograms) When transporting in commerce, including highway and vessel, the example item is offered. This mixture is contained within an article, proper shipping name: <<>> Page 2 of 2 UN0280 Rocket Motors, 1 .1C, PGII. Of note in the MSDS, the concentration of Nitroglycerine is 38.6% (.05 PPM). The referenced concentration equals approximately 700 Pounds. Does this product, in fact, fall within the definition of Reportable Quantity? Submitted; Ernest R. Cornwell NSROC Program Office P.O. Box 99 Building M I 6 Room 107 NASA Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, Virginia 23337 <<>> m3;ucnsa~g MWd. $al2-oxfd4lnrg; d e b g o with \iratsr, B B ~ not be ab9o + t o rxeinrui%b beret2 all m r a ~ i k ~ Bas been corasmd ~ u l h h ~ ~ b krueaa wanr.bE%%s a t ~ntatsr tar+ raaMIn vatg n rt &I- wtiad. % <<>> ... ..: Page 2 of 3 IV. HEALIN HAZARD DATA THRESHOLD LIKIT: VALUL EYECIS OF OVEREAPOSUEE Not established. Throbbins headache and upset istomach See Section Il AID PROCEDUEES EME&GENCY AND PIRSI pressure water for at 10ast 15 msnutes. Eyes: a case of contact, Plush thoroughly with plenty of 1om to sasure thorough flushing. Call & physcian. Remove any. contact Jenses Inhalacion: Benore to {xesh air. Treet any feritation symptomatically. Call a physcien. V. RBACTIVITY DAIA : UNSTABLE STABLE COMDITIONE TO AVOID Arold open 'Plase, apaiko, and host INCONPATTBILITY (HAIRBALS TO AVOID) Acidaland bades (orranie sad inorganie) HAZARDOUS HAZARDOOS POLXERRIZATTON DECORPOSITION PRODUCTS Orides et nicroger and carbon MAX OCCUR VILLI NOT OCCUR SONDITLONS None TO AVOID TI. SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES "TEPS IO BE IAKEN RELBASED OR SPILLED impact and aleccrostacie discharge. ¡ HAIBRIAL IS " Pubber or plastic shovel. Clean up syllle Inmediately using & golt bristls brush and a conductive Use caution, natariel is sensitive to friction MASTE PISPOSAL METHOD Burn on open burning ground Lations in accordance with state and local ragu- May also be burned in as Incinetator approved ior explosivos. VII. SPECIAL PROTECIIOM INFÓRMATIOM (SPECIFY TXPE) BISPIRATORY PROIECTION Hot ragulzad. VENTILATION LOCAL EXHAUST SPECIAL HECHANICAL (GENERAL)| -- ORNER Adogieta rentllation PROTRCTIVE GLOVES Cotton or Leather 598 OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPHENT PROTECTION Flame retardant coverells and conductive phoen Salett Alasses VIII. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS LABELING PRECAUTIDNARY retrogLycarin (akin) Lead-Copper-Resorcylate-Salieylate Nitrocelzalose (flammable golia) THER HANDLING AND TORAGE CONDITIONS Avoid prolonged temperatures above 50°C (125°p) Recommended storage: 2300(7008) t|50% humidicy 55f <<>> HATERIAL SABBEY DATA SHIRT MSDS : ! PAGE: 3 0E 3 DATE: TRADE NAMB: PROPSLLANT NOSIH-AA-2 STANDARD : IX SPECIAL PRECAUTIOMS PRECAUTIONARY LABELING: ! i of Iransportation lor Class B Expl08179s. Labeled and packaged in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations of tha Depertsens MARNING1 TAMABLE :30114 sop away from beat, sparts, and open Plane. Use with adequétà ventilation Leep containers closed. FIRST AID: BYES: astor for at léast 15 minutes. in case of contact, immediately flush with plenty of lov pressur khorossh Flushing. Call a physicies. емоте auy. contact Lenses to assur SXIN: Wash with soap and running watar. ' INHALAIION: physician. Remove to fresh ait. Ireat ang lericarlos symptomatically. Gall a : OTHER HANDLING |AND STORAGE CORDITIOME: 1910.109 and BAZY, 27C2855, Sappart K scotaga also muse contora to loeal, state and Fodeeal Begulations including OSHA - 29C7 : ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `123774b8d09006f22c8d5ba40dff88cfa59a12ddcf695dda4befd2714be95afa` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T11:43:43.869Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0234` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "NASA Wallops Flight Facility" ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Ernest Conwell" ], "refIds": [ "08-0234" ], "catalogDates": [ "2008-10-29" ], "catalogParts": [ 171, 172 ], "catalogRowCount": 2, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/55306" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "171.8", "172.101", "172.10" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1718", "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172101" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080234.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080234.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080234.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0234-4b1843594d.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "1f19c7746aedbe655443ab45f91fdf24dabf95b003f7ed3f816bfabae45eff6c", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/08-0234-4b1843594d.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "6d847b8a156f689acc10fa7c278b7d01c01b8f3395dc95ac3a501e0599f7a011", "pageCount": 6, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```