# Micro Scientific Industries, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 10-0112  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2010-06-30

10-0112 response to Micro Scientific Industries, Inc. concerning 171.1, 173.150.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Jack Wagner
Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
Micro Scientific Industries, Inc.
1225 Carnegie Street, Suite 101
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Ref. No. 10-0112
Dear Mr. Wagner,
This responds to your letter dated May 7, 2010 requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) as they apply to an aqueous solution of
alcohol that your company ships. The material that you ship contains 20% isopropyl alcohol,
more than 75% water, and less than 5% of various non-hazardous surfactants. Specifically, you
ask if the product described meets the exception for aqueous solutions of alcohol under the
HMR.
The answer is yes. Aqueous solutions ofalcohol, that contain no other hazardous materials, are
excepted from the requirements ofthe HMR when they contain 24% or less alcohol by volume
and no less than 50% water.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this Office.
Sincerely,
~tb~

<<<PAGE 2>>>

MICRO Where innovation
/ ~ and knowledge
SCIENTIFIC are our most
INDUSTRIES, INC. important products.
"--/
.
f-l elile-VlI(U,li?
May 7,2010 ~ 113.1500)
£..x. c. ept-i 0 VI S
John A. Gale
U.S. Department of Transportation 10- 0112..
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
RE: Clarification on applicability of CFR §173.150(e)
Dear Mr. Gale:
We are submitting this letter to request clarification as to whether or not a product that
we ship is subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR) or exempt as an
"aqueous solution of alcohol" pursuant to 49 CFR §173.150(e).
The product contains 200 /0 isopropyl alcohol and greater than 75% water and the
remaining ingredients are nonhazardous surfactants.
Qnderstanding that according to §173.150(e) an aqueous solution of alcohol
mp,~~;oe!re(:laS!)1T ed as a combustible liquid, and is not subject to the HMR when it
rfir,f:lii ·,,,,oc.,_,,,n or less alcohol by volume, no other hazardous material, and greater than
Are we correct that our solution does meet the provisions in §173.150(e)
st~cl:ah'iort' to HMR when transported by all modes? However, transportation by
~~·~,sel is not authorized except where other means of transportation is
n9 correct? Your written response is greatly appreCiated.
and Regulatory Affairs
1225 CARNEGIE STREET, SUITE 101 ROLLING MEADOWS, IL 60008, USA P 847-454-0835 F 847-454-0837 www.opticide.com

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100112.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `7327cb8491b712b26e9f9878d6523f4aded5865d6e92946779d7866fe2eb704d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T00:44:34.446Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-10-0112`

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