# ATK Corporate Transportation Compliance — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 12-0041 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2012-06-21 12-0041 response to ATK Corporate Transportation Compliance concerning 173.63. ## Document text <<>> t.:.s. Department Jt Transportation ?ipeline and Hazardous ''Jlaterials Safety ~dministration , .:oo New Jersey Avenue. SE ··.'!ashinqton, D.C. 20590 Mr. Patrick Watson, CHMM A TK Corporate Transportation Compliance 7480 Flying Cloud Drive Minneapolis, MN 55344-3720 Ref. No.: 12-00041 Dear Mr. Watson: This is in response to your January 30, 2012 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations ( HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) with respect to the transportation of small arms ammunition and primers that have been classified as Division 1.4S, as provided in § 173.56(h). Specifically, you ask if sales samples of Division l.4S small arms ammunition and primers may be transported as Materials of Trade (MOTs) per§ 173.6 after December 31, 2013, when the Consumer Commodity, ORM-D designation will no longer be in effect. As you state in your email, on January 19, 20 ll, PHMSA published a final rule (HM-215K; 76 FR 3308), which amended the HMR to maintain alignment with international standards. These amendments included the elimination of the ORM-D classification. Currently, the MOTs exception specified in § 173.6 has not been revised to extend relief to limited quantity shipments. It is your understanding that, due to the elimination of the ORM-D classification, Division 1.4S small arms ammunition and primers that have been classified as limited quantities in accordance with§ 173.63(b) are not eligible for the MOTs exception. Your understanding is correct, as the MOTs exception has not been revised to extend relief to limited quantity shipments of Division 1.4S small arms ammunition and primers. We appreciate your bringing this issue to our attention. It should be noted that on May 25, 2012, PHMSA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that responds to administrative appeals and solicits public comment on proposals generated as a result of certain amendments adopted in HM-215K, including a proposal to extend the MOTs <<>> / exception to limited quantity shipments. You may view and comment on this NPRM at: https://federalregister.gov/a/2012-12523. However, should the revisions in the NPRM not be adopted, you may apply for a Special Permit in accordance with§ 107.105. I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office. Sincerely, (~ -~ <1-- ,_/"""' Robert Benedict Chief, Standards Development Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) From: -sent: 1 To: ~Subject: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Monday, January 30, 2012 1:38 PM Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) FW: Request for Letter of Interpretation ~ J73.to3 MtJT /2. -()0 1/ Hi Carolyn, We received the· following request for a letter of interpretation. Thanks, Victoria Victoria Lehman Hazmat Information Center (HMIC) http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center (202) 366-1035 From: Watson, Patrick [mailto:Patrick.Watson@ATK.COM] Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:25 AM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: Request for Letter of Interpretation To Whom it May Concern: We are requesting a Letter of Interpretation. Federal Cartridge Company, a subsidiary of Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC (ATK), is a manufacturer of small arms ammunition and primers (self classified as 1.45 according to 173.56(h)}. Currently, our sales force transports samples of these small arms ammunition and primers (packaged ORM-D) in accordance with 49CFR 173.6 as a "Material of Trade". With the forthcoming expiration of OR M-D and the adoption of the Limited Quantity provisions for small arms ammunition/primers associated with HM-215K, it is our impression that we will no longer be able to transport these same materials classed as Limited Quantities (in accordance with 173.63(b)) as a Material of Trade. Will we be able to continue transporting samples of small arms ammunition and primers packaged as per Limited Quantity requirements (173.63(b)) as a Material of Trade, or would this action require the granting of a Special Permit? Thank you, Patrick Watson, CHMM ATK Corporate Transportation Compliance 7480 Flying Cloud Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55344-3720 Office: 952.351.7608 Mobile: 952.847.0574 The Corporate Office is closed on Fridays 1 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `afffb60c3f480fa39b157e16963de395182fe492eb3468e678145f097ee3c537` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T04:04:40.280Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-12-0041` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "ATK Corporate Transportation Compliance" ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Patrick Watson" ], "refIds": [ "12-0041" ], "catalogDates": [ "2012-06-21" ], "catalogParts": [ 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/59141" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "173.63", "173.63(b)", "173.56(h)", "173.6", "107.105" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/17363" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120041.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120041.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120041.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/12-0041-44f33a9dce.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "02ae4daa4cf20be9a9f39ab6459342a82a1a2efa8e1cca825a4abfea700f8013", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/12-0041-44f33a9dce.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "101d06fd1c21c6008ee047aa98911ed8a7bae6f818f16fd14ff25d4def7cf208", "pageCount": 3, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```