# Mr. William Briner — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 13-0223  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2013-12-31

13-0223 concerning 171.8, 172.101.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
DEC 1 9 2013
William Briner
670 Grey Oaks Drive
Weldon Springs, MO 63304
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Reference No.: 13-0223
Dear Mr. Briner:
This responds to your November 5, 2013 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to reportable quantities
(RQ) of hazardous materials. You state that you ship 50 pound multi -wall paper bags of
Sodium phosphate, dibasic. You note that Sodium phosphate, dibasic does not meet the
definition of hazardous material for Classes 1 through 8, but that it is listed in Appendix
A of§ 172.10 I with an RQ of 5000 pounds. You seek confirmation that Sodium
phosphate, dibasic shipped in 50 pound bags is not regulated as a hazardous substance
even if 100 or more bags of this material are offered for transportation in a single
shipment.
You are correct. The definition for a hazardous substance does not include the aggregate
of packages in a single shipment. As prescribed in § I7I.8, a hazardous substance is
defined as a substance listed in Appendix A of§ I72.I 0 I and in a quantity, in one
package, which equals or exceeds the RQ listed in Appendix A to § I72.I 0 I.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
.... ualt c /f .··~·~r·?/G ... (
·~ ' - I'' ;
Duane Pfund
International Standards Coordinator
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

November 5, 2013
William J. Briner
670 Grey Oaks Drive
Weldon Spring, MO 63304
Standards and Rulemaking Division
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Attn: PHH-10
U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
Request for Interpretation
Dear Sir or Madame:
I am writing to request an interpretation concerning the shipment of multi wall paper bags each
containing 50 pounds of disodium phosphate, anhydrous (CAS# 7558-79-4). Other synonyms
for disodium phosphate, anhydrous are disodium phosphate and sodium phosphate, dibasic.
Sodium phosphate, dibasic is listed in 49 CFR Appendix A to 172.101 as a hazardous substance
with a reportable quantity of 5000 pounds. Disodium phosphate, anhydrous does not meet the
definition of hazard classes 1 through 8.
Based upon the above, please confirm that disodium phosphate, anhydrous in 50 pound
multiwall paper bags is not regulated as a hazardous material under the DOT Hazardous
Materials Regulations, even if 100 or more of these bags are offered for transportation in a single
shipment.
Sincerely,
0>-~ct, ~
William J. Briner

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130223.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `8b0b42123d94c15fd92a23f7447c3e2d8644b20fff4fa25e1488b18242e4a870`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T13:57:14.531Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-13-0223`

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