# AECOM — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 15-0168R **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2018-05-02 15-0168R response to AECOM concerning 173.240. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Pipeline and Hazardous MAY 0 2 2018 Materials Safety Administration Andrew N. Romach Regulatory Compliance Manager AECOM 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Ref. No. 15-0168R Dear Mr. Romach: This letter supersedes our December 11, 2015 letter to you under Reference No. 15-0168 that responded to your August 10, 2015 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the definition of a bulk packaging as it relates to a solid material. In your email, you described a non-specification packaging that can accommodate a maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 Ibs) and has a maximum capacity less than 450 L (119 gallons). You asked whether it meets the definition of bulk packaging. The answer is no. After careful review of our original response to you, we have reconsidered our conclusion. In accordance with § 171.8, the definition of a bulk packaging is a packaging with a "maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450 I (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid." Based on a strict reading of this definition, your packaging does not meet the definition of a bulk packaging in the HMR. Prior to 1990, the non-specification closed bin described in your original email would have been considered a bulk packaging. As currently defined in § 171.8 of the HMR, a bulk packaging must have a maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450 liters (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid. Because the non-specification closed bin used to package a solid material described in Reference No. 15-0168 has a volumetric capacity of less than 450 liters (119 gallons) and a maximum capacity of greater than 400 kg (882 pounds), it does not meet the definition of a bulk packaging under the HMR; therefore, its use is not authorized under the description's bulk packaging provisions prescribed in § 173.240(c) and may only be used to package solid material under the terms of an approval granted in accordance with § 178.601(h). <<>> Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this reconsideration of our original guidance may cause. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Shane C. Kelley Director Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> 5 / 10.240 (c) Bulk Packagung Dodd, Alice (PHMSA) 15-0168 From: Geller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA) Sent: To: Monday, August 10, 2015 3:55 PM Hazmat Interps Subject: FW: Request for written DOT interpretation Attachments: DOT interpr def of bulk nonbulk 08102015.paf Dear Shante and Alice, Attached is a request for a formal letter of interpretation. Thanks, Shelby From: Norris, Carolyn [mailto: carolyn.norris@aecom.com] ....... Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 1:44 PM To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter Subject: Request for written DOT interpretation Cc: Romach, Andy Dear Infocenter, I have attached a request for a written DOT interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Thanks, Senior Project Scientist/Project Manager, EHS Department Carolyn Norris, DGSA Carolyn.norris@aecom.com D 1-919-461-1238 F 1-919-461-1371 AECOM T 1-919-461-1100 F 1-919-461-1400 1600 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 400, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560 www.aecom.com <<>> AECOM August 10, 2015 Standards and Rulemaking (PHH-10) Mr. Charles Betts, Division Director Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration U.S. Department of Transportation East Building, 2nd Floor 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Mr. Betts: I am writing to request a Department of Transportation (DOT) written interpretation concerning the correct assignment of "bulk packaging" or "non-bulk packaging" when shipping a medium hazard solid PGII material. The following definitions are listed in 49 CFR 171.8: "bulk packaging" has: (2) A maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450 L (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid; "non-bulk packaging" has: (2) A maximum net mass of 400 kg (882 pounds) or less and a maximum capacity of 450 L (119 gallons) or less as a receptacle for a solid; [Emphasis added.] Based on the above-listed definitions, a hazardous material would be required to meet both the net mass and maximum capacity criteria to qualify as either a bulk packaging or a non-bulk packaging. We would like to ship a medium hazard PGII solid hazardous material, which has a net mass in excess of 882 pounds, yet the material is collected and contained in a receptacle that has a maximum capacity less than 450 liters. Based on the definitions listed above, this hazardous material meets neither the definition of "bulk packaging" nor "non-bulk packaging". We understand that non-bulk packaging rated to a UN specification must meet both the net mass and the maximum capacity criteria as set out in the non-bulk packaging UN specification section 49 CFR 178 Subpart L; for example: For a steel drum, the net mass and maximum capacity limits are listed in 49 CFR 178.505(a)(6) & (7). In our case, the net mass of this hazardous material is greater than 882 pounds; however, the capacity of the receptacle that it is contained in is less than 119 gallons. Both the net mass and the maximum capacity must be met to meet the definition of a non-bulk packaging. As this hazardous material does not meet the criteria for a non-bulk packaging, and does not meet the criteria for a bulk packaging either, we 1 <<>> AECOM DOT/PHMSA Interpretation Request Page 2 of2 August 10, 2015 would like to know if the hazardous material can be shipped following the bulk packaging requirements in 49 CFR 173.240(c). The receptacle in which we collect this material is a non-specification strong metal container, that meets the requirements of a sift-proof, closed bin in 49 CFR 173.240 and can accommodate the heavy weight of this material, which is about 1,200 pounds; however, the capacity of this packaging is less than 100 gallons. Could we consider our receptacle as a sift-proof, closed bulk bin as described in 49 CFR 173.240(c)? I appreciate your assistance with these questions. Sincerely, Andrew N. Romach AECOM Regulatory Compliance Manager AECOM 1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Fax: 919.461.1371 Tel: 919.461.1220 andy.romach@aecom.com ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `b83888ed11592aa6b1ec923ff0ce7f9c5053609aaf9a32eac12b413b109896b2` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T10:45:50.314Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-15-0168r` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "AECOM" ], "individuals": [ "Andrew N. 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