# EnviroServices & Training Center, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 16-0201  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2017-06-20

16-0201 response to EnviroServices & Training Center, LLC concerning 172.101, 173.12, 176.83, 176.84.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

EnviroServices & Training Center, LLC
505 Ward Avenue, Suite 202
Honolulu, HI 96814
Reference No. 16-0201
Dear Mr. Perry:
This letter is in response to your December 14, 2016, email requesting clarification of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for lab packs applicable to the
segregation requirements exception in § 173.12(e) and the segregation requirements in
§ 176.83(b). You present a scenario in which a lab pack containing a hydroxide is transported on
a cargo vessel with another lab pack that contains an acid. You note that the hydroxide is
required to be "separated" from acids according to the vessel stowage codes in Column 10B of
the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT). Specifically, you ask whether § 173.12(e),
which excepts certain waste materials from segregation requirements in § 176.83(b), also
excludes these applicable materials from vessel stowage requirements.
The answer is no. Column 10B of the HMT refers to other requirements for stowage, cargo
handling, and segregation for cargo and passenger vessels in § 176.84. Hazardous materials
offered for transportation as limited quantities are not subject to the stowage code assigned by
Column 10B; however, the same does not apply for items shipped under the lab pack exception
in § 173.12(b).
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Please submit this as a letter of interpretation. Mr. Perry spoke with Jodi.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Jordan
From: Gregory Perry [mailto:greg@gotoetc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 3:28 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) < INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>
Subject: Interpretation of 49 CFR Part 173.12(e)
When packing materials in accordance with 173.12(b), the package is exempt from vessel segregation
requirements found in 176.83(b) if the package is "blocked and braced is such a manner that they are separated
from incompatible materials buy a minimum horizontal distance of 1.2 m and the packages are loaded at least
100 mm of the floor of the freight container, etc."
My question is: Am I also exempt from vessel stowage codes found in column 10B of the Hazardous Materials
Table? Specifically code 52.
Seems inconsistent that I would not be able to ship a labpack of waste containing acid with a labpack of waste
containing a hydroxide which carries a code 52 (stow separated from acids) in column 10B of the HMT but I
can be exempt from segregation table requirements in 176.83(b) if a ship other incompatibles in the same
shipment such as classes 5.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, etc.
Thank you for your response and feel free to contact me directly if you wish to discuss.
Greg Perry
EnviroServices & Training Center, LLC
505 Ward Ave., Suite 202
Honolulu, HI 96814
Office: 808-839-7222
Direct: 808-664-1934
Web: www.gotoetc.com

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/160201.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `f9d541b6d3841304e8e238909add1c44a7e1efb8773ad47d5041de9e6342891a`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T15:42:02.475Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-16-0201`

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