# Texas Highway Patrol — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 18-0111 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2019-02-12 18-0111 response to Texas Highway Patrol concerning 171.2, 171.8. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 FEB 1 1 2019 Corporal Casey Jones Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Highway Patrol - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 600 W. Kilpatrick Cleburne, TX 76033 Reference No. 18-0111 Dear Corporal Jones: This letter is in response to your July 20, 2018, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to package markings. Specifically, you describe a scenario in which a company transports a chemical mixture that contains ethylene glycol in a concentration that is less than the reportable quantity (RQ) for a hazardous substance classification. You further state that the mixture's packaging is marked with a UN ID number and the proper shipping name "NA3082, Other regulated substances, liquid, n.o.s." We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows: Q 1. You ask whether it is permissible to mark a package with an ID number and the proper shipping name of a hazardous material when it contains a material that, because of the concentration when shipped, does not meet the definition of a hazardous substance or hazardous material. See 49 CFR § 171.8. Al. The answer is no, except as provided in§ 172.303(b). Unless the product being shipped meets another hazard class or any other defining criteria of a hazardous material, a mixture or solution containing a hazardous substance below the RQ is not a hazardous material and should not be represented as such. See 49 CFR § 171.2(k). Q2. You ask whether the scenario in QI would be permissible if the marking includes a disclaimer statement, such as "Not regulated for transportation in containers less than RQ amount." <<>> A2. The answer is no. The HMR do not contain provisions allowing for disclaimer language on packagings, and including such language may cause confusion and frustration of the shipment. Therefore, a packaging that incorrectly displays markings or labels that indicate that it contains a hazardous material is in violation of§ 171.2(k). I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, ,,.-? J , h ,.....-, / ~ -- ./ ... / ~ / / _ , / ~ / / / 1/~; / ? / - .?6irk ~ Kinderen Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Ca.~. l&Joe.l~ 1i- 0(( I January, lkeya CTR (PHMSA) From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Monday, July 30, 2018 10:49 AM Hazmat Interps FW: Letter of Interpretation Request Interp Letter.pdf; Company Label.pdf Good Morning, Attached is a request for a letter of interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Jodi . '• • • From: Jones, Casey [mailto:Casey.Jones@dps.texas.gov] Sent: Friday, July 20, 2018 6:29 PM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: Letter of Interpretation Request Please forward attached request to PHMSA Hazardous Materials Standards and Rulemaking. Corporal Casey Jones Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Texas Highway Patrol Division <<>> TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 5805 N LAMAR BLVD• BOX 4087 • AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001 512/424-2000 www.dps.texas.gov STEVEN C. McCRAW DIRECTOR DAVID G. BAKER ROBERT J. BOOISCH, SR SKYLOR HEARN DEPUTY DIREClORS COMMISSION STEVEN P. MA.CH, CHAIRMAN 1#.NNY FLORES A CYNTHIA LEON JASON K PUU.IAM RAl'VY WATSON July 20, 2018 Hazardous Materials Standards and Rulemaking U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey A venue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Letter of Interpretation for 49 CFR § 172.303 Prohibited Marking Dear Sir or Madam, I am requesting a formal letter of interpretation for the following scenario: A company has a blending facility in the U.S. and blends its own product. The product contains the hazardous substance "Ethylene Glycol". The company has determined the product does not meet the criteria to be regulated as a hazardous material for transportation until it meets or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) listed in Table 1 to Appendix A for the Ethylene Glycol which is 5,000 lbs. The company has determined that amount equals 2,796 gals of their product. When the RQ threshold is meet, they classify it as ''NA3082, Other Regulated Substances, Liquid, n.o.s. (contains ethylene glycol), 9, PG III, RQ". They are shipping the product domestically by truck using 350 gal Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) which are under the RQ threshold. They place their company printed label (see attached example) on the IBC which has the identification number "NA3082" on the upper left ofit and the complete proper shipping name on the lower right of it. Under the proper shipping name they state "(RQ is only applicable when shipped in containers> RQ under DOT, RQ =2, 796 gallons (Ethylene glycol)) Not regulated for transportation by DOT if shipped in containers < RQ amount. " They also use a shipping paper which only refers to the material using the company's product name and states "Not regulated for transport by DOT, TDG, IMDG, ICAOIIATA ". 1. Is it permissible to mark a package with an identification number and proper shipping name of a hazardous material when it is full of a product that does not meet the criteria to be a hazardous material because the quantity has not reached the RQ threshold to make it a hazardous material? 2. If it is not permissible, would including the disclaimer or statement "Not regulated for transportation by DOT if shipped in containers < RQ amount" make it permissible? Respegfully s i mitted, --- . C~Jonr-- Texas Dept. of Public Safety Texas Highway Patrol- Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 600 W. Kilpatrick Cleburne, TX 76033 (817) 202-2450 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COURTESY• SERVICE• PROTECTION <<>> Product ABC-123 Company NA3082 DANGER DANGER ;PELIGRO r mergency telephone (888) 555-5555 Hazard i;1a1cmcnts:HJ02 - Hannful if swa llowed HJl4 -Causes severe skin bums .ind eye damage H317 - May cau1c an allergic skin reaction H373 - May cau~ d;imagc lo organs through prolonged or repeated exposure Prccau1 ionary sta!cmcnts:P260 - Do nOl breathe d usVfumc/gas/mist/vapors/spray P264 - Wash fa ce, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling P270 • Do not cat, drink or smoke when using this product P280 - Wea r protective gloves andeyc/foce protection PJOI + PJJO+ PJJI • IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomitingPJOJ + P361 + PJ53 - IF ON SK IN (or hair) : Rcmovcfrakc offimmcdiatclyallcontamina!cd clo1hing. Rinse sk in with watcrlshowcrP304 + P340 - IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing PJOS + P 35 1 + PJJ8 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with waler fo r several minutes. Remove conlact lenses, if prcsenl and easy to do. Continue rinsing PJ 10 • lmmedia1dy call a POISON CENTER or doc!or/physician P272 - Contaminated work !clothing should no1 be allowed out of the workp lace PJ62 + PJ64 •Takeoff contaminated clothing and wash it before reuse PJJJ + PJIJ . ff skin irritation or rash occurs: fGct medical advicc/auention P403 + P233. Score in a well-vcn1ilatcd place. Keep container tight ly closed PSO I . Dispose ofcon1cnts/containcrin accordance with local regul11tions. Unknown acute toxicity:17% of 1 he miKIUrc consists of ingredient(~) of unknown t0Kic i1y Mcnfions de dangcr:HJ02 · Noc if en cas d'ingestion HJ 14 - Provoque des bnilures de la peau ct des lesions oculaires graves HJ 17 - Peut provoquer une allergic cu1antc HJ 73 - Risque pf"CsumC d'effcts graves pour Jes organes a la sui1c d'c11posi1ions l'CpCttes ou d'unc exposition prolong« Consci ls de prudencc:P260 • Ne pas respirer lcs pou ssit rcslfumCcs/gaZlbrouit\ards/vapcurslatrosols P264. Sc laver le visage, !cs mains c:1 1ou1c surface de pcau exposee :soigneusemcnt a pres manipulation P270 - Ne pas manger, boirc ou fumc r en inanipulanl cc produit P280 . Porter des gants de protection ct Wl Cquipemcn1 de protection des ycuxldu visage PJOJ + PJJO + P3JI • EN CAS D'INGESTION: rincer labouchc. NE PAS fiircvorrirPJOJ +PJ61 + PJSJ • EN CAS DE CONTACT AVEC LA PEAU (ou !cs chcveu11): en lever innidia1enrnt les vC1 enr:nts cont an-ints. Rinccr la peau a l"eau/sc Joudler PJ04 + P340 • EN CAS D' INHALATION: transponcr la victinr: a l'cxtCrieuret lamiintenirau rcpos dan s une posi1ion oU cllc pcut conf>rtablc1rrnt respircrPJ05 • PJS I + P338 • EN CAS DE CONTACT AVEC LES YEUX: rinccravec prkau1ion A l'eau pendant plusicurs rrinutes. En lever les lenlilles de contilCI si la victime en poilcct si d ies peuvcnt ltre faci lcmcnt enlcvtts. Continuer i rincer PJIO • Appcler immtdiatement un CENTRE ANT IPO ISON ou un mcdccin P272. Les vttcmcnls de travail contamints nc dcvraicnt pas sorlir du lieu de travail PJ62 + P364 • :;~env;; 0:~~i::1:~~~~~~:;:~~:~,c;:~P:::rr:;;:~1 d~~~i!:~;:::~~~+p~~::~f;~!~/t~:::~,;;~i:;:~p:::~:~::~~~rc:.:~!;~::~:i~~~~~~S~kerdans HMIS classific;;;io~--c.;;i;,;;;-,, - Health J Ethylene Glycol Flammability I Fatty acids, talhiil, reaction products with Physical hazard O ~~:1 ~~:;::::\ne PPE X 2-Hydroxyethyliminob is(melhylcne phosphonic acid) Potassium hydroxide ToKicitt aigui! inconnue:17°/, du mtlange consis1c en composanl (s) de 1 ox icitt inconnue Product ID: 142 179 Revision Date: I 7/Aug/201 7 NET WT: CO UNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA DATE OF MANUFACTURE: lndicaeioncs de pcligro:HJ02 • Nocivo en caso de ingcsti6n HJ 14 - Provoea qucmaduras graves en la pie! y lcsiones ocu lares graves HJ 17 • Pucdc provocar una rcacci6n ~lergica en la picl 11373 - Puedc provocar dai\os en los 6rganos tras cxposiciones prolongadas o rcpctidas Consejos de prudencia:P260 • No rcspirar cl polvo/cl humo/c l gas/la niebla/los vapores/cl aerosol P264 • Lavarsc coneienzudamcntc la cara, las manes}' las :ireas dcla piel eKp uestas tras 5U manipulaci6n P270 • No comer, bcber ni fumar durantc su ulilizaci6n P280 • Ll eva r guantcs/gafas/m:iscara de protecci6n PJOI + PJJO + PJ3 I • EN CASO DE INGESTl6N: Enjuagarse la boca. NO provocar el v6mito PJOJ + P361 + PJSJ · EN CASO DE CONTACTO CON LA PIEL (o el pelo): Qui1arsc inmcdiatamen1e las prcnd:is con1a minadas. Aclararse la piel con agua o duch11rse PJ04 + PJ40 • EN CASO DE INHALAC16N: Transpo,tar a la victima al e111erior y m:intcnerla en rcposo en una po~ici6n confonablc parn respirar PJOS + PJ.51 + PJJ8 - EN CASO DE CONTACTO CON LOSOJOS: Aclararcuidadosamente con :iguadurantc varios minulos. Qui1ar las lcnc es de conloe to, si llcva y resuha f.icil. Seguir aclarando PJ IO• Llamar inmediatamen1e a un CENTRO DE INFORMACJON TOXICOLOGICA o a un mCdicoP272 • Las prcnd11s de trnbajo contaminadas no podr:ln sacarse dcl lugar de trabajo PJ62 + P364 -Qui tar l:is prendas coniaminad:is y lavarlas anlcs de volvcr I usarlas P3]3 + PJIJ - En caso de irritaci6n o erupci6n cu1Anca: Consu\1:ir a un mtdico P403 + P2JJ • Almaccna r en un h.igar bicn vcntilado. Manlener el rccipiente cerrado hermt!:ticamente P501 · Elimin:ir c l contenidolel rec ipiente de aeuerdo con las nonnas locales. 011icidad aguda dcsconocida: 17% De la mczc la se componc de ingrcdicnlc (s} de 10.11.icidad desconocida LOT NO: ITEMNO: 102899350 PACKAGE SIZE: NA3082 Other regulated substances, liquid, n.o.s. (contains ethylene glycol), 9 PG 111 , RQ. (RQ is only applicable when shipped In containers > RQ under DOT, RQ =2,796 gallons (Ethylene glycol)) Not regulated for transportation by DOT if shipped in containers< RQ amount. Not regulatedunderTDG, IMDG, ICAO/IATA. ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `6494eb7840848367a6fe115973e6e214409687ed82cc3d32583fdd325dcb7611` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T01:03:50.120Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-18-0111` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Texas Highway Patrol" ], "individuals": [ "Corporal Casey Jones" ], "refIds": [ "18-0111" ], "catalogDates": [ "2019-02-12" ], "catalogParts": [ 171 ], "catalogRowCount": 2, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/71091" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "171.2", "171.2(k)", "171.8", "172.303(b)" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1712", "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1718" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/70406/180111.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/70406/180111.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/70406/180111.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/18-0111-069cd97678.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "601d6883534e04fa0a11724ebcc80c28c34293715927f5e1a90ab13077a6c0b8", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/18-0111-069cd97678.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "b919be9ea5f23d38c541ca5058616c65ccbc66de4f1ad273c8e9961f775df86d", "pageCount": 5, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```