# Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 98-0053 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 1998-05-28 98-0053 response to Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. concerning 172.101. ## Document text <<>> •-. of Transportation U.S. Department 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Special Programs Research and Washington, D.C. 20590 Administration MAY 28 1998 Ms. Karen Ferragonio Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. Ref. No. 98-0053 409 Broad Street - Suite 260 Sewickley, PA 15143 Dear Ms. Ferragonio: This is in response to your letter dated May 8, 1998, regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to ferrosilicon, with 75 percent silicon. The Hazardous Materials Regulations govern the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. Under 49 CFR 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous material. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this office. Based on the test results you provided, it is our opinion that the ferrosilicon manufactured by your company does not meet the criteria of a Division 4.3 and provided it does not meet any other hazard class, it is not subject to the HMR. I hope this satisfies your inquiry. Sincerely, She Billip Delmer F. Billings Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> 111/98 MON 14:17 FAX 412 749 1009 OXBOW R001 • OXBOW CARBON & MINERALS, INC. 09 Broad Street - Suite 260 • Sewickley, PA 15143 el: 412 749-1000 • Fax: 412 749-100 FAX TRANSMITTAL DATE: May 11, 1998 Engrum Helen L. Engram COMPANY: Department of Transportation 3172.107 Ferrosilicor FROM: Karen Ferragonio SUBJECT: 75% Ferrosilicon Reclassification NUMBER OF PAGES (Including Cover Sheet): Received you fax you dated 5/8/98 on the above subject. I appreciate you faxing me the letters however, these companies and I all do business with the same warehouses and carriers. Everyone else has submitted documentation from the DOT verifying that they agree with the test done to the Ferrosilicon and agree it is not subject to the HMR. This is the only way I will not be charged a hazmat fee when shipping this material. I would appreciate if you could reply to my letter requesting this in writing. <<>> 05/12/98 TUE 07:59 FAX 412 749 1009 @001 OXBOW CARBON & MINERALS, INC. 109 Broad Street - Suito 260 • Sewickley, PA 15143 Tel: 412 749-1000 • Fax: 412 749-100 FAX TRANSMITTAL DATE: May 12, 1998 IO: Helen L. Engram COMPANY: Department of Transportation - 202-366-3012 FROM: Karen Ferragonio SUBJECT: 75% Ferrosilicon Reclassification NUMBER OF PAGES (Including Cover Sheet): 3 Please find attached copies of the test that I had performed on 75% Ferrosilicon. This was originally submitted in October 1997 ang again in January 1998. Pangas <<>> 05/12/98 TUE 07:59 FAX 412 749 1009 OXBOW • Ø002 OCT 1 6 1997 T1 610 Willow Street Andrew S. Melreath & Son, Ire. Harrisburg, PA 17105-1453 P.O. BOX 1453 AMALYTICAL AND COMSULTING CHEMISTS Telephone: (717) 238-9331 Telex: 84-2321 Fax: (717) 238-4B43 October 14, 1997 Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. 409 Broad Street - Suite 260 Sewickley, Pennsylvania 15143 Gentlemen: The sample received from Celtic Marine Corp., Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 29, 1997, identified as: 75% Ferro Silicon, was tested in accordance with DOT Standard 173, Appendix E, Division 4.3 (Dangerous when wet material). Results are as follows: Spontaneous Ignition Test Division 4.3 a (1) Division 4.3 a (2) No Spontaneous Ignition No Spontaneous Ignition Division 4.3 a (3) No Spontaneous Ignition Gas Evolution Measurement Total volume in Ml each hour. Time Interval Test.1 Test 2 Test3 1 Hour 0.00 MI 0.20 MI 0.00 MI 3 Hour 2 HOur 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0.00 MI 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0.00 Mi 5 Hou + Hour 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0.00 MI 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0,00 MI 6 Hour 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0.00 MI 7 Hour 2.10 MI 230 MI 2,00 MI Total 0.10 MI 0.30 MI 0.00 MI <<>> 05/12/98 TUE 08:00 FAX 412 749 1009 OXBOW 41003 • • Page No. 2 October 14, 1997 DOT Test Maximum Rate - 0.008 liter/hour/kilogram • Average Rate - 0.0008 litex/hour/kilogram Yours very truly, ANDREW S. McCREATH & SON, INC. <<>> SEP 3 1991 Mr. Richard H. Wagner, Coordinator Transportation Safety and Compliance Borden Packaging and Industrial Products Columbus, OH 43215-3799 180 East Broad Street Dear Mr. Wagner: Chis is in response to your letter of July 8, 199i, regarding the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) applicable to a formaldehyde solution, which is a hazardous substance, with a flash point Based on the information provided, the correct shipping description for a packaging of 110 gallons or less is "RQ, Formaldehyde solution, ORM-A, The correct shipping description for a bulk packaging is "RQ, Formaldehyde solution, Combustible liquid, UN 1198". Each package having a rated capacity of 110 gallons or less must be marked on at least one side or end. placed immediately following or below the proper shipping name. The appropriate ORM designation must be letters "RQ" are marked on the package in association with the ( shipping name. Vehicles transporting packages of 110 gallons or less of formaldehyde solution, ORM-A, not required to be placarded. transporting formaldehyde solution, combustible liquid, must display the Bulk packages appropriate identification number and placards. The Research and Special Programs Administration published a final rule on December 21, 1990, Packaging Standards" which amended the HMR. under Docket HM-181 entitled, "Performance-oriented formaldehyde solution with a flashpoint not more than 141°F is Class 3 The hazard class for (flammable liquids). The correct shipping description, for bulk or non- bulk packaging is "RQ, Formaldehyde solutions, 3, UN 1198, PG III". If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, TRAVIS P. DUNGAN Travis P. Dungan Smith: gt:dhm-11:64488:07-24-91 Revised: 07-25-91 ( File: 181/172,101 (F) Formattenyde solution CO: 1234 Congress Control Number: 91000487 Supersedes previous edilion Form DOT F 1320.65 (Rev, 5183) OFFICIAL FILE COPY ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `498a8b418dac7fe3e8188e38640343cf51e7dfcd2d9037b3caf697f0cce8bdff` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T14:03:37.513Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0053` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc." ], "individuals": [ "Ms. Karen Ferragonio" ], "refIds": [ "98-0053" ], "catalogDates": [ "1998-05-28" ], "catalogParts": [ 172 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/69301" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "172.101", "173.22" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172101" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980053.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980053.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980053.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/98-0053-6be227d774.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "0575ed6a60a4314f6af3a04c9e23ee0b0cc9db5920e9ee410a9322cf4948b769", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/98-0053-6be227d774.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "33c1f717d0931e8fcbb5a32b3d0c9d056b71b9ed4928d0935d0022482e877d1f", "pageCount": 6, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```