# Alcoa - Mt. Holly — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0329  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1998-12-29

98-0329 response to Alcoa - Mt. Holly concerning 172.102.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

•
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W
20590
Research and
pecial Program
dministratio
Mr. Gordon J. Sarver
DEC 2 9 1998
Traffic Manager
Alcoa - Mt. Holly
P.O. Box 1000
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Dear Mr. Sarver:
This is in response to your letter of November 4, 1998, and subsequent telephone conversation
with a member of my staff, requesting clarification of Special provision 128 in § 172.102 of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). You stated that you ship
Aluminum smelting by-products, 4.3, UN3170, PGII, and that the material does not meet the
definition for a Class 8 (corrosive) material. You question whether special provision 128 applies
to your shipment.
The answer is no. Special provision 128 applies only to materials that meet the definition of a
Class 8 (corrosive) material. Therefore, it does not apply to your shipment.
I hope this information is helpful.
sincerely,
Vilm Fill
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

•
d. is, organjo.
-
35/5 Highway 52
PO BOX 1000
i
Gouse Crook, SC 29445 USA
ALCOA
Fax: 1 603 572 5297
Tel: 1 803 572 3700
November 4, 1998
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Fax No. 202-366-3012
Attention: Mr. Edward Mazzullo, Director
Alcoa - Mt. Holly, an aluminum reduction facility (smelter), ships
aluminum dross via bulk (dump) trailers in Interstate commerce. These
shipments are manifested as Aluminum Smelting By-products, 4.3,
UN 3170, Pg Il, and are identified with Class 4.3 Dangerous When Wet
placards.
This is to request an interpretation of 49 CFR Section 172.102
which was revised to state, 'When classified as Division 4.3, the
(Vol. 63, No. 132) regarding the clarification of Special Provision 128
Class 8 must be communicated as a subsidiary risk hazard." Does
this mean that when shipping aluminum dross in bulk It must be
placarded with both Class 4.3 and Class 8 placards?
This request Is the result of and subsequent to phone conver-
sations on November 2 - 3 with your Mr. Michael Stevens.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Sincerely,
Foolare
Trade anager
Alcoa - Mt. Holly
GJS:il
2629249878

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980329.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `0cbeb3eaa0010455f4b5c47e5b3f45149336dfa1bc9dc06b2a31a671b1a430b8`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T09:22:14.939Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0329`

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