# Sierra Chemical, Co. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 98-0413 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 1998-02-12 98-0413 response to Sierra Chemical, Co. concerning 172.203. ## Document text <<>> •. U.S.Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 Research and Administration Special Programs Mr. Ron Shan FEB | 21998 Sierra Chemical, Co. P.O. Box 12550 Sparks, NV 89510 Dear Mr. Shan: This is in response to your letter concerning the use of the proper shipping description "Hypochlorite solutions, 8, UN 1791, PG I" for your product containing 12.5 percent sodium hypochlonte solution by weight and 87.5 percent of an inert ingredient. You stated that your company was cited by the California Highway Patrol for not including "(sodium hypochlorite solution)" as a part of the shipping description. You also stated that this material is packaged in containers varying in size from 5 gallons to one cargo tank, and enclosed copies of your shipping have caused. paper for our review. I apologize for the delay in responding and any inconvenience this may Based on your enclosed shipping papers, when shipped in a cargo tank, the Sodium hypochlorite meets or exceeds its 100 lb. reportable quantity listed in Appendix A to 49 CFR 172.101, and, therefore, is regulated as a hazardous substance. See § 171.8. Section 172.203(c) provides that, if the proper shipping name does not identify the hazardous substance by name, the name of the hazardous substance must be entered in parentheses in association with the basic description. ! This section also requires that the letters "RQ" appear either before or after the basic description for a hazardous substance. Please note that the required shipping description means the basic description required by § 172.202 and additional description information required by § 172.203. Section 172.202 prescribes that the basic description consisting of the proper shipping name for the material, as identified in § 172.101 of the Hazardous Material Table, the hazard class, the identification number and the packing group, if any, must be shown in sequence with no additional information interspersed. Additional information, such as that prescribed by § 172.203, or other additional information concerning a hazardous material must be placed after the basic description on a shipping paper, except that certain notations such as "RQ" may appear before the proper shipping name, and a technical name or chemical group name for a generic description may follow the proper shipping name. Other information allowed to be placed before the basic description is quantity shipped, and the type of packaging and destination marks (see § 172.201 (a)(2)(iii), § 172.201 (a) (4) and § 172.202 (c)). For example, shipping papers that are designed in columnar form may have the quantity shipped and type of packaging, e. g., "19 drums" entered before the basic description. <<>> • • Other information such as the item number, quantity ordered, or back order must be entered on the shipping paper after the basic description. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can assist you further. Sincerely, Hothe s. mitchell Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief Regulatory Review and Reinvention Office of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> Betts SIERRA File 172.203 K) SC: 210,174 2302 LARKIN CIRCLE P.O. BOX 12550 SPARKS, NEVADA RENO, NEVADA 89510 SIERRA CHEMICAL Co. FAX (702) 358-0987 TELEPHONE (702) 358-0888 January 22, 1997 Certified Mail Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10) Research and Special Programs Administratior J.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh St., s.w. Washington, DC 20590. RE: Proper shipping name of Hypochlorite solution Dear Official: Please provide your opinion and expertise on the legal shipping registered product 12.58 weight sodium hypochlorite solution (with a inert ingredient of 87.5%), the container irom 5 gallons 172.101 Hazardous material table, we currently use the following proper tanker. Derived from 49 CFR shipping name: - Hypochlorite solutions, 8, UN 1791, PG III (Enclosed are copies of shipping papers for two different container sizes, one being a 5 gallon carboy and the other bulk). However, we had been cited by California Highway Patrol officer that the above shipping name is incorrect, it should read: Hypochlorite solutions, 8, UN 1791, PG III (sodium hypochlorite solution) Please clarify, the above matter and contact me at (702) 358-0888 if I can be of further assistance to you. Pon then Chemical Engineer c.c. Stan Kinder (Sierra Chemical Co.) fil eoname: \hyponame.dot BATTLE MOUNTAIN • MUSTANG • ROCKLIN 4 SPARKS 4 STOCKTON <<>> OFFICE COPY ORDER NO.. 50892 LERRAI ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: P.O. BOX 12550 RENO, NEVADA 89510 CHEMICAL CO. L 2302 LARKIN CIRCLE • SPARKS, NEVADA 89431 • (702) 358-0888 cinie 882-9331 S MISSION OF NEVADA, INC.. H 'MISSION LINEN SUPPLY 2401 T 1161 FAIRVEW DRIVE P 1161 FAIRVIEW DR. CARSON CITY, NV 89701 CARSON CITY, NV. 89701 RCM: DATE REQUESTED DATE SHIPPED SHIPPED BY CUSTOMER P.O. NO. CONTRACT NO. W/H |DROP SHIP RESALE EXEMPT SALES TAX 1/13/97 1/14/97 SPARKS ERNIE C8000 1 STATE ITEM NUMBER B.O. ORDERED SHPD H/M UNIT DESCRIPTION 284882 CBY 4 4 HYPOCHLORITE SOLUTIONS, 8, UN1791, PGITI ***SIERRA PURE-CHLOR,, •5- GAL CBY. 262145 CBY 4 DEPOSIT 590002 EA 1 - DATE ORDERED WILL SHIP BILL Deposit Containers In Serial Numbers Deposit Containers Out Serial Numbers Containe Amt Debit Amt Credi Total SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: TRU ORC ORDERED FROM. 2O. NUNBER. TERMS: NET 30 DAYS. SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ADDITIONAL PERTINENT INFORMATION. I RECEIVED THE ABOVE MERCHANDISE AND FEREE TO TERMS & CONDIȚIONS ON REVERSE SIDE: F..L. KINDER; AGENT SIGNED ND CHECKEI OAD COUNTEL <<>> CONTROL ORDER NO. 50897 LERRA TO: P.O. BOX 12550 ALL CORRESPONDENCE CHEMICAL CO. RENO, NEVADA 89510 2302 LARKIN CIRCLE • SPARKS, NEVADA 89431 • (702) 358-0888 = 1: •.! proo S H S PRESSURE VESSEL PRESSURE VESSEL 2280 T 7625 W, SUNNY VIEW AVENUE 7625 H. SUNNY VIEW AVENUE RCM: ¡VISALIA, CA 93291 VISALIA, CA 93291 DATE REQUESTED DATE SHIPPED SHIPPED BY CUSTOMER P.O. NO. CONTRACT NO. W/H DROP SHIP SALES TAX 1/15/97 STOCKTON 4CA97VS C0421 S RESALE • EXEMPT • STATE ITEM NUMBER B.O. ORDERED SHPD H/M| UNIT DESCRIPTION 284777- -GAL- 4700— HYPOCHLORITE SOLUTIONS, 8y—UN1.791—PG†1 _***SIERRA PURE CHLOR BULK-T/ *** -590093 - EAran GALIF TERRA _ DATE ORDERED WILL SHIP Deposit Containers In Serial Numbers Deposit Containers Out Serial Numbers Container Amt Debite Amt Crediti Total SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: TRUC ORDERED FROM. FO. NUMBER • ¡RECEIVED THE ABOVE MERCHANDISE AND AGREE TO TERMS & CONDITIONS ON REVERSE SIDE TERMS: NET 30 DAYS. SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ADDITIONAL PERTINENT INFORMATION. This L hat the above named materials are property classified, doscrit dable rezulations of the Department of Transportation. labelod, and are in proper condition for transporla . F. L KINDER, AGENT : • : SIGNED DATE AND CHECKE DAD COUNTE ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `8ba44297c99d43ad2b2ed8ee46a88c8effbcfdbd67d3d0a4fce55cc1bb621036` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T07:47:38.060Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0413` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Sierra Chemical, Co." ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Ron Shan" ], "refIds": [ "98-0413" ], "catalogDates": [ "1998-02-12" ], "catalogParts": [ 172 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/68286" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "172.203", "172.203(c)", "172.101", "171.8", "172.202", "172.201" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172203" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980413.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980413.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980413.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/98-0413-1a9104f7ae.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "3972615de0c456f7673c5778cc8d1702ea64dc293a484f28c532b3f7ab2bd7b5", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/98-0413-1a9104f7ae.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "85e1c96a4d5aa90e351575f24ac775a401aba65e11765e8e4ff8fe8c91aa8ef2", "pageCount": 5, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```