# Johnson Law Office, PC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0541  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1998-01-14

98-0541 response to Johnson Law Office, PC concerning 173.150.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

=
•
of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
Special Programs
Research and
20590
Administration
JAR | 4 1998
Ms. Joanna L. Johnson
Johnson Law Office, PC
1028 Harvard Avenue
Billings, MI 59102
Dear Ms. Johnson:
This is in response to your letter concerning a combustible
liquid la spent solvent having a flash point of 40.5°C (105°F)
that is being transported to a facility to be reclaimed.
You are correct in your understanding that if the spent solvent
is exempt from the Environmental Protection Agency's Hazardous
waste Manifest requirements and is not a hazardous substance or
marine pollutant, it is not subject to the Hazardous Materials
bulk packages. (See $ 173.150 (f) (2).)
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR, Parts 171-180) when packaged in non-
I hope this information is helpful. If you need additional
information, please do not hesitate to contact this office.
Sincerely,
Hathe a Mitthe
Hattie I. Mitchell, Chief
Exemptions and Regulations Termination
Office of Hazardous Material Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Me alitye
Fele 173150
Johnson Law Ofice, P.C.
510
Joanas La Juhrvin, Artornes
за!!".
April 3, 1997
Sent Via U.S. Mail and Facsimile
Mr. Edward Mazzulle
Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Nassif Building
Washington, DC 20590
fax (202) 366-3753
Re:
Verification of the Applicability of 40 CFR § 262.20(e)
to 49 CFR §$ 171.8 & 173.150
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
The National Independent Parts Cleaners Association ('NIPCA") requests formal
verification with regard to the applicability of the reclamation agreement exemption for
hazardous waste generators in 40 CFR §262.20(e) in the context of 49 CFR §§ 171.8 &
173.150.
To put it in practical terms, many NIPCA members are involved in reclamation
agreements with their customers pursuant to 40 CFR §262.20(e). These members deliver
fresh solvent in 16 and 30 gallon drums to their custemers and later retrier e the drums
after the customers have utilized the solvent and it is technically a hazardous waste.
Thereafter, the members recycle the spent solvent. The vehicles used to transport the
spent solvent to the recycling facilities and to deliver regenerated material back to the
generator-customers are owned and operated by the members. Under 40 CFR §
262.20(e), NIPCA members and their customers acting under this type of reclamation
agreement are exempt from U.S. EPA's Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements.
Section 173.150(f)(2) states: "'It)he requirements in this subchapter do not apply to a
material classed as a combustible liquid in a non-bull: packaging unless the combustible
liquid is a hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or a marine pollutant." Spent solvent
is neither a hazardous substance nor marine pollutant and, when transported under a
reclamation agreement, it is not even a hazardous waste. Section 171.8 defines

<<<PAGE 3>>>

.F.7-
NES.
DHAT IO
102x Horsed Iron, Biling, Mentors 20102
1991
8IDO
IlW
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Nassif Building
Washington. DC 20590

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980541.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `c4e9d8681ee42c0d5b846422510cda1c88aec17475698e0318e0bd60bd69c6c9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T05:48:57.530Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0541`

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