# Illinois Department of Transportation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 99-0059 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 1999-12-02 99-0059 response to Illinois Department of Transportation concerning 173.5. ## Document text <<>> US. Department Washington, D.G. 400 Seventh Street, S.W. 20590 of Transportation Special Programs Research and Administration DEC 21999g Mr. Terrence J. Moore Ref. No: 99-0059 Commercial Vehicle Safety Section Illinois Department of Transportation Post Office Box 19212 Springfield, Illinois 62794-9212 Dear Mr. Moore: This is in response to your letter requesting clarification of exceptions provided for the transportation of agricultural produets under § 173.5 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). I apologize for the delay in responding. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows: Q. Section 173.5(b)(2) uses the term "single vehicle" in establishing limits for the transportation of agricultural products. Is this term synonymous with "single motor vehicle"? Will this terminology be clarified in a future rulemaking? A. The term "single vehicle" is intended to mean a single motor vehicle. This terminology will be clarified in a future rulemaking. Q. Section 173.5(b)(2) specifies limits for the amount of agricultural products that may be transported in a single vehicle. Specifically, up to 7,300 kg of ammonium nitrate fertilizer properly classed as a Division 5.1, PG III, in a bulk packaging or up to 1900 L for liquids or gases, or 2,300 kg for solids of any other agricultural product. May a farmer transport a bulk packaging of ammonium nitrate meeting the above conditions and additional amounts of liquid or solid agricultural products on the same vehicle? A. The answer is yes. Any combination of agricultural products may be transported on a single motor vehicle as long as none of the quantity limitation is exceeded. 113.5 990059 <<>> -2- Q. What is meant by transportation "between fields of the same farm" as used in § 173.5(a)? Would temporary stops between fields of the same farm be permitted (e.g., meals, picking up equipment or personnel)? A. The same farm is considered a farm owned or under direct control of the same person. There is no limit on the distance traveled as long as all transportation is intrastate. Temporary stops are permitted. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Delmer F. Billings Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standard <<>> Illinois Department of Transportation 3215 Executive Park Drive / P.O. Box 19212 / Springfield, Illinois / 62794-9212 Division of Traffic Satety March 8, 1999 Diane LaValle Research & Special Programs Administration Office of Hazardous Materials Safety 400 7th Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590-0001 Dear Ms. LaValle: Thank you for your consideration in our telephone conversation of March 5, 1999. Per our conversation, 1 am submitting a request for written clarification of the following issues related to the Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations 1. Section 173.5(b)(2) refers to the term "single vehicle" in establishing interprets "single vehicle" to mean the same as "motor vehicle" limits for the transportation of agricultural products (AP). Illinois currently defined in Section 171.8 HMR. Does RSPA agree? If RSPA does agree, will RSPA correct this terminology in a future rulemaking to read "motor vehicle" rather than "single vehicle"? 2. Section 173.5(b)(2) specifies limits for amounts of AP that may be transported under the agricultural exception. Illinois' interpretation of the limits per motor vehicle are as follows: (a) 173.5(b)(2)(i) allows up to 7300 kg. (16,094 lbs.) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, 5.1, PG Ill transported in bulk packaging; or (b) 173.5(b)(2)(ii) allows up to 1900L (502 gallons) for liquids or gases, or 2300 kg (5,070 Ibs.) for solids, for any other AP. Under our interpretation, each subparagraph stands alone. One motor vehicle may not transport both bulk ammonium nitrate fertilizer and other liquids, gases or solids. Secondly, subparagraph 173.5(b)(2)(ii) allows for mixing or matching liquids, gases or solids within the aggregate amounts specified. Do you agree with our interpretation? If so, will any clarification be made to 173.5(b)(2)(i) and (ii) to clarify these options? <<>> Diane LaValle March 8, 1999 Page 2 3. Section 173.5(a) includes unclear terminology; "between fields of the same farm" and "local roads". It is illinois' interpretation that "between fields of the same farm" means fields which are: (a) owned by that person; or (b) are under the direct control of that person? Do you agree? It is also our interpretation that no distance measure limits this terminology. The only limiting factor to distance would be remaining intrastate. Is this also correct? It is Illinois' interpretation that local roads includes all public roadways except the Interstate Highway System. Do you agree? 4. For the purposes of clarifying transportation from field to field of the same farm, would temporary stops between fields of the same farm be allowed? Such stops, for example, would include: meals, picking up other non-hazardous materials, supplies, equipment or personnel, attending religious services or other non-farming tasks. Illinois is in the process of providing education outreach seminars for its farming community. The above issues have been raised by the regulated public and indicate that clarification is required for some of these issues. Please contact me at (217) 785-1181 if I can provide any further information. Thank you for your help in this matter. Commercial Vehicle Safety Section ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `b69e41eeec93f980bf1d5491cb63bacdf0bdac7965a4c3461bad888d8fcb428b` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T21:39:29.807Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0059` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Illinois Department of Transportation" ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Terrence J. 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