# Sea-Land Services, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0159  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-08-09

99-0159 response to Sea-Land Services, Inc. concerning 171.12.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
AUG - 9 1999
Mr. Prabhu Natarajan
Ref. No. 99-0159
Sea-Land Services, Inc.
6000 Carnegie Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28209
Dear Mr. Natarajan:
This is in response to your letter of November 4, 1998,
and
your phone conversation with Mr. Brian Robinson of the U.S.
Coast Guard concerning the subsidiary risk label for
azodicarbonamide which is a Division 4.1 material. You have
indicated that the material has been classified outside the
United States and the competent authority of the country of
origin has provided a dispensation from the explosive
subsidiary risk in accordance with the provisions of the
International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
Section 171.12(b) of the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations.
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 100-185) allows the alternative use of the
IMDG Code subject to certain conditions and limitations. None..
of those conditions and limitations restrict the use of the
IMDG Code in this situation.
Consequently, azodicarbonamide
shipped in accordance with the IMDG Code as you have described
is acceptable. It is also worth noting that the special
provisions which you mention in your letter (Special
Provisions 38
and 53 in $ 172.102) address provisions similar
(although stated differently) to those contained in the IMDG
Code for this material.
I hope this satisfies your request.
ncerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
11112
990159

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Sea/Land
ideas that move the world.
Sea-Land Servico, Inc.
6000 Caregie Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28209-4637
Phone: 704.571.2000
November 4, 1998
FAX: 202-267-4570
Mr. Bryan Robinson
Commandant (G-MOS-3)
2100 Second Street SW
Washington DC, 20593-0001
Dear Bryan:
It was a pleasure to meet you at the VOHMA annual meting in Washington, DC. I also
had the opportunity to meet with Commander Corbin and IJ.
In pursuit of an interpretation question we have with regard to shipment of
Azodicarbonamide, UN3242: This product has been classified outside the United States
and the competent authority of the country of origin has provided a dispensation for the
explosive subsidiary risk. The commodity is shipped to the United States in compliance
with the IMIDG, section 171.12(b) of the 49CFR; and in compliance with the conditions
mandated by the competent authority certificate.
Under the above circumstances would special provisions 38 and 53 of 171.101 table of
the 49CFR be applicable to this shipment?
We appreciate your assistance in obtaining an interpretation on this issue.
Sincerely,
Andalu
Prabhu Natarajan/
Manager, Corporate Hazardous Materiais
PN/rgm

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990159.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `441bc529b76ed4c603f99841f0170875396fcb8dcb44e8d8edb9b10f7c565491`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T17:14:42.303Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0159`

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