# Palmetto & Ellenton Funeral Homes and Crematory — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0242  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-04-04

99-0242 response to Palmetto & Ellenton Funeral Homes and Crematory concerning 173.22.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

J.S.Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washingion, D.C.
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
APR - 4 2000
Mr. Alan Moore, LFD
Ref. No.: 99-0242
Palmetto & Ellenton Funeral Homes
204 Seventh Street West
and Crematory
Palmetto, Florida 34221
Dear Mr. Palmetto:
This responds to your letter concerning the shipment of human remains that contain small amounts of
formaldehyde. Specifically, you ask if such human remains are subject to the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) when transported by aircraft.
You are correct that formaldehyde is a hazardous material. Under the HMR, formaldehyde solutions
are classed as corrosive (Class 8) or flammable (Class 3) materials, depending on their concentration.
However, the potential risk posed during transportation by the limited amounts of formaldehyde
solution contained in human remains is so minimal that regulation is not warranted. Thus, human
remains containing small amounts of formaldehyde are not subject to the requirements of the HMR.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this
office.
Sincerely,
Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards
BITIALI
173.22
990242

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Aug-27-99 14:40
Entreken Moore
7297679
P.02
engrum
PALMETTO & ELLENTON
9193.22
FUNERAL HOMEs & CREMATORY
204-7 Bt. West
99-0242
Palmetto, Florida 34221
Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
100 7 St., S.W.
DHM-10 |
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: I'AA letter dated August 24, 1999
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
Picase refer to the letter 1 am faxing to you signed by Mr. Charles Is
Cloyd regarding bodies shipped by common carricr contrining
formalılehyde. On the airbill it asks for a statement regarding the nature:
of the contents of the cargu aur whether or not it is hazadous. The
airline employees always ask that we sigo that it is not hazardons when
OSTIA spends an inordinate annunt of time telling the fancral industry
that formaldehyde is in Cact hazardous. Please provide me with »
definite position on this matter so I am clear when I mark the airbill as
non-hazardous materials.
Tha
loore, LED
2047° Street West,
Palmetto, Florida 34221
Phout 941-722-7704
Fax 941-729-7679

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990242.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `f73a8547bbb39a4d3a392ce5953f3e5ee3c04caf433fc7b458385c4f73ed51ce`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T19:57:56.783Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0242`

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