# JL Shepherd & Associates — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0253  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-12-28

99-0253 response to JL Shepherd & Associates concerning 173.415.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
DEC 2 8 1999
Ms. Mary F. Shepherd
Ref. No. 99-0253
Vice President
JL Shepherd & Associates
1010 Arroyo Ave..
San Fernando CA
91340-1822
Dear Ms. Shepherd:
This is in response to your letter dated September 2, 1999,
regarding the use of DOT Specification lA packagings that were
designed in accordance with the requirements in effect on
I am sorry for the delay and hope this has not
caused
you any inconvenience.
Section 173.415 (a) states that "use of Specification 7A
packagings designed in accordance with the requirements of
$ 178.350 of this subchapter in
effect on June 30, 1983... is not
authorized after April 1, 1997." However, if it can be
with the requirements of § 178.350 in effect on June 30, 1983,
determined that a packaging originally designed in accordance
meets the current requirements of 49 CFR 178.350, then the
packaging would continue to be an authorized Type A packaging.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry.
Sincerely,
The
omar A. Allan
Thomas G. Allan
Senior
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards
173.415
990253

<<<PAGE 2>>>

yale
SHEPHERd & ASSOCIATES
3/73.415
IOIO ARROYO AVE., SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA 91340-1822
99-0253
818-898-2361 FAX 818-361-8095
September 2, 1999
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
M/S DHM-10
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20509-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
This letter is to request a written clarification on 49 CFR 173.415.
lance with the requirements of 178.350 of this subchapter in effect on June 30, 1983 ... is no
Section (a) of this paragraph states that "Use of Specification 7A packages designed in accor
authorized after April 1, 1997."
can be demonstrated to meet the October 1, 1982 revisions and current 1998 revisions.
This paragraph does not permit the continued use of packages manufactured prior to this, if they
We have received verbal confirmation from the RSPA that these packages may be used if it can
be demonstrated that they meet all these revisions.
We wish to receive written confirmation
from the DOT that this indeed so.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely yours,
J.L. SHEPHERD AND ASSOCIATES
maryt. Shepherd
Mary F. Shepherd
Vice President
CC: Dr. Fred Ferrate, RSPA, DOT

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990253.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `c77b5fdb1f5bdb283bcd2abf55d3a088aae780ca140b11e39007ef3f4790c1c2`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T19:54:56.983Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0253`

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