# Georgia-Pacific Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0279  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-03-23

99-0279 response to Georgia-Pacific Corporation concerning 174.67.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
specia Programs
Administration
MAR 2 3 2000
Ms. Becky Clark
Ref. No. 99-0279
Traffic Analyst
Transportation Department
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Highway 273 West
Cedar Springs, Georgia 31732
Dear Ms. Clark:
This responds to your letter of October 8, 1999, requesting clarification of the attendance requirements
for unloading tank cars under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask if the interpretation concerning attendance requirements for tank car unloading
published in the Federal Register on February 28, 1990, remains in effect.
The answer is yes. Electronic monitoring of tank car unloading to comply with the attendance
requirements in § 174.67(i) of the HMR is permitted provided the conditions listed in your letter are
met. You need not have an exemption to utilize electronic sensors to monitor tank car unloading
operations.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this
office.
Sincerely,
omar I. Allo
Thomas G. Allan
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
174.67
990279

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Containerboard & Packaging Division
GP
October 8, 1999
Kanm
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
U.S. DOT / RSPA (DHM-10)
Office of Hazardous Material Standards
§174.67
400 7* Street, S. W.
99-0279
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Sir:
nterpretation of "attendance" provided for Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, Delaware
Please refer to the Federal Register, Monday, February 28, 1990, specifically th
of 174.67 and 177.834. The Hercules system proposed to include electronic sensors, which
Hercules requested DOT to compare its proposed system to the attendance requirements
upon detection of minute levels of fumes or vapors would sound an alarm and shut down the
unloading process. Also, periodic checks of the system would be conducted by workers in the
general area.
Dot responded that the system proposed by Hercules meets the requirements of 174.67 if:
• An employee is made responsible for unloading and is familiar with the nature and
• The employee responsible for unloading is instructed in the procedures to be followed
properties of the material being unloaded.
during unloading and in the event of an emergency, and has the authority and ability to
• In the event of an emergency, the system must be capable of immediately halting the flow
halt the flow of product immediately and take emergency action.
of product or alerting the employee responsible of unloading.
• The monitoring device will provide immediate notification of any malfunction to the
person responsible for unloading, or the device is checked hourly for malfunctions, and
in case of malfunctioning, the device will no longer be relied upon and instead the
individual responsible for unloading will constantly observe the unloading.
Interpretation?
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Becky Clack
Becky Clark, Traffic Analyst
Georgia-Pacific Transportation Department
Enc.

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Federal Rogitter / Vol 55, No. 36 / Mondey, Pubruary 26; 1900 / Ruira ano
Inunda Fab, 19, 8087.
Coordinator, Hercules Insorporaled,
Souret RF. D'OnolHo, Reguietona:
Heckman, Washingion, DC.
Sourco: David H. Jert, Enq, Koller and
Wilmingtor
interpretes
Fauts: Hi
guinte an
interpretation lo clarily paragrapha (b)
Facla: David I. Jeit requesta an
Bectione 21
conteined i
and 177676
for thet
.170.386 dalines etiologic agente and the
and (d) of 49 CFR 172.380, Section
consemed
ard
regulations appitoable to their
rall tank a
ur veniche cargo
unionding of
esacilically otates: *°
transportelion. Paragraph (b)
provided in paragraph (d), no person
•except 89
isnke, tex
•peci?celt
lion 274.07
Througho
t the
period of
graph ():
may ship eny materal. Including ••
etiologic agent unleas this meterial is
niclonical product, containing an
connected to (tbe) uni
unloading, and wn
loading device, the
the car it
for unlon
ma
Section 174.57(e
car must be atti
by the unloader."
encordance with $ 172.21 and (che) alber
packaged and prepared for snipment in
ona bo
BO:
requires thet
only by tell
Олова
wil
apellcable regulations of Lue
subchaptat." Paragraph (d), which
ексерія семків вивіялов ігога рам 17o
Insiructed in
materiais:
made responaible for
londing b
oul
Seciion 177 834(l) announces the generai
careful compliance with this part."
scosplable
upon dotection of fumes or vapors the
estorring thar.
any ire/quiremenla of thls subchapter if the
The following substancos ure not subject lo
tanke must be
requirement that motor carrier cargo
defect and eufomatically stops the
monitoring system warns workers of the
tems as peckagad do aot contain any
during londing and wnloading,
altended el all Urass
unlouding process. Homeres,
requirementa of Parta 190 through 189 of thia
material otherwier subjoot to the
Furtheron, purgraph 01(3) of
"peraca" to have a continuous
{ 177824(Xa) apecifically regates a
•
subchapier.
88:
$ 177 834 «pecifically defines "altends"
faut" of the cargo lank. h
unobalrueled view within "twenty-five
(2/ #tological Produola
A person "euends" the loading de
paragraph (b), biological products thet
Mr. jelt inquires whether purauant to
viam of the
an un contracied
Malera (25 cal) o la
CanTa tank
and in wiihin 283
malor vatices
because of tbe sei
populwted ure
: sm.
inclade etiologia sgenta nia subject to
whethar they are exempt from
the packaging provisions of Part 1/0 o1
that includes electrania sen
Herculos propaces to inatall a system
upon delaction of minute
Invals al fumas
cors which
monker
=
for
non-humen monitoring
tof f 177.834(1X0) becea
tracks
regulations under peragraph (d)?
biological producte that contain ettologio
Incerpretation: Undor paragraph (d),
down the
or vapore will
lanca and phut
periodic chec
yater will be
Aleo.
another hexordous materiai are not
armiz but which do not contaia
conducted
arta. Her
4 DOT 1o compare
In the generai
(int. No. 87-5-RSTA)
lasued , ene & 1067.
subject to the packaging raquíremente of
Part 179. Thera in • discrepaacy
Ita proposta vyaiem to the atlendanca
requiremento al 1$ 174.67 and 177.534,
rchnical Adrisor, Lawrence!
gurce, Gardon Rousseas, Beni
and (0) of $ 173.308. Tre applicability
baiween the langusge in paragraphe (1)
кувтет тау compiy!
Interpretotion: R
proposed
Bierlein, P.C., Washington, DC.
statement of paragraph (b) implier that
réquirements of | 174.67, but it does not
49 CER 173.22, regarding how | 173,12
Facta, Requeal ior on interpralabon of
biological producte which contain
comply with those contained in
altendanci
§ 171874(1)(3). The pur
pose of the
paiNcous materiala, particulariy
applies to hazardous substances and
etiologia agenta are subjeot to the
and the other requiremente of the HMR.
general packaging provisiona ol § 173.24
bazardour
salely loaded
Is to entune that
inhelalion. Paragraph (a) of f173.12
poivonous liquide that are forcty.
However, the excepilon provided in
tr unload
emergency, such procesara are rapidiy
the event of en
statest
pararapa (d) e intended to exclad
agenie, bui do not contein any other
folorichi produtta that contain ello, ogit
haltes. The kry elements of the
estendence requirementa in 1$ 174,67
thie subchapter if packigad la 6oi
the specification prokedine Mpa
поча of
(ammable liquid volvente). RSPA
bazardous materialo (e.g, formaldehyde,
mechanical device monitoring the
and 177.434 ate that the perron or
parkuginga in accordance with thie sectier
loading procesa be abia to determine l'a
damo from | 172.101 may be aned ta prose ol
• * In addition, a generic proper shtuping
beiweth parafraph (b) und (d) of
Intende to address the discrepancy
operation acouts, and if so, that there is
condition requiring cosention of
wedle matanials is the same hesard clese are
apetitie chemical memes, when ime or more
Accordingly, biological producta which
$ 173.388 fa & future rulemaking action
the ability to stop the operation.
necta the requitemento el
ibe system proposed by Hercule
('abpecke"") provided the manse meierialo
peckaged in the same outeide packagine
hazardous material eubject to the HMR,
contein euologic agente, bat ho olan
8hs chemica ily compalibis.
requiremente of part 173.
are nos subfact to the packaging
Hf 17457(a)() and 17A.07(1) Ht (2) Ar
• The requent for interpretation Involves
Lour specific questiona conserting
[int Na. 87-4-ASPA)
being unlended, (2) the employen
nature and proparies of tha materia!
unfording and in fasaltar with the
exception to the additional poison and
· 173.12; (1) Does { 173,92 provide an
Jaxued: Mar. 26, 1967,
hazardous suberance identifiostion
TOTAL P.Ø3

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990279.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `55d6efad972d7beee7de56d477773b47903e96cc4f55e4fb5a1805888c38f7bf`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:21:49.342Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0279`

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