# Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0015
- **title:** Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-02-24
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0015 response to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms concerning 171.8.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0015.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0015.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0015
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000015.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Administrations
FEB 2 4 2000
Mr. Paul J. Vido
Ref No. 00-0015
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms
Department of the Treasur
Washington, D.C. 20226
Dear Mr. Vido:
This is in response to your letter regarding the requirements for temporary storage of explosives
transported in a motor vehicle by highway under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR
Parts 171-180).
You provided the following scenario:
Dyno Nobel Transportation, Inc., transports explosives on behalf of the manufacturer,
Dyno Nobel, Inc. The explosives are routinely stored temporarily at a location en route
to their destination. One of the locations is partially owned by Dyno Nobel, Inc., and
the other is leased. The trucks containing the explosives may remain at these locations
for a period ranging from a few hours to more than a day.
You asked the following questions:
Q1. Are the explosive materials on the trucks under DOT regulation during the time that they are at
the temporary location?
Al.
The answer is yes. "Transportation," as defined in § 5102 of the Federal hazardous materials
transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5101-5127) means the movement of property and loading,
unloading, or storage incidental to the movement. Thus, explosives routinely stored temporarily
at a location en route to its destination is considered "storage incidental to transportation" or
"temporary storage."
Q2.
Does the length of time they rest at this location affect this determination?
A2. Although no specific length of time is prescribed, all shipments of hazardous materials (e.g.,
explosives) by motor vehicle must be transported without unnecessary or undue delay, from
and including the time of commencement of the loading of the hazardous material until its fimal
unloading at destination (See § 177.800(di)).
000015
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Q3.
Additionally, if a portion of the explosive materials are unloaded for storage at this location,
does this affect this determination with respect to the explosives remaining on the truck for
further transportation?
A3.
The portion of the explosives stored temporarily at a location and the explosives remaining on
the truck for further transportation are considered in transportation in commerce, and subject to
the HMR. Transportation ends once a consignee takes physical delivery of the hazardous
material from the carrier. After delivery, storage of hazardous material at a consignee facility is
not storage incidental to the movement or temporary storage.
For your information, general requirements which address driving and parking rules and vehicle
attendance requirements for explosives are in found in Part 397 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSR; 49 CFR Parts 200-399).
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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.JAN-10-2000
10:10
ARSON AND EXPL
202 927 8887
P. 02/03
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
WASHINGTON, DC 20226
engrum
51718(5)
Storage incidental to
transportation
00 - 6015
90230W30
55.141
5400
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
DHM-10
Director, Hazardous Materials Standards, RSPA
400 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing to request a determination of whether
explosive materials on trucks and en route to their
destination are under Department of Transportation (DOT)
regulation under certain circumstances.
As you are aware, the explosives regulations at 27 CFR
55.141 exempt from this part "Any aspect of the
highway, or air which is regulated by the U.S. Department
transportation of explosive materials via railroad, water,
OI Iransportation and its agencies, and which pertains to
safety." Therefore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF) generally does not regulate materials that
are under the regulation of the Department of
Transportation.
Dyno Nobel Transportation, Inc., transports explosive
materials on behalf of the manufacturer, Dyno Nobel, Inc.
It has come to our attention that the trucks carrying the
explosives routinely come to rest temporarily at a location
en route to their destination. One of the locations is
partially owned by Dyno Nobel, Inc., and the other is
leased.
The trucks may remain at this location for a
period of time ranging from a few hours to more than a day.
WWW.ATF.TREAS_GOV
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-2-
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
our questions are as follows:
• Are the explosive materials on the trucks under DOT
location?
regulation during the time that they are at the temporary
• Does the length of time they rest at this location affect
this determination?
• Additionally, if a portion of the explosive materials are
unloaded for storage at this location, does this affect
this determination with respect to the explosives
remaining on the truck for further transportation?
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please do
not hesitate to contact Specialist Bill O'Brien at
202-927-8171 if you require further information.
sincerely yours,
Val Wil
Acting Chief, Ardon and Explosives
Programs Division
TOTAL P.Ø3
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