{"operation":"document","citation":"00-0091","title":"Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2000-06-06","effective_on":null,"summary":"00-0091 response to Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC concerning 173.197.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0091.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0091.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0091","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000091.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C.\n20590\nlesearch ane\nAdministration\npecial Program\nJUN\n6 2000\nMr. Michael A. Roby\nReference No. 00-0091\nManager, Technical Service Center\nRubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC\n3124 Valley Avenue\nWinchester, VA 22601\nDear Mr. Roby:\nThis is in response to your March 29, 2000 letter, and telephone conversations with a\nmember of my staff, concerning the criteria prescribed in 49 CFR 173.197 for regulated\nmedical waste (RMW) packagings. You stated that your packaging, designed for solids\nonly, consists of a polyethylene bag closed with a twist tie and placed inside a non-\nspecification, plastic pail with a removable snap-lock lid. You asked whether a package\nintended for a solid material is considered to have successfully passed the performance\ntests if the inner liner (bag) is punctured but the outer packaging remains intact.\nThe answer is no. The RMW packaging in § 173.197 is a UN specification packaging at\nthe Packing Group II level. If the inner package of a combination package could be\nopened in any way, e g., torn, punctured, ruptured, etc., during routine testing or normal\ntransportation conditions, the package does not meet'the general packaging requirements.\nHowever, the packaging you described is a non-specification packaging. Section\n173.134(b)(3) permits RMW to be transported in a non-specification packaging that.\nmeets the general packaging requirements in §§ 173.24 and 173.24a and the packaging\nrequirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.1030. Under § 173.24(b), a package used for the\nshipment of hazardous materials shall be made, filled, and closed, so that under normal\ntransportation conditions no hazardous material release can be identified and the\neffectiveness of the package will not be substantially reduced. For your information,\nplease note that § 173.134(b)(3) further requires a non-specification RMW packaging to\nbe marked with the BIOHAZARD mark and transported by private or contract motor\ncarrier.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\ntotte I. Mittel\nHattie L. Mitchell, Chief\nRegulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n000091\n173.197\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nMA K.\n1 / 14:00\nMach\nEAX MESSAGE\n$173.197\n00 - 0091\nFAX NO:\n202/366-3012\nTO:\nU.S. DOT : Resourch and Special Programs Aammi\n8422/DHM-10\nFROM:\nRCP LLC\nATTN:\nTOM ALLAN, REGULATIONS OFFICER\nSUBJECT:\n49 CFR 173.197 (Enclosed-pog.z)\nMESSAGE:\nDEAR MR. ALLAN;.\nPlease reference page z, for an interpretationi\nIt 173•197 (49 CFR).\nThank you in advance for your revier\nand response.\nthe Robr\nRubbermaid\nlubbermaid Commercial Products LL\nA Divislon of AssakRubharmak\nMichael A. Roby\n-\nManager • Tochnical Service Center\n3124 Valley Avenue, Winchester, VA 22801\n540 542-6383, Fax: 540 542-8434\nE-mal: mroby@rubbembid@@mrnercial.com\nRegular Fax No: 509052-85334\n8434\nRubburmaid o\nPhone: 570 542-8363\nRubbermald Commercial Products Inc.\nEmail: stewabletsanesom\nmroby@rubbermaidcommercial.com\nDate: -03/29/00\n1 of 3\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMA 14:00\nKUBDEAMA IN\nWAIS Do iment Pairicvat\nhttp://aquid.law.comell.cdu/cgi-bur/got..i7TTLE-49&PART-173&SECTION~197&TYPE=TEXT\n¡Code of Federal Regulations]\n[Revised as of October 1, 1999]\nCITE: 49CER179, 197:\n'rom the U.s. Government Printing Office via GPO Acces:\n[Page 4801\nTITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION\nCHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARIMENT OF\nTRANSPORTATION\nPART 173--SHIPPERS--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS--Table Of Cont\nSubpart 2--Non-bulk Paokaging fox Cassous Materlals other Than claos 2\nSec. 123.197 Regulated medical waste.\nle requirements of part 178 of this subchaptex at the Packing Głoup i\negulated medical waste must be packaged in packagings conforming !\nperformance level. The packagings must be:\n(a) Rigid;\n(C) Impervious to moisture;\n(b) Leak resistant;\nnoxmal conditions of use and handling;\n(d) Of sufficient strength to prevent tearing or bursting under\nf) Puncture resistant for sharps and sharps with residual fluidg;\nSealed to prevent leakage during transporti\nand\nquantities greater than 20 \"cubic\n(g) Break-resistant and tightly lidded or stoppered for fluids in\ncentimeters,\nSept. 27,\nlAmdt. 173-224, 56. I8 66271, Dec. 20, 1991, as amended at 64 ER 51919,\n03/29/00\nQuestion: Per 173.197, if we have an\nouter antamer with an inner lier\nand during the varions tests, re. Drop,\nVibration, the inner liner (bag) is\npunctured, but when the contamer\nis pot on it's side and nothing leaks\nout to the exterion of the surer\ncontainer-\"Does this condition\nmeet the intent of this regulation fi\n(Hauling \"solids\" not liquids).\nYAM","truncated":false,"body_characters":4636}