# Oakite Products, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0186
- **title:** Oakite Products, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-09-06
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0186 response to Oakite Products, Inc. concerning 172.201.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000186.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
US. Department
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
SEP - 6. 2000
Mr. Barry L. Dance
Ref. No. 00-0186
Oakite Products, Inc.
13177 Huron River Drive
Romulus, MI 48174
Dear Mr. Dance:
This is in response to your letter of June 14, 2000, concerning the proper shipping description and
markings for hazardous material packages according to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask if the shipping description on the shipping paper must be
identical to the marking on the package if optional text is allowed in the shipping description. You
present the following example where the shipping paper description is "Corrosive Liquids, Toxic,
N.O.S. (Chromic Acid, Sulphuric Acid) 8, UN2922, PG II" and the marking on the package is
"Corrosive Liquids, Toxic, N.O.S. (Contains Chromic Acid, Sulphuric Acid, Phosphoric Acid) 8,
UN2922, PG II."
There is no requirement that the technical name text be identical on the package marking and shipping
paper. However, it is recommended that the hazardous material description on the shipping paper and
package marking be identical to minimize potential confusion by transporters and enforcement
personnel. The requirements in § 172.203(k) allow for optional text, such as the word "contains" or
listing additional constituents beyond the required two which contribute to the hazard the material
exhibits. Section 172.301(a) and (b) require the shipping name, with technical names according to
§ 172.203(k), and identification number be marked on a package.
I hope this satisfies your request.
sincerely,
Duban HE lips
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
000186
172.201

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Chemetall Oakite
• Fax. (734) 941-2193
Tel. (734) 941-3800
Internet Address: http://www.oakite.com
June 14, 2000
onuser
$ 172.20.
Mr. Del Billings
00-0186
Research and Special Projects Administration
US Department of Transportation
400 7" Street SW
DHM-11
Washington, DC 20590
Mr. Billings,
I am writing for clarification of the necessity for proper shipping name marking on packages to match
exactly the proper shipping name as depicted on shipping papers, when both proper shipping names
are accurate and correct.
It is our general practice to mark packages with the complete shipping description as shown on the
accompanying shipping paper. For example, one of our products are described on shipping papers and
marked as:
Corrosive Liquids, Toxic, N.O.S. (Chromic Acid, Surphuric Acid) 8, UN2922, PG I|
I understand this to be in accordance with all applicable regulations for shipping papers and marking.
However, I wonder if I would be in compliance if:
A. The shipping paper read:
Corrosive Liquids, Toxic, N.O.S. (Chromic Acid, Surphuric Acid) 8, UN2922, II
And
B. The package was marked:
Corrosive Liquids, Toxic. N.O.S. (Contains Chromic Acid, Surphuric Acid, Phosphoric Acid) 8, UN292?.
My reading of 172.100 through 172.448 leads me to believe that since both are independently correct,
even though the package marking carries more information than the shipping paper, the described use
of the two variations of the shipping name is acceptable and in compliance.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated
Since
Barry
Dance
Corporate Transportation Manager i
× 491
1999:
Oakite Products, Inc. • 13177 Huron River Drive • Romulus, MI 48174
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