# Dangerous Goods Management — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0228
- **title:** Dangerous Goods Management — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-09-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0228 response to Dangerous Goods Management concerning 171.8, 172.101.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0228.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0228.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0228
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000228.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
SEP - 7 2000
Mr. Gilbert A. de Chauvigny de Blot
Ref. No. 00-0228
Dangerous Goods Management
Schipholweg 307
1171 PL Badhoevedorp
Netherlands
Dear Mr. de Chauvigny de Blot:
This is in response to your letter dated August 14, 2000, regarding the definition of a hazardous
substance under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically,
you request clarification that the table under the definition "Hazardous substance" in § 171.8 is only
relevant to a package containing greater than 22,680 kg (50,000 pounds).
Under § 171.8, a hazardous substance (other than a radionuclide) is defined as a material, including its
mixtures and solutions, that: (1) Is listed in appendix A to § 172.101 of the HMR; (2) Is in a quantity,
in one package, which equals or exceeds its reportable quantity (RQ) listed in appendix A to
§ 172.101 of the HMR; and (3) when in a mixture or solution, is in a concentration by weight which
equals or exceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the table in
§ 171.8.
For a material to exceed the RQ listed in Appendix A to § 172.101 and be in a concentration by
weight which does not equal or exceed the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material as
shown in the table in § 171.8, the quantity of the material in one package must be equal to or greater
than 22,680 kg (50,000 pounds).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
171.8,
172.10
000228

<<<PAGE 2>>>

BAH
5171.8,12101
Hazardous Substance K
dangerous
90005 A Member of the International Dangerous Goods Management Support Group 00-022
management
DANGEROUS GOODS MANAGEMENT b.v.
Schipholweg 307
AMSTERDAM AIRPORT
Ms. Helen Engrum
1171 PL Badhoevedorp
Tel.: (020) 449 6565
US Department of Transportation
The Netherlands
e-mail: info@dgm.ni
Fax: (020) 449 6575
400 Seventh Street SW
RSPA
Washington DC 20590
Bank: ABN-Amro Schiphol account nmbr.: 54.55.62.961
United States of America
Ingeschr. K.v.K. Haarlem onder nr. 34063618
Badhoevedorp. August 2nd 2000
Dear Ms. Helen Engrum,
-
This is in response to our telephone conversation of July 20th, 2000, regarding the definition fo
lazardous substances under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180)
raised the question how to interpret the definition for Hazardous substances dealing with Mixture
nd Salutions containing a material listed in Appendix A to § 172.101 of the 49 CFF
You explained to me that for mixtures and solutions the text must be interpreted as "clearty" mentioned
in the 49 CFR, stating:
that: (1) is listed in Appendix A to § 172.101 of the HMR; (2) is in a quantity, in one package, which
Under § 171.8, a hazardous substance is defined as a material, including its mixtures and solutions,
xceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the table under
quals or exceeds its reportable quantity; and (3) is in a concentration by weight which equals o
171.8.
It is clear that if it is a mixture or solution containing a material that is listed in Appendix A to § 172.101
of the HMR, we will have to continue.
You informed me that now both, step (2) and (3) need to be applicable to identify the mixture or
solution as a Hazardous Substance.
A mixture containing 4999 Pounds of the substance Benzoic acid is not a Hazardous Substance
Example:
because it does not contain more than 5000 Pounds which is mentioned as the RQ for this product.
It could be 80% Benzoic acid in the complete substance, but is not relevant according to your
clarification.
A mixture containing 5000 (or more) Pounds of the substance Benzoic acid could be a Hazardous
Example:
Substance if the concentration is equal to, or exceeds the concentration of 10% according to the table
under § 171.8.
To equal or exceed this concentration we must have a total quantity of material that equals or exceeds
50000 pounds.
If we take a closer look at the table under § 171.8 it seems that for mixtures and solutions (to meet
both (2) and (3)), the table can only be used for quantities of 50000 pounds or more.
Approvad by Ministry Transport & Public works, Department of Civil Aviation,
Page 1 of 2
Op at onze handelingen, went
to Amsterdam en Hastern op 20 septamber 1988
rector on met ons gecoten overoomkoncten in var lapesing onze sigemene voonieerden, all pedeponserd tee arif van de antondissemen tractibranken

<<<PAGE 3>>>

14/08/00 14:58
DANGEROUS GUUDS MHNHUEMENI HTS → DOULCOEUDOJUIE
dangerous
goods a Mamber of the intermatonal Dangerous Goods Management Suppart Group
management
If the interpretation you clarified to me (supported by the letters you faxed to me signed by Mr. J.A.
st matures and solutions the table under 5 171,8 only needs to be use i he total guan darity that for
mixture or solution equals or exceeds the 50000 pounds.
I have the feeling that the industry will be served having this point clarified.
companies with highly specialized personnel did not have the confidence interpreting this text.
The letters that you have faxed me didn't only confirm your interpretation, but showed me that even
I hope you do appreciate, my opinion regarding this subject.
Sincerely.
Training & Technical Affairs
Gilbert A. de Ohatvigny de Blot
Dangerous Goods Management
1171 PL Badhoevedorp
Schipholweg 307
The Netherlands
Phone:
Fax
011-31-20-4496575
011-31-20-4496560
Mobile:
e-mail :
011-31-6-53778188
gilben@dgm.nl
Page 2 of 2
Agproved by Ministry Transport & Public works, Department of Civil Aviation.
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 5657
