# University of Hawaii at Manoa — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0240
- **title:** University of Hawaii at Manoa — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-10-13
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0240 response to University of Hawaii at Manoa concerning 173.217.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0240.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0240
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000240.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
OCT 1 3 2000
Ms. Julie Coughlin
Ref. No. 00-0240
University of Hawaii at Manoa
St. John 307
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Dear Ms. Coughlin:
This is in response to your August 25, 2000 letter requesting clarification of shipments of diagnostic
samples frozen with dry ice under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-
180).
For shipments by aircraft, Carbon dioxide, solid or Dry ice, UN1845, is excepted from the HMR when
used as a refrigerant for the contents of a package if in quantities less than 2.3 kg of dry ice per
package, provided it is packed according to § 173.217. This section requires the packaging to be
vented and to meet the general packaging requirements of Part 173 Subpart B. In addition, the
packai mia beat ed with the nag of the content bein cold bedt agat or borde or an
(§ 175.10(a)(13)(1)).
For example, an air shipment of fruit samples refrigerated by 2 kg of dry ice is not subject to any other
requirement of the HMR if the packaging is designed and constructed to permit the release of carbon
dioxide gas, meets the general packaging requirements of Part 173, and you mark the package with the
words, "fruit", "2 kg" and "Dry Ice."
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this
Office.
Sincerely,
Ohmm
hom Filio
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.217
000240
:

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University of Hawaii at Manoa
Nelson
$ 113.211 (e)
August 25, 2000
Packaging
Mr. Edward Nazzullo
00-0240
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
USDOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Nazzullo,
I would like to request a letter of interpretation regarding a specific packaging exemption
listed in the 49 CFR, Part 173.217. I plan to ship frozen experimental samples packed in
dry ice, using Federal Express air transportation. The dry ice is necessary to maintain the
frozen integrity of the samples during transit. The experimental samples are frozen,
untreated and pesticide-treated agricultural commodities (i.e., papaya, pineapple, green
onion, etc.). The samples are not hazardous materials, but the dry ice that I plan to add to
the package is a hazardous material (Part 172.101, Carbon Dioxide, Solid or Dry Ice,
UN1845). The samples will be shipped to a chemistry laboratory for residue analysis.
The residue chemistry data is used to support a pesticide tolerance.
I would like some clarification as to whether my samples fall under the category of:
"material being refrigerated is used for diagnostic or treatment purposes (e.g., frozen
medical specimens)." (from Part 173.217, paragraph (e)). I want to make sure that these
diagnostic samples fit the description listed in paragraph (e), and that it's OK to use this
exemption for my shipments.
Please call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Qui Confla
Research Associate, Univ. of Hawaii
Phone: (808) 956-2003 # FAX: (808) 956-9675
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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