# University of Hawaii at Manoa — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0298
- **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:** 2000-11-27
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0298 response to University of Hawaii at Manoa concerning 173.217.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000298.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
NOV 27 2000
MS •
Julie Coughlin
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Ref. No. 00-0298
St. John
307
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI
96822
Dear Ms. Coughlin:
This is in response to your October 24, 2000, letter
requesting clarification of shipments of agricultural samples
packaged with dry ice under the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask
if agricultural samples frozen with more than 2.3 kg (5
pounds) of dry ice shipped to a chemistry laboratory for
analysis are excepted from shipping paper and certification
requirements under the provisions of $ 173.217(e).
The answer is no. The exception from the shipping paper and
certification requirements under $ 173.217(e) is limited to
the transportation of material for diagnosis or treatment
(i.e., the diagnosis or treatment of humans or animals).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Suhan ABillis
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
St. John 307 + 3190 Maile Way + Honolulu, Hawall 96822
October 24, 2000
Mr. Edward Nazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 Seventh Street SW
USDOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Nazzullo,
I would like to clarify an carlier roquest for a letter of interpretation regarding a specific
packaging exception. In reference to my letter dated August 25, 2000 to your offico, I requested
clarification regarding the 49 CFR, Part 173.217. 1 plan to ship frozen experimental samples
packed in dry ice, using Foderal Expross Air Transportation. Each box shipped contains frozen,
untreated or pesticide-treatcu agricultural commoditics packed in approximately 15 kg of dry ice
per package. More or less dry ice is packed depending on the specific agriculture crop sample to
be shipped, but we always require more than 2.3 kg of dry ice per package.
I am aware of the exception you desoribed in your letter (175.10(a)(13)(i)). This exception would
allow us to ship our samples (excepted from the HMR) providing the amount of dry ice is less
ice per package.
than 2.3 kg per package. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply becauso wo pack more than 2.3 kg dry
I wanted clarification as to whether this type of shipment would fall under the exception 173.217
(c). I would like some clarification as to whether our agricultural samples fall under the calegory
of: "material being refrigerated is uscd for diagnostic or treatment purposcs (c.g., frozen medical
specimens)." (from Part 173.217, paragraph (c)): I want to make surc that those diagnostic
samples fit the description listed in paragraph (e), and that it's OK to use this exemption for my
shipments. The samples are shipped to chemistry laboratories for residue analysis to support
pesticide tolerances, therefore, they are "for diagnostic (or treatment) purposes".
I would like to usc this exception if it is applicable because the shipping paper and cerrification
requirements are excepted. Shipping costs are considerably less if we don't have to ship our
samples as dangerous goods.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. Please call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
We Confli
ulie Coughlin
Research Associate, Univ. of Hawaii
Phone: (808)956-2003FAX: (803) 956-9675
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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