{"operation":"document","citation":"00-0308","title":"US Environmental Protection Agency — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2000-12-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"00-0308 response to US Environmental Protection Agency concerning 172.101.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0308.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0308.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0308","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000308.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n40ven Street, SW\nWashington. D.C.\n20590\nResearch and\nAdministration\nSpecial Programs\nDEC - 4 2000\nMr. David Friedman\nRef. No. 00-0308\nUS Environmental Protection Agency\nOffice of Research and Development\nWashington DC 20460\nDear Mr. Friedman:\nThis is in response to your letter dated August 22, 2000 regarding the shipment of environmental\nsamples. Specifically, you ask if a inside receptacle of a combination packaging that does not\nmeet the outage requirements of 49 CFR 173.24a(d) may be placed inside a secondary packaging\ncapable of containing all of the liquid in the primary receptacle.\nSection 173.24a(d) states that liquids may not completely fill a receptacle at a temperature of\n55 °C (131 F) or less. It is the opinion of this office that hazardous material may be placed in\nan inside container of a combination packaging that does not itself meet the outage requirements\nof § 173.24a(d) provided that the inner packaging is placed within a secondary inside packaging\nwhich does meet the outage requirements and other applicable packaging requirements of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nThomas G. Allan\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nGale\nUNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY\nWASHINGTON, D.G. 20460\n8173.24\nPackaging\n00 - 0308\nRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT\nOFFICE OF\nAugust 22, 2000\nMr. John Gale\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Technology (DHM-21)\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, SW\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nDear Mr. Gale,\nI am writing to follow up on our recent meeting concerning the Department of\nTransportation's (DOT) requirements with respect to the shipment of environmental samples that\nare to be analyzed for either purgable organic compounds or mercury.\nIn order to prevent analyte loss, it is important that the vials containing the samples of\nwater be completely filled. To ensure that they are filled, the Environmental Protection Agency\n(EPA) has issued regulations that specify that the samples vials not contain any free headspace or\noutage. The confusion relates to the apparent contradiction between the EPA and the DOT\nregulations in 49 CFR 173.4(a)(2)(i) and 49 CFR 173.24(a)(d) which specify that containers may\nnot be completely filled with liquid (i.e., requires headspace).\nSince the DOT regulations are designed to prevent loss of sample in the event the\ncontainer holding the liquid breaks, it is our understanding that if the sample vial was itself\npackaged in a sealed container that meets the outage requirements and which would contain all\nthe liquid in the event the inner vial ruptured, then the secondary inner receptacle's outage would\nmeet the definition of an acceptable container and the combination would comply with the outage\nprovisions of the Hazardous Materials Regulations.\nI would appreciate your confirming our understanding of the DOT regulations. If you\nhave any questions about the information in this letter, do not hesitate to contact me at:\n(202) 564-6662 or at friedman. david@epa.gov. Thank you for the guidance you already have\nprovided. I look forward to receiving your response.\nSincerely yours,\nwit Tristman\nDavid Friedman\nRecycled/Recyclablo.• Printed with Vegetable Oil Based inks on 100% Recyced Paper (40% Postconsumer)","truncated":false,"body_characters":3456}