# TruGreen - ChemLawn Technical Center — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0378
- **title:** TruGreen - ChemLawn Technical Center — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-09-26
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0378 response to TruGreen - ChemLawn Technical Center concerning 173.6.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0378.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0378.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0378
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000378.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

•
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
SEP 2 6 2000
Mr. Roger A. Yeary
TruGreen - ChemLawn
Technical Center
135 Winter Road
Delaware, OH 43015
Dear Mr. Yeary:
This responds to your petition for rulemaking (P-1400) requesting that the criteria for Materials of
Trade (MOTs) be expanded to allow up to 1880 L (500 gallons) of a diluted mixture, not to exceed
2% concentration of a Class 9 material under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
49 CFR Parts 171-180). In accordance with 49 CFR 106.33(c), your petition is denied.
The reasons for this denial are detailed below.
The provision authorizing the transportation of up to 400 gallons of a diluted mixture, not exceeding 2%
concentration of a Class 9 material as a MOT, was added as a result of a rulemaking action under
Docket HM-200 - Hazardous Materials in Intrastate Commerce. RSPA did not initially propose
materials of trade exceptions for any bulk quantity of a material. Commenters to the supplemental
notice of proposed rulemaking expressed concern that while a small container filled with a concentrated
hazardous material may meet the criteria for a MOT, when the same amount of material was
transported in an aqueous solution in a larger packaging, it would no longer qualify for the exception.
As a result of these comments, RSPA agreed with the commenters and authorized a dilute mixture of a
Class 9 material (up to 2 percent concentration) in a packaging having a capacity of 400 gallons or less
to be transported as a MOT.
The 400-gallon limit accommodated small business practices in place at the time of the rulemaking. It
limits the amount of a technically pure hazardous material contained in a bulk packaging to the same
quantity as is authorized in a non-bulk packaging. An example is chlorpyrifos, a pesticide, which has a
reportable quantity of one pound. As a concentrate, it would qualify as a material of trade in an eight-
gallon container. However, due to its one-pound reportable quantity, when diluted with water in a
400-gallon capacity cargo tank or portable tank to the 1 or 2 percent concentration in which the
product is normally applied, the tank contains a reportable quantity and is therefore a Class 9
hazardous material. You may transport quantities or concentrations of hazardous materials greater than
those adopted under Docket HM-200, however, such shipments are fully subject to the HMR.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

.5
-2-
You have not provided any justification for expanding the exceptions adopted through rulemaking and
we do not believe further relaxation is warranted.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Delmer Billings, Chief, Standards Development at
202-366-8553.
Sincerely,
pollardem
Robert A. McGuire
Associate Administrator for
Hazardous Materials Safety

<<<PAGE 3>>>

P-1400
TRIGREEN • CHEMLANN
TruGreen-ChemLawn
Technical Center
135 Winter Road
740-548-7330
Delaware, OH 43015
FAX: 740-548-4860
April 27, 2000
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Research & Special Programs Administration
Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Avenue
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: 49 CFR 173.6
Materials of Trade Exceptions
To Whom It May Concern:
TruGreen ChemLawn is a private carrier transporting Class 9 materials
in support of the business of providing lawn care services. We are currently
operating approximately 4,000 vehicles with cargo tanks up to 400 gallons capacity.
In order to increase efficiencies in use of our vehicles and to reduce
mileage required to return to base and reload materials, we are planning a new vehicle
with a cargo tank capacity of 500 gallons.
We are petitioning the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards to revise
49 CFR 173.6(a)(1)(iii) to change the capacity from 1500 L (400 gallons) to 1880 L
(500 gallons) for a diluted mixture, not to exceed 2 percent concentration, of
a Class 9 material.
very truly yours,
водла Yoy
Roger A. Yeary, DVM,
Vice President - Health, Safety
& Environmental Stewardship
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Call 1-800-WE SERVE
Trufireen ChemLawn • Amcri.an Home Shiekd
ServiceMaster - Terminix - Merry Maids
Furniture Medic • Amerisper - Rescue Rooter
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