{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0145","title":"ShipMate, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2001-07-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0145 response to ShipMate, Inc. concerning 173.154.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0145.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0145.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0145","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010145.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nJUL 18 2001\nAdministration\nMr. Steven Hunt\nRef. No. 01-0145\nPresident\nShipMate, Inc.\n18436 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 201\nTorrance, CA 90504\nDear Mr. Hunt:\nThis responds to your May 29, 2001 letter requesting clarification of the requirements for the shipment\nof a battery electrolyte refill unit under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts\n171-180) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Specifically, you ask\nwhether the battery electrolyte refill unit may be shipped under the limited quantity provisions in\n§ 173.154(b)(1) of the HMR and Amendment 30-00 of the IMDG Code.\nAccording to your letter and enclosed sketch, the battery electrolyte refill unit consists of a single\nmolded plastic device having two independent reservoirs of equal volumes not exceeding 465 ml each.\nThe two reservoirs each contain three \"cells,\" having a volume of 155 ml each, that are in\ncommunication with one another. The single molded plastic device is hermetically sealed with a plastic\nbag and then placed into a UN 4G box. You ask whether each independent reservoir is considered to\nbe an \"inner packaging\" as defined in § 171.8 of the HMR.\nThe answer is yes. Consistent with § 171.8, each independent reservoir of the refill unit is a separate\ninner packaging. Thus, a battery electrolyte refill unit as described in your letter may be shipped as a\nlimited quantity under Amendment 30-00 of the IMDG Code and § 173.154(b)(1) of the HMR.\nAmendment 30-00 of the IMDG Code limits the maximum quantity of each receptacle to 500 ml; the\nlimited quantity provisions in § 173.154(b)(1) of the HMR authorize a maximum of 1 liter in each inner\npackaging.\nI hope this answers your inquiry.\nSincerely,\nJohn A. Gale\nTransportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nShipMate, Inc.\nShipMate®\n1810 Green Lane\nRedondo Beach, CA 90278-3618\nTraining & Consulting\nDangerous Goods\nFax: 310-798-4339\nPhone: 310-798-4200\nE-mail: shipmate@shipmate.com\nMay 29, 2001\nBoothe\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\n§ 173.154 (b)\nResearch and Special Programs Administration (DHM-10)\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, SW\nLimited Quantity\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubj: Request for Interpretation: Limited Quantities\n01-0145\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nThis request for interpretation is submitted by Steven Charles Hunt, ShipMate, Inc., for and on behalf\nof the Petitioner, American Honda Motor Company, 1919 Torrance Bivd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746,\nphone: 310-783-2883.\nAmerican Honda distributes a battery electrolyte refill unit consisting of a single molded plastic\nreservoirs each contain three \"cells\" having a volume of 155 ml each but which are in\ndevice having two independent reservoirs, of equal volumes not exceeding 465ml each. The two\ncommunication with one another. Currently, the single molded plastic device is hermetically sealed\nwithin a plastic bag and then placed into a UN 4G box. I have enclosed a sketch of the packaging\nas well as photographs.\nIt is my opinion that the each independent reservoir is considered to be an \"inner packaging\" as\ndetined in 49 CFR $171.8. Accordingly, the battery electrolyte refill unit would then meet the limited\nthat limits the maximum quantity of each receptacle to 500ml. Please note that the provisions of\nquantity provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, Amendment 30-00\nthe IMDG Code are more conservative than 49 CFR §173.154(b)(1), which authorizes inner\npackagings having a volume not exceeding 1 liter.\nAccordingly, the Petitioner respectfully requests your written interpretation in this matter. l\nresearched the Docket Management System and found a letter (Ref. No. 99-0198), a copy of which\nis enclosed, that supports my interpretation. However, the enclosed letter refers to the small quantity\ninterpretation would apply for limited quantities.\nexceptions in 49 CFR $173.4 but not the limited quantity provisions. Arguably, the same\nYour assistance in this matter would be most greatly appreciated. If I may be of assistance in any\nway, please call.\nSteven Charles Hunt\nATHAN\nPresident\nShipMate®:\nShipMate, inte\nDangerous Goods Training & Consulting\nShipMate, Inc.\n18436 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 201|\ncc: Mr. John Dho, American Honda Motor Company\nTorrance, CA 90504\nenclosures\nFax: 310-370-5700\nPhone: 310-370-3600\nVisit our website at www.shipmate.com\nE-mail: shipmate@shipmate.com\nHazardous Materials Training • Information Systems → Compllance Inspections & Audits • Shipping & Regulatory Software\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n...\nShipMate®\nTraining & Consuling\nDangerous Goods\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nMay 29, 2001\nPage 2 of 3\nSketch of Battery Electrolyte Refill Unit\nRESERVOIR A\n1---\n----------\nRESERVOIR B\n7\n155 ml (max).\n155 ml (max).\n155 ml (max).\n155 ml (max).\n155 ml (max).\n155 ml (max).\nCROSS CONNECTED \"CELLS\"\nCROSS CONNECTED \"CELLS\"\nHazardous Materials Training • Information Systems • Compliance Inspections & Audits • Shipping & Regulatory Software\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n. ..:\nShipMate®\nDangerous Gooris\nTraining & Consulting\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nMay 29, 2001\nPage 3 of 3\n•\nPhotographs\nA\nB\nA\nGENERAL VIEW - SINGLE MOLDED PIECE HAVING 2 RESERVOIRS & 6 CELLS\nTOP VIEW - TWO INDEPENDENT RESERVOIRS\nEND VIEW - CLOSE UP OF BOTTOM OR RESERVOIR B\nD\nEND VIEW - TWO INDEPENDENT RESERVOIRS EACH X-CONNECTED TO 3 CELLS\nHazardous Materials Training • Information Systems • Compliance Inspections & Audits • Shipping & Regulatory Software","truncated":false,"body_characters":5626}