# IT Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 01-0313
- **title:** IT Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2002-01-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 01-0313 response to IT Corporation concerning 171.1.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0313.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0313
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010313.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportatior
U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
JAN 17 2002
Mr. Lee R. Wilmot
Ref. No. 01-0313
Business Line Manager
IT Corporation
3 Riverside Drive
Andover, MA 01810-1141
Dear Mr. Wilmot:
This is in response to your letter dated December 6, 2001, requesting clarification of the applicability of
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to hazardous waste collection
centers (HWCC). These centers are established to collect surplus and unused chemicals that are
dropped off by citizens, schools, and businesses at a designated site. Your scenarios and questions are
paraphrased and answered as follows:
Q1
Are private citizens required to follow the HMR when bringing household wastes to the
HWCCs for disposal?
Al.
No. The HMR govern the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce as specified
in § 171.1. "In commerce" generally means in furtherance of a commercial enterprise. A
citizen who transports hazardous materials for private purposes is not subject to the HMR.
Q2.
Are school employees and community volunteers required to follow the HMR when bringing
school wastes to the HWCCs for disposal?
A2.
No. A public school is considered a government entity, and its transportation thus is not "in
commerce."
Q3.
Are company employees required to follow the HMR when bringing school wastes to the
HWCCs for disposal or to the company site for use/reuse?
A3.
Yes. Company activities are considered to be "in commerce" and thus subject to the HMR.
171.8

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Q4.
Are company wastes transported to the HWCCs subject to the HMR?
A4.
Company wastes that meet the definition of a specific hazard class or that are listed as a
hazardous substance in Appendix A to § 172.101 are subject to the HMR. The type of vehicle
(e.g., company-owned, rented, leased) or carrier used does not affect the applicability of the
HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
hom Bullio
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

12/10/01
09:22 FAX 978 975 2065
IT CORPORATION
@001
BAH
IT Corporation
3 Riverside Drive
8171#
Tel. 978.682.1980
Andover, MA 01810-1141
Fax. 978.975.2065
the group
Applicability
A Member of The IT Group
01-0313
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
December 6, 2001
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
•
US DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
400 7t Street SW
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: Applicability of Subchapter C HM Regulations
Dear Director Mazzullo:
I'm writing after discussing the captioned subject with Cameron in the Hazardous
Materials Information Center. The basic issue is whether these regulations apply to the
ransport of small quantities of certain hazardous materials to household hazardous waste
collection centers. Cameron confirmed that these regulations apply only if the hazardous
materials are being transported in commerce. 49 CFR 171.1(a)(1) states in part
".. requirements ... governing - The offering of hazardous materials for
transportation and transportation of hazardous materials in interstate, intrastate, ...
commerce by ... motor vehicle ..."
While some of the transport scenarios were clearly not applicable, some were
questionable. Hence, this letter for clarification and interpretation.
The basic issue is that of transporting surplus or unused chemicals and janitorial supplies
ocal HHWC sites is permitted by not only homeowners, but also local schools, and eve
o a locai household hazardous waste collection (HHWC) site. Such transport and use o
small quantity hazardous waste generators by state hazardous waste management rules.
This concept being the basis of this question, here are the transport scenarios to the local
HHWC site to which interpretation of applicability of the HM rules is sought.
1. Houschold "wastes" transported by homeowner in his/her own vehicle. (Rules
verbally determined to not apply.)
2. School "wastes" transported by school employee in school vehicle. (Rules verbally
determined to not apply.)
3. School "wastes" transported by community volunteer in volunteer's own vehicle.
(Rules verbally determined to not apply.)
4. School "wastes" transported by nearby company volunteer in volunteer's own vehicle.
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12/10/01. 09:22 FAX 978 975 2065
IT CORPORATION
2002
A Member of The IT Group
IT Corporation
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
December 6, 2001
Page 2
5. School "wastes" transported by nearby company volunteer in company vehicle.
6. Company wastes transported by company employee in company vehicle.
7. Company wastes transported by company employee in hired/rented/leased vehicle.
8. Company wastes transported by independent trucking firm.
nentoring companies. Further, scenarios 2-5 could be modified to transport the
urplus/unused chemicals to a local company for use/reuse in that company's process
alternative scenarios as well.
Should you have any questions on this request, please call me at 978/682-1980 x 2022.
Sincerely,
IT CORPORATION
Auditent
Business Line Manager
Lee R. Wilmot
lee.wilmot@theitgroup.com
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