# Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 02-0011
- **title:** Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2002-01-10
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 02-0011 response to Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc concerning 177.841.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0011.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0011.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0011
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020011.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
Research and
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Special Programs
Administration
JAN 1 0 2002
Mr. Edward Doheny
Chemist, CHMM
Reference No.: 02-0011
Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc.
Regulatory Affairs Department
5700 NW Front Avenue
Portland, OR 97210
Dear Mr. Doheny:
This is in response to your letter requesting clarification relating to shipments of "foodstuffs" in
the same motor vehicle with material that is labeled POISON GAS under the provisions of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask if it is
permissible to transport Division 2.3 materials in the same transport vehicle with material known
to be foodstuffs.
The answer is yes. Section 177.841(e)(1) does not restrict the transportation of Division 2.3
materials from being transported with foodstuffs; the restriction in § 177.841(e)(I) applies only
to materials bearing a POISON or POISON INHALATION HAZARD label in Division 6.1.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry.
Sincerely,
AlAs
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
177.841 (e) (0

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Gent By: Great Western Chemical;
503 221 5750;
Jan-7-02 12:03PM;
Page 2/3
Corbin
Quadra
$177.8416s4
January 7, 2002 Segregation
Director of Hazardous Materials Standards
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
02-0011
U.S. DOT / RSPA
DHM-10
I am writing to request a clarification of, and in, 49 CFR 177.841 (e) (1) relating to shipments
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
3 (i.e. Poison Gas). Specifically, 1 am asking for a clearer language statement in the above
of "foodstuffs" loaded in the same vehicle / trailer with material(s) of hazard class 2, division
section of the CFR and an update to the interpretation letter dated June 27, 1997.
The reasons for this request are:
1) The above referenced interpretation letter was written in 1997, however the class 2,
division 3 labels and placards have been changed in the CFR to have a skull and
older labels and placards with Poison Gas written across the middle and no skull and
crossbones at the top and inhalation hazard written across the middle replacing the
crossbones at the top of the labcl or placard.
2) On 01/04/02, a Quadra truck was cited for a violation of 49 CFR 177.841 (e) (1), in
that the truck had cylinders of Chlorine gas and some "foodstuffs" on board when it
was stopped at an Idaho - Port of Entry. The DOT inspector, even after being notified
of the June 27, 1997 interpretation letter and being told that said letter had been
confirmed as still in effect by a phone call to your offices in Washington D.C. that
morning, told mo the violation was valid and to go to the Jefferson County Magistrate
Court in Rigby, Idaho if 1 wished to contest it.
3) In checking with the Oregon DOT inspection and enforcement office, an inspector
division 3 hazardous materials with "foodstuffs" because those hazardous materials
with over a decade of field experience told me that it is a violation to ship class 2,
are poison inhalation hazards as cvidenced by the skull and crossbones and inhalation
hazard written on the label and placard, and this is what 49 CFR 177.841 (e). (1) is
regulating.
Therefore, it appears that some, if not many, experienced DOT inspection and/or
the same in interpreting 49 CFR 177.841 (e) (1) requirements. These field interpretations
enforcement personnel are interpreting the new class 2 and class 6 labels and placards to be
directly contradict what I was told by lwo of your staff was your official interpretation, when
I explained the entire situation to them.
Additionally, I was told that I will need to present, in the near future to the above court,
certified documents from your office stating that the above presumed violation is in fact not d
violation, as the violation paperwork would be turned over to the county prosecutor
Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc.
Regulatory Affairs Department
5700 NW Front Avenue
Phone: 503-242-0200 Fax: 503-412-3390
Portland, OR 97210

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Sent By: Great Western Chemical;
503 221 5750;
Jan-7-02 12:04PM;
Page 3/3
If you have any questions or require further information, please call me at (503) 242-0200
ext. 354.
Sincerely,
Edward Doheny
Chemist, CHMM
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