{"operation":"document","citation":"02-0175","title":"Gulf States Intermodal — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2002-12-12","effective_on":null,"summary":"02-0175 response to Gulf States Intermodal concerning 171.12, 172.519.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0175.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0175.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0175","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020175.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nDEC 12 2002\nMr. Ned Williams\nGeneral Manager\n7300 North Peters Street\nGulf States Intermodal\nRet. No. 02-0175\nArabi, Louisiana 70032\nDear Mr. Williams:\nThis responds to your letter regarding whether it is permissible to use foreign language text on placards\ndisplayed on portable tanks (approximately 6,000 gallons capacity) imported or exported to, or from:\nthe United States by:water in accordance with the International. Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG)\nCode: I apologize for the delay in responding and hope it has not caused any inconvenience.\nText indicating a hazard on a placard, other than the RADIOACTIVE, DANGEROUS, or OXYGEN\nplacards, is not required. When hazardous materials aie offered for transportation or transported under.\nthe provisions of § 171.12; import/export shipments by water, a placard conforming to the\nspecifications in the IMDG Code may be used in place of a corresponding placard which conforms to\nthe placarding requirements of the HIMR, except thạt a bulk packaging; transport vehicle, or freight\ncontainer containing a material poisonous by inhalation must be placarded. in accordance with subpart F\nof part 172 of the HMR. Placards conforming to specifications in the IMDG Code may contain foreign\nlanguage inscriptions or text indicating a hazard (e.g., text displayed in French, Japanese, etc., words).\n(See §§ 171.12 and 172.519).\nI hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nDelus 16-160\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n171.12=\n020175\n172.519\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nJUN-18-2002 TOE 01:59 PM\nFAX NO.\nP. 01/02\nEngrum\n6-18-2002\n§ 172.502\nEdward I. Mazullo\nDirector, Office of Haz - Mat Standards\nPlacarding\nBOASSO\n400 7\" St., S.W\nU.S. D.O.T. / R.I.S.P.A. (DHM10)\nA ME R\n02-0 175\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nRc: Foreign language wording on hazardous materials placards\nDear Mr. Mazullo,\nGulf States Intermodal (DOT 311230) Division of Boasso America is a transporter of\ntank containers. Tank containers are considered portable tanks. They have a capacity of\napproximatcly 6000 gallons. 97% of the moyements that we make are exports to or\nimports from foreign countrics. At least a portion of the movement is made by water\nwhether wo pick up or deliver to a railroad or a marine terminal.\nThe import shipments arrive with placards that are correct as to size, color and hazard\nclass, but many of the placards have wording that is in a foreign language. We see them\nlocal terminal operator, that this foreign wording is not allowed. The Coast Guard tells\nin French, Spanish, Japanese, etc. Our local Coast Guard office has told P&O Ports, a\nP&O that the wording must bc in English and that the terminal or the carrier must change\nGulf States Internodal contends that item 172.519 of the Hazardous Matcrials\nRegulations covers this placarding issue. This paragraph allows that cortain hazardous\nmaterials shipments can be transported under rules set forth in the I.M.D.G. We contend\nthat Part 5 of the I.M.D.G. allows for any language in the placard as long as the size,\ncolor and hazard class requirements are inct. We agrec that the tank, in these\ncircumstances, must also have an orange panel with the U.N. number on both sides, the\nback and the front. The proper shipping name must be stenciled on both sides in 2\"\n1 am requesting an opinion, in writing, from your office regarding this matter. Should you\nagree with our interpretation, then we can stop the unnecessary replacarding of tanks at\nthe New Orleans port facilities.\n7300 North Meiers Street\nBo asso America Corporation\nArabi, LA 70032\nTax: (50-1)277-0113\nTel: (504)279 8.541\nwww.hoassoamcrlca.com\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nJUN-18-2002 TUE 01:59 PM\nFAX NO.\nP. 02/02\nA portion of these tanks are unloaded and returned, with residue, back to the wharf for\nthe original placarding can remain on the tank or if the placarding has to be changed to no\nsubsequent shipment back to the original point of loading. We would also like to know if\nwording or to English for the return movement?\nWe eagerly await your reply.\nRespectfully,\nNed Willians\nGencral Manager\nGulf States Intermodal\n7300 N. Peters\nArabi, La. 70032","truncated":false,"body_characters":4332}