{"operation":"document","citation":"02-0292","title":"U.S. Geological Survey — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-04-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"02-0292 response to U.S. Geological Survey concerning 172.101, 173.134.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0292.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0292.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0292","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020292.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n•\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAPR 10 2003\nDr. Stephen R. Moulton, II\nRef. No.: 02-0292\nBiological Operations Manager\nUnited States Department of Interior\nNational Water-Quality Assessment Program\nU.S. Geological Survey\nReston, Virginia 20192\nDear Dr. Moulton:\nThis responds to your letter regarding whether biological samples from streams, preserved with\nParts 171-180). We apologize for the delay in responding and hope it has not caused any\nFormalin, are regulated for transportation under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\ninconvenience.\nYour agency collects biological samples from streams to determine the identification and abundance of\nalgae and invertebrates (e.g., insects, crustaceans, worms, clams) for use in water-quality studies. For\neach sample, the stream bottom material (consisting of organisms and debris) is preserved with either\n3-5% formalin (algae samples) or 10% formalin (invertebrate samples). A single sample container\nranges from 60 mL to a maximum of 1L. These samples are shipped to a central laboratory for\nanalysis.\nSection 172.101(c)(11) provides, in part, that a shipper may assign a tentative shipping name, hazard\nclass and identification number to a material sent for testing, based on the shipper's tentative\ndetermination according to defining criteria in the HMR, hazard precedence prescribed in § 173.2, and\nthe shipper's knowledge of the material. Based on the information you provided, it is this Office's\nopinion that these samples do not meet the definition of an infectious substance in § 173.134 because\nthere is no reason to know or suspect they contain an infectious substance.\nAlthough you did not provide sufficient information, such as a Material Safety Data Sheet, the acute\neffects of Formaldehyde solutions has been well documented. Formalin (10% formaldehyde solution),\nused to preserve the biological samples, meet the definition for a Class 9 material in § 173.140 and is\nsubject to regulation when transported domestically by air. The appropriate shipping description is\n\"Other Regulated Substances, liquid, n.o.s. (formaldehyde), 9, NA3082, II.\" Generally, solutions of\nless than 10% formaldehyde mixed with non-hazardous materials do not meet the definition of a Class 9\nhazardous material and, provided they do not meet any other hazard class, are not subject to the HMR.\n172.101,\n173.134\n020292\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nAs provided by § 173.22 of the HMR, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly class a hazardous\nmaterial. Manufacturers, generally, have the knowledge to properly class the materials and products\nthey produce, although it may be necessary to enlist an outside laboratory to assist in the classification\nprocess as testing may have to be conducted to see how a product compares to the criteria for the\nvarious hazard classes.\nI hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\n1\ndich\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Division\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nUnited States Department of the Interior\nEngrum\nU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY\nReston, Virginia 20192\n§172.101\nNational Water-Quality Assessment Program\nMS 413\n$173.134\nClassification\nOctober 30, 2002\n02-02926\nDirector of the Office of Hazmat Standards\nEdward Mazzullo\n400 7th Street, NW\nUS DOT/RSPA DHM-10\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nDear Mr. Mazzullo,\nMy agency collects biological samples from streams to determine the identification and\nquality studies. For each sample, the stream bottom material (consisting of the organisms and\nabundance of algae and invertebrates (e.g., insects, crustaceans, worm, clams) for use in water-\nsamples). A single sample container ranges from 60 mL to a maximum of 1 L depending on the\ndebris) is preserved with either 3-5% formalin (algae samples) or 10% formalin (invertebrate\nlaboratory for analysis.\namount of sample material. These samples are shipped from across the country to a central\nWe have been experiencing considerable confusion over the interpretation of shipping regulations\nof interpretation for the proper classification and shipping requirement for these samples?\nfor these samples preserved with either 3-5% or 10% formalin. Can you provide us with a letter\nThank you. I look forward to your response.\nSincerely,\nStephen R. Moulton II, Ph.D\nBiological Operations Manager\n703-648-6874\nsmoulto@usgs.gov","truncated":false,"body_characters":4439}