{"operation":"document","citation":"03-0033","title":"Nebraska State Patrol — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-11-26","effective_on":null,"summary":"03-0033 response to Nebraska State Patrol concerning 173.29.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0033.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0033.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0033","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030033.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n•\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nNOV 26 2003\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nCarrier Enforcement Division\nBradley A. Wagner, Sergeant\nRef. No. 03-0033\nP.O. Box 94907\nNebraska State Patrol\nLincoln, Nebraska\n68509-4907\nDear Sergeant Wagner,\nThis responds to your February 12, 2003, letter requesting clarification on § 173.29 of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) regarding the shipment of\ncylinders previously containing pharmaceutical grade oxygen. We apologize for the delay and\nhope it has not caused you any inconvenience. Specifically, you ask to what extent these empty\noxygen cylinders must be purged (see 173.29(b)(2)(ii) to be excepted from the HMR.\nOxygen is a Division 2.2 non-flammable gas and as such is only subject to the regulations when\nthe pressure in the cylinder equals or exceeds 280 kPa (40.6 psia) at 20° C (see § 173.115(b)(1)).\nTherefore, under § 173.29(b)(2)(ii), a Division 2.2 non-flammable gas, other than ammonia,\nanhydrous, and with no subsidiary hazard, at an absolute pressure less than 280 kPa (40.6 psia) is\nnot subject to the HMR. For cylinders containing oxygen and other Division 2.2 non-flammable\ngases, if the pressure in the cylinder is 280 kPa (40.6 psia) or greater, the material is subject to all\napplicable HMR requirements. For a partially emptied cylinder containing a Division 2.2 non-\nor greater, regardless of the quantity of gas remaining in the cylinder.\nflammable gas, the cylinder is fully regulated if the pressure in the cylinder is 280 kPa (40.6 psia)\nThe HMR define \"residue\" to mean the hazardous material remaining in a packaging after its\ncontents have been unloaded to the maximum extent possible. \"Unloaded to the maximum extent\npossible\" means that the hazardous material has ceased to flow out of the packaging's unloading\ntransported in the same manner as when they previously held a greater quantity of the material,\ndevice. Generally, empty packagings containing a residue of a hazardous material must be\nunless the packagings are sufficiently cleaned and purged of vapors to remove any potential\nhazards, or are refilled with a material that is not subject to the HMR. However, in accordance\nwith § 173.29(c), a non-bulk packaging containing only the residue of a hazardous material\n030033\n113.29\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\ncovered by Table 2 of § 172.504 when collected and transported by a contract or private carrier\nrequirements.\nfor reconditioning, remanufacture or reuse is excepted from the shipping paper and placarding\nI hope this answers your inquiry.\nSincerely,\nShoe Drif\nSusan Gorsky\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nFEB 12 'Ø3 18:20AM NSP-ISO/CARR. ENF. 4024713295\nP.2\nSTATE OF NEBRASKA\nBoothe\nNEBRASKA STATE PATROL\n$173-29(c)\nColonel Tom Nesblt:\nP.O. Box 94907\nSuperintenden:\nEmpty Packaging\n*LIncoln. Nebraska 68509-4907\nPhone (402) 471-4545\nMike Johans\n03-8033\nGovernor\nFebruary 12, 2003\nMr. Edward T: Mazzullo\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety\nUS DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)\n4007* Street S.W.\nWashington D.C. 20590\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nThe Nebraska State Patrol is requesting clarification concerning the transportation of compressed\ngases in cylinders. My questions concern pharmaceutical grade oxygen specifically and 2.2 gases\ngenerally. Is a cylinder, of pharmaceutical grade oxygen, approximately 18 to 24 inches in height\nand 4 inches in diameter, made of aluminum, charged to 500 psig considered empty? If the\nconsumer considers the cylinder \"empty,\" or at a pressure they no longer consider usable, does it fall\nunder the exception provided in 49 CFR 173.29(c) regardless of the pressure? Is a cylinder with 500\npsig of pharmaceutical grade oxygen considered to be a residue? If it is considered a residue, would\nit fall under 49 CFR 173.29 (c) and not be required to be manifested on the shipping paper when\ncollected and transported by a, private carrier for reuse (i.e., refilling)?\nMay, a private carrier consider 150 pound cylinders of 2.1 or 2.2 gases, having a pressure of 2000\npsi, being returned for refilling, as a residue when only 500 psi has been used ? If so, would the\ncarries have to include those cylinders when determining the applicability of the placarding and\nshipping paper requirements?\nIn 49 CFR 171.8 under the definition of residue please clarify RSPA's meaning of \"maximum\nextent\" in the phrase \"unloaded to the maximum extent practicable\"?\nTitle 49 CFR 173.29 (b)(2)(iv)(B) gives a threshold of 40.6 psia, for a division 2.2 gas to be\nconsidered empty for excepting these packagings from Subchapter C of Title 49 if they also conform\nto various other provisions. Does this mean that 40.6 psia is no longer hazardous? Is it correct to\nsay that 40.6 psia is an acceptable level for excepting only the 2.2 gasses and not a 2.1?\nAN INTERNATTONALLY ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY\nAn Equal Opportunty/Afirmatius Action Employsr\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nFEB 12 'Ø3 10:20AM NSP-ISO/CARR.ENF. 4024713295\nP.3\nPage 2\nEdward T. Mazzullo\nFebruary 12, 2003\nThank you for your time and attention in this matter. If you have any questions please feel free to\ncontact me at (402) 471-0105.\nSincerely,\nBlatagre\nHazardous Materials Coordinator\nCarries Enforcement Division\ncc: Captain Jim Doggett.","truncated":false,"body_characters":5352}