{"operation":"document","citation":"03-0115","title":"McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, P.C. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-05-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"03-0115 response to McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, P.C. concerning 177.848.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0115.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0115.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0115","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030115.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nS. Departmel\nf Transportatio\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nResearch and\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nSpecial Programs\nMAY 2 1 2003\nMr. Lawrence W. Bierlein, Esq.\nMcCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, P.C.\nRef. No.: 03-0115\nSuite 600\nWashington, D.C. 20037\n2175 K Street, N. W.\nDear Mr. Bierlein:\nThis responds to your letter dated May 2, 2003, a clarification of the requirements in\n§ 177.848(e) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 171-180) as they apply to\nseparation of non-compatible materials. Your specific scenario involves the separation of properly\npackaged and prepared hazardous materials in a refrigerated trailer that has floor ribs running from front\nto back of the trailer. The scenario is as follows:\nPackages containing hazardous materials bearing an OXIDIZER label are loaded on a pallet in the front\nof the trailer, liquid hazardous materials bearing a CORROSIVE label are loaded on a pallet and\nplaced near the midline of the trailer, and hazardous materials bearing a FLAMMABLE LIQUID label\nare loaded on a pallet and loaded near the rear of the trailer. The intervening spaces contain pallets\nloaded with compatible hazardous materials or non-regulated materials. Segregation is achieved by the\nplacement of the hazardous materials in specific locations on the trailer and using other compatible\nfreight to provide separation. However, at issue is whether the ribbed flooring of the trailer prevents\nthese materials from being loaded on the same vehicle, even though otherwise separated.\nIt is the opinion of this Office that the method of separation described in the above scenario meets the\nrequirements specified in § 177.848(e). The fact that the floor of the trailer is ribbed has no bearing on\nthis requirement.\nI hope this information satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\nSincerely,\nmon tills\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n177.848\n030115\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nMay-02-03\n15:11\nFroM-HCARTHY SWEENEY & HARKARAY, P.C.\n+202 775 5574\nT-D76 P.002/008 F-814\nLAW OFFICES\nDOUGLAS M. CANTER\nLAWRENCE W. BIERLEIN\nMCCARTHY, SWEENEY & HARKAWAY, P.C.\nANDREW P. GOLDSTEIN\nJOHN M. CUTLER, Jr.\nSUITE 600\n(202) 775-5574\nFACSIMILE\nSTEVEN J. KALISH\n2175 K STREET, N.W.\nRICHARD D. LIEBERMAN\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20037\nE-MAIL\nHANNING D. STROTHER, Jr\n(202) 775-5560\nMISH@MSHPC.COM\nWEBSITE\nKAREN R. O'BRIEN\nOF COUNSEL\nHTTP://ww.MSHPC.COM\nBillings\nMay 2, 2003\n$177.848\nSegregation\nMr. Delmer Billings\n03 - 0115\nStandards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nResearch & Special Programs Administration\n400 Seventh Street, SW\nDepartment of Transportation\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe:\nRequest for interpretation;\n49 CFR 177.848(e)\nDear Mr. Billings:\nOn behalf of Fisher Scientific Company, I request your concurrence in my intorpretation\nertains to application of the entry \"O\" as it appears in the Sec. 177.848 segregation char\nf Section 177.848(e) of the hazardous materials regulations. Specifically, this request\nand as it is defined in subparagraph (e)(3) of that section. This request is prompted by a\ndisagreement with California authorities, who are pursuing an enforcement action based\nFisher Scientific is a supplier of packaged chemicals to laboratories. The company ships\nregulated hazardous materials and, when bearing labels in accordance with the\nand loads motor vehicles with a wide variety of chemical products. Often these are DÖT-\nregulations, may be covered by loading restrictions in Part 177.\nThose are all non-bulk packages, marked and tested in accordance with the UN\nwith inner receptacles. Scveral packages of compatible materials are loaded on a pallet,\nperformance standards. Most are combination packages, i.e., UN 4G fiberboard boxes\nand are stretch-wrapped to stabilize them on the pallet. All packages in the load are\npalletized in this manner.\nunderstand to be past interpretations of these regulations. Labeled articles of compatible\nFisher Scientific has followed a vehicle loading pattorn consistent with what we\nmatctials on pallets are loaded in the first row across the nose of the trailc. Next, the\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMay-02-03\n15:11\nFrom-CARTHY SWEENEY & HARKAWAY. P.C.\n+202 775 5574\nT-076 P.003/008 F-814\nnot capable of reacting dangerously with the hazardous materials.\ncompany loads one or more rows of pallets of materials not subject to Part 177, that are\nIn the approximate center of the trailer, another row of labeled articles on pallets is\nloaded, scparated fiom the front row by the intervening pallets of other freight. This\nlabeled articles in the first row. The middle row is followed by one or more rows of\nniddle row of compatible materials may contain articles requiring separation from the\npallets of materials not subject to Part 177 and, at the door of the trailor, a row of one or\nmore pallets of additional labeled articles are placed.\nIn accordance with the regulations, the packages in this last row may need to be separated\npalletized labeled materials are separated from one another by at least one pallet-width of\nfrom those in the middle or the first rows. In short, the first, middle, and last rows of\nintervening freight not subject to Part 177. The entire load is secured as required.\nThe quality and purity of these laboratory chemicals are essential to the technical\ncustomers for such products. Over many years, the company has determined that\ntemperature controls, minimizing extremes of ambient heat or cold, are often the most\nHence, these shipments frequently are made in refrigerated trailers. I understand this to\nappropriate and effective method of assuring quality and safety in the use of the products.\nbe the common practice in the industry for distribution of chemical reagents.\nThe floor of a refrigerated trailer has ribs running from the front to the back of the\nvehicle. The State of California has taken the position that a material that might leak\nfrom a box on the front row of pallets conceivably could move across this floor to the\nmiddle row of pallets, or to the last row of pallets, thereby allowing commingling of\nincompatible hazardous materials. Their contention is that the common floor of a\nrefrigerated trailer precludes every product on the truck from being segregated from\nvehicle to separate each material subject to the \"O\" entry in Section 177.848.\nevery other product on the truck. Their view would compel use of a different refrigerated\nI have reviewed the history of the segregation chart, particularly the most recent\nrulemaking in Docket No. HIM-181B. As you know, DOT proposed requiring a lateral\nscgregate materials subject to the \"O\" entry in the char. Following substantial public\nseparation of approximately 1.2 meters (4 feet) and 10.6 cm (4 inches) off the floor io\ncomment, much of which pointed our that sparation distances could be less without\nmore generic standard now appearing in the definition of \"O\" was adopted, allowing\nreducing transportation safety, these specific measures were not adopted. Instead, the\nseparation distances of less than 4 fect.\nindicate, that for refrigerated irailers the definition of \"O\" would have the same\nAt no time did the agency propose or state, nor did any of the comments I reviewed\nopcrational effect as \"X\", meaning that materials requiring separation could not be\nshipped aboard the same vehicle.\nNumerous interpretations over the years have confirmed and made clear that intervening\nrequiring \"O\" segregation. An early interpretation, for example, said that labeled\nfreight may be used as an adequare means of segregation of materials bearing labels\ncorrosive materials could be loaded with oxidizers if the products were separated by\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nMay-02-03\n15:11\nFrom-MCARTHY SWEENEY & HARKAWAY, P.C.\n+202 775 5574\nT-07G P.004/008 F-814\nflammable liquids or non-hazardous products. That interpretation (Feb. 8, 1984;\nattached) also noted, \"In most instances, an intervening space of at least one foor is\nconsidered adequate.\"\npallet-width from any other labeled article requiring separation, complies with the\nWe believe that palletized non-bulk UN packages of materials, separated by at least one\nrequirements of 49 CFR 177.848(c), whether these pallets are on a ribbed floor or not on\nthat different materials having an \"O\" entry in the table, when shipped on refrigerated\na ribbed floor. Nothing in the rulemaking history of this section supports the conclusion\nequipment, must be carried on a separate vehicle.\nYour concurrence in our understanding of this regulation would be very much\nappreciated. Please contact me if you have any questions on this request. Thank you.\nLawrence W. Bierlein\nFor Fisher Scientific Company\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nMa/-02-03\n15:12\nFrom-MCARTHY SWEENEY & HARKANAY, P.C\n+202 775 5574\nT-076\nP. 007/008\nF-814\nSTATE OF CALIFORHIA\nSAFETYNET DRIVER/VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT\nDEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL\nCHP 407F (Rav 9-95) OP1062\n3896411\nSPEC.\n5 6-4-02\nIST, ZO3\nCODE 222\n1859\nINSPECT\nCOE 4/12\nPROJ.\nNAMI\nLAST\nDRIVER INFORMATION\n5. 106655535\nTWE\nCARNERINFORMATION\n10. 414864409\nTEA\nCH. CA. 8333\nTPuc\nMARES KLLM INC\nNO.\nSTREET\nNAME\nNO.\nNO. US DOT.\nADDRESS FO BOK 135 RIVERVIEW\nVEH/ YEAR\nVEHICLE INFORMATION\nDR\nTRICHLAND\nSDUE\nMS\n1006 39218\n199\nERYT\nMAKE\nTYPE ARLES\nLIC NO.\nRIREI4\n, STATE\nEQPMT.NO.\nCOMPLIANCE\nDRIVER QUALIFIGATIONS\nDrivar'o Licenso\nNO\nOrs DIs\n298\nWANG\n64R252 7\nMocical Cort\nDrivor's Log\nDriver's Hours\nVEHICLE INSPECTION\nCOMPUANCE\nNO\nVEHICLE 1\n• DISPOSITION CODES\nBRAKE ADJUST.\nHAZARDOUS MATERIALS INSPECTION\nSteering Componenta\nI ors\n• DIS\nTowed Escorted\nFront\nShip Papor/Manifest\nCOMPLINCE\nNO\nO/S\nIDIS\nHM Liconse\nExtust\nLef\nRight\nVEHICLE 2\nNO\nVEHICLE 3\nOrS i DIS\nNO I O/S\nVEHICLE 4\nAS/O T\nPlacartio\nLom Air Warnino Dovion\nPeckaging\nAr Loar, Unappied\nAve 2\nBrake Drums/Shoes\nBrake Adjuroner\nLoading/Securemans\nLabale\nCHA\nпоз Баха Pant\n24.663\n1 Syalam\nAx/a 4\nSafoly Equipmont\nCODES\nLgras: Slop/Tum\nN\n• Yes\nF\n•Yes\n00 но\n• NO\n• Yas\nHWT\n• Yes\n• No\n• NO\nTras\nWheels\nAxia 6\nPlacandy Rodon\n• Yes\n• No\nSusponsor\n140\nB- 12 (Emisciver)\nA- f.I (Explosives)\n1-23 (Polson Gas)\nHM CODES\n1- 3\n(Flam qui\nR- 52 (ood. Sub.)\n0 - 8,1 (Pai PG E)\nMaidenancerother\nReginarion\nAxio 8\nC. l.9\nD. 1.4 (Explories)\n(Explaines)\nX-4.1 (Flam. Solin)\nL- 42 (Spon Carso.)\n5-7\nт. в\n(Rudoxtre)\nE • 1,5 (Exalosives)\nM1-4.3 (Dang, \"Wet)\nU -8\n(CoTaGina)\nISSUED\nCUSA STICKERS\niv-r\nV-2\nF=1.6 Explosives)\nN-5.1 (Odditer)\nV (Cemberfile Liquia)\n(Misc)\nH-22 (Hantar. G34)\nG- 21 (Flam Gas)\nP-6.1 (Poi. PG & I)\n0-5.2 (Ory. Pertz)\nX ¡Onary\n* [ORM-D)\n/ REVIEWED BY\nI.D. NO.\nCOMMENTS\nRESPON\nIMPROPER SHIPPNE NAME, BA* 06000038808, 1, 2-DI DIMETHYLAMIND ETHNE\nSHIPPING PAPERS NOT IN PROPER SI\nCass 8 liquds loaded weth\nclass 8\ncLass 5.L\nClass\nlouds landed\nwIth\npaded WiTh\n@lass 4:3\n@tass 43 toaded\n5. 1\nwint\nl0 sea IT\nLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON\nNDC 1454\nTHE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM.\nlacknowiedge that have ruviowedand DRIVER\nreceived a copy of this roport\nSIGNATI\n-Destroy Provous E","truncated":false,"body_characters":10977}