# Mr. Leighton Ford — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 03-0262
- **title:** Mr. Leighton Ford — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-10-30
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 03-0262 concerning 173.216.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030262.pdf
**body:**

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• U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Administration
OCT 3 0 2003
Mr. Leighton Ford
7011 East Avenue, MS9221
Ref. No. 03-0262
Livermore, CA 94550
Dear Mr. Ford:
This is in response to your letter dated October 17, 2003 regarding the asbestos requirements
found in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR: 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you
ask if § 173.216(b) and Special Provision 156 preclude a shipper from offering "non-friable"
asbestos under the description "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III."
The answer is no. Even though asbestos, when it is immersed or fixed in a natural or artificial
• binder material, such as cement, plastic, asphalt, resins or mineral ore, or contained in
manufactured products (i.e., non-friable asbestos), is excepted from the HMR by Special
Provision 156 and § 173.216(b) a shipper may still classify it as a Class 9 material. In doing so
the shipper could use the description "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, II" to ship the material
domestically.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Disa
Chof
Susan Gorsky
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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supko
$173.216
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
Asbestos
I recently spoke with Ben Supko of your staff and he suggested that | write a letter to your office requesting an
"It.
03-0262
official interpretation of 173.216 (a) and 173.216(b).
Section 173.216 (a) lists the various types of asbestos subjected to HMR but it does not specifically address
asbestos. I do understand that 173.216(b) does allow asbestos immersed in cement or manufactured articles,
whether or not the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" proper shipping name is only to be used for "friable" forms of
etc., to be excepted from the subchapter (not subject to HMR). In addition, Mr. Supko also mentioned that Special
excepted from the HMR. If I elect not to use 173.216 (b) and I do have non-friable asbestos, and I choose to use a
Provision 156, as mentioned in HM215-E, July 31, 2003, specifically allows asbestos immersed in a binder to be
uniform hazardous waste manifest, am I disallowed from using the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" proper shipping
violating any section in the HMR by shipping my non-friable asbestos waste under the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, I!!"
name in lieu of "Non-Hazardous" or "Non-RCRA Hazardous Waste Solid"? Said in a different way, would | be
proper shipping name? Does the use of the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" proper shipping name and the fact that it is
a hazard class 9 insinuates that the asbestos being shipped is or has to be "friable"? My position is that the use of
with whether or not the asbestos being shipped is friable or non-friable. Asbestos is Class 9 material because it is
the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, Ill" proper shipping name does not specifically indicate, nor does it have anything to do
a listed hazardous substance and the only mention of a "friable" form occurs when one needs to RQ for Asbestos.
in the hazardous substance table does it separate asbestos into friable or non-friable form other than when you
It is my understanding that the double cent sign found in the RQ table ONLY applies to the friable form. Nowhere
would have to RQ for the "friable" asbestos.
Shipping me, its zard cass 9 material and therefore by default, the asbestos has to be friable. Non-friable
A disposal facility here in California is saying that because 1 am using the "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" proper
asbestos cannot be shipped under this shipping name and is a manifest discrepancy per DOT (incorrect shipping
"friable" forms of asbestos but because it does so, this also means that the proper shipping name is ONLY for
The disposal facility is also saying that the double cent sign not only applies to the RQ determination for
"friable" forms. Again, I am saying that the HMR does not explicitly say that "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" can only bi
if you meet the condition of 173.216(b) but is it incorrect to not choose this option? Is there any reason why you
ised for "friable" forms of asbestos. I would like to point out again that I understand that asbestos is not regulates
could not use "Asbestos, 9, NA2212, III" to describe non-friable asbestos while being transported to the disposal
facility?
It was at this point that Ben and 1 agreed that we should seek an official interpretation.
(non-friable). A friable form of Asbestos-containing material exhibits the characteristic for toxicity and is a non-
For your information, in California, transite forms of asbestos are not considered hazardous waste in California
non-RCRA hazardous asbestos-containing material is 151. Non-Friable asbestos-containing waste is sent to a
RCRA hazardous waste if it contains greater than or equal to 1.0 percent asbestos. The California waste code for
landfill without a state code and is considered nonhazardous from a land disposal point of view. Nonhazardous
asbestos-containing material is subject to regulation by the California regional air quality management district
(AQMD).
Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to
contact me @ (925) 294-4506
Regards,
7011 East Avenue, MS9221
Leighton Ford
Livermore, California 94550
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