Bécancour Silicon Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 Research and Special Programs Administration JUN 1 O 2004 René Boisvert, Eng. Reference No.: 04-0110 Vice President-Operations & Technology 6500, rue Yvon-Trudeau Bécancour Silicon Inc. Becancour (Québec) G9H 2V8 Canada Dear Mr. Boisvert: This is in response to your letter regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to ferrosilicon with between 30 and 90 percent silicon. You enclosed test results of a sample product with 75% ferrosilicon. The sample was tested in accordance with the test method described in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria and found not to meet the definition of a Division 4.3 (Dangerous When Wet) material. As provided in § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous material. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this Office. However, if the ferrosilicon produced by your company is the same material that was tested and determined not to meet the Division 4.3 criteria, it is not subject to the HMR. I trust this satisfies your request. Sincerely, Hothe z. nitthell Hattie L. Mitchell Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Office of Hazardous Materials Standards 113.124 040110#

Page 2Corbin $173,124 classification 04-0|10 April 14, 2004 U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration 400, Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Sir or Madam: My company, Becancour Silicon Inc., is currently producing Ferrosilicon with between 30 and 90 percent silicon. Andrew S. McCreath & Son Inc. tested our product in accordance with UN Manual of Tests and Criteria 173.124 and found it does not meet the definition of a Division 4.3 (Dangerous When Wet) material. Becancour Silicon Inc. requests that the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards grant it a letter similar to those granted to its competitors which classifies Becancour Silicon Inc. 30% to 90% silicon content ferrosilicon as not being subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Pané Bowent ay. RB/jd Vice-President - Operations & Technology René Boisvert, Eng. Attachment : Certificate of Assay Phone: (819) 294-6000, poste 256 rboisvert@silbec.com Fax: (819) 294-6227 500 c0= 2vc0:2d:* 292278#

Page 304/14/2004 11:37 17172384843 MCCREATH PAGE 04/05 610 Willow Street Andrew S. Mebreath & Son, Ine. P.D. Box 1453 Telephone: (717) 238-9331 Harrisburg, PA 17105-1453 ANALYTICAL AND CONSULTING CHEMISTS Telex: 84-2321 Fax: (717) 238-4843 April 14, 2004 Silicium Becancour Inc. 6500 rue Yvon-Trudeau Becancour (Quebec), Canada, G9H ZV8 Gentlemen: • The sample received from you on April 6, 2004, marked: FeSi 75% Si, Grade 5211, was tested in accordance with UN Manual of Tests and Criteria 173.124 (Dangerous when wet material). Results are as follows: Spontaneous Ignition Test Division 4.3 a (1) No Spontaneous Ignition Division 4.3 a (2) No Spontaneous Ignition Division 4.3 a (3) No Spontaneous Ignition Gas Eyolution Measurement Total volume in Ml each hour. Time Interval Test 1 Test 2 Iest3 I Hour 1.50 MI 1.50 MI 1.25 MI 2 Hour 1.75 MI 1.50 MI 1.50 MI 3 Hour 2.00 MI 2.00 MI 2.10 MI 4 Hour 2.50 MI 2.75 Ml 3.10 MI 5 Hour 3.30 MI 3.80 MI 3.50 MI 6 Hour 3.60 MI 3.85 Ml 3.90 MI 7 Hour 3.80 MI 4.00 MI 4.10 MI Total 3.80 MI 4.00 MI 4.10 MI#

Page 4. 84/14/2004 11:37 17172384843 MCCREATH PAGE 05/05 Page No. 2 DOT Test Grade 5211 ..: Maximum Rate - 0.060 liter/hour/kilogram Average Rate - 0.023 liter/hour/kilogram Yours very truly, ANDREW S. MCCREATH & SON, INC. Lenge Tingles#