# Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 04-0258
- **title:** Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-01-18
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 04-0258 response to Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command concerning 177.835.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0258
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040258.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
JAN 1 8 2005
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Administration
Mr. Joseph P. Dugan
Reference No.: 04-0258
Safety & Occupational Health Specialist
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
661 Sheppard Place
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-1644
Dear Mr. Dugan:
This responds to your letter requesting clarification of the requirements for segregation of
explosives under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask whether transportation of Division 1.4S detonators in a dromedary box on a
motor vehicle that is also transporting a trailer loaded with Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 materials
satisfies the segregation requirements for motor carrier transportation.
The answer is no. Section 177.835(g) prohibits the transportation of detonators on the same
motor vehicle with any Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 material (except other detonators, detonator
assemblies, or boosters with detonators), detonating cord Division 1.4 material, or Division 1.5
material unless the conditions specified in § 177.835(g)(1), (2), or (3) are met. A "motor
vehicle" is defined as any number of transport vehicles powered by the same motor or engine
(except vehicles that travel by rail or trolley). A "transport vehicle" is a cargo-carrying vehicle,
such as an automobile, van, tractor, truck, or rail car used for the transportation of cargo by any
mode. Each cargo-carrying body (such as a trailer or dromedary box) is a separate transport
vehicle.
You suggest that the term "motor vehicle" as used in § 177.835(g) should be interpreted to mean
"transport vehicle" to permit Division 1.4S detonators to be transported on the same motor
vehicle with Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 material. We do not agree. The clear intent of
§ 177.835(g) is to prohibit such transportation except under the conditions specified. You may
petition for a regulatory change under the procedures established in 49 CFR 106.95 applicable to
petitions for rulemaking.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Hitle z Makel
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
177.835(9)
040258

<<<PAGE 2>>>

11/10/2004 14:10 FAX
0002/002
MILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
OPERATIONS CENTER
-TENTION O
LEPLY TI
FORT EUSTIS, VA 23604-1844.
861 SHEPPARD PLACE
Betts
§177.835 (9)
Safety Division
November 8, 2004
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Explosive
Director, DHM-10
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
04-0258
Research and Special Programs Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Sir:
Department of Defense hereby requests interpretation of hazardous materials regulations as outlined below. The
In accordance with the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 105.20, the
following file number has been assigned:
File Number: 213-04 (1108)
Proponent: Department of Defense
Request Officlal Interpretation of standards 49 CFR 177.835(g)
assemblies, and boosters with detonators. The Class 1 Compatibility Table in Para 177.848 denotes footnote 4 under
Request interpretation of Para 177.835(g) as it pertains to Hazard Class/Div 1.4S detonators, detonator
the group "S" column. In explaining foomote 4, para 177.848(g) (3)(iv) directs you back to 177.835(g), which states
that detonators may not be transported on the same motor vehicle with any Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 material (except
other detonators etc). DOD believes that the term "motor vehicle" above should actually be "transport vehicle".
This would allow having 1.4S detonators in a dromedary box attached to a tractor which was also pulling a trailer
(the second transport vehicle loaded with other 1.1, 1..2, 1.3 materials.
boosters with detonators in the first place. The hazardous nature of 1.4S material, by definition, is very minimal.
A further question we have is why should this restriction affect 1.4S detonators, detonator assemblies, and
Other hazardous material regulations such as International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code or AFMAN 24-204(I),
Preparing Hazardous Materials for Military Air Shipments, do not make a distinotion, for compatibility purposes,
small arms ammunition. Could the verbiage in Para 177.835(g) be a carryover from the days when most detonators
between 1.49 detonators, detonator assemblies, and boosters with detonators and any other kinds of 1.4S, such as
that marter) simply to carry 1.4S detonators, detonator assemblies, or boosters with detonators; while at the same
were 1.1B items? We see no reason for requiring a separate motor vehicle (or even a separate transport vehicle for
time 1.45 small arms ammunition can be loaded together with most 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 material. We believe 1.45
detonators, detonator assemblies, and boosters with detonators should be treated as they are in these other
regulations; the same as any other 1,4S item.
Safety Staff:, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, 661 Sheppard Place, Fort Eustis, VA 23604-
This request is submitted by Mr. Joseph P. Dugan, phone (157) 878-8294, e/mail dugeni@sddc.army.mil,
1644.
Sincerely,
Mach Po Wyndich
Mark P. Wyrosdick
Chief of Safety
Lleurenant Colonel, US Air Force
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