# Waste Technology Services Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0017
- **title:** Waste Technology Services Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-02-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0017 response to Waste Technology Services Inc concerning 171.8, 173.159.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0017.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0017.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0017
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050017.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

J.S. Department
of Transportatior
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Special Programs
Research and
FEB
8 2005
Administration
Mr. T.L. Nebrich
Ref. No.: 05-0017
Technical Director
Waste Technology Services Inc.
435 North 2nd
Street
Lewiston, NY 14092
Dear Mr. Nebrich:
This is in response to your January 11, 2005 letter regarding
the applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
49 CFR Parts 171-180) to the packaging of batteries.
Section
173.159 (c) (1) authorizes a packaging that would consist of
batteries firmly secured to a pallet. Specifically, you ask
if this packaging should be treated
as either a bulk or non-
bulk package and how the package should be marked, labeled,
and/or placarded.
For the purposes of marking, labeling, and placarding, a
shipment of electric storage batteries secured to a pallet in
accordance with § 173.159 (c) (1) is considered to be a single
non-bulk package.
The completed package must be marked in
accordance with § 172.301 and labeled in accordance with
§ 172.400. The palletized batteries should be marked and
labeled as a non-bulk package even if the completed package
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you
require additional assistance.
Sincerely,
Hitle mitted
Hattie Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
171.8.
173-159(c)0
050017

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Satterthwaite
wIs
$171.8
§173.159()0
WASTE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC.
Defmition Batteries
January 11, 2005
05-0017
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
Director of Office of Hazardous Material Standards
US Department of Transportation - RSPA (DHM - 10)
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing to request an interpretation regarding the packaging requirement for
batteries shipped according to the provisions in 49 CFR 173.159 (c) (1). According to
Mr. Delmer Billings letter to Mr. Paul Martin of Advanced Environmental Technical
Services, dated June 10, 1996 (attached), batteries shipped under the provisions of
49 CFR 173.159 (c) (1) can be shipped as one package. However, there is no mention of
whether these batteries (shipped as one package) would be considered a bulk or non-bulk
package for marking, labeling and/or placarding.
Would this package be a bulk or non-bulk package and how would that be determined
based on the "bulk packaging" definition in 49 CFR 171.8? Either way what are the
marking, labeling and/or placarding requirements?
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very truly yours,
WASTE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC.
T.L. Nebrich, Jr., CHMM, OEP, REM
Technical Director
TLN/tIn
Corporate Office: 435 North 2nd Street, Lewiston, NY 14092
Telephone: 716-282-4100 • Fax: 716-282-6986
2025 E. Main Street, Suite 101 • Richmond, VA 23223 • Telephone (804) 649-0700 • Fax (804) 649-2360
5 Forest Park Drive • Farmington, CT 06032 • Telephone (860) 677-1146 • Fax (860) 677-4979
7 Willowdale Court • Amesbury, MA 01913 • Telephone (978) 388-7877 • Fax (978) 388-8688
www.wtsonline.com

<<<PAGE 3>>>

JAN-06-2005
11:10
HMIC
P.02/04
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washingon, S.c. 30590
20590
Speciol Programs
Research and
Administratio
JUN | O 1996
Mr. Paul W. Martin
Advanced Environmental Technical Services
Environmental Manager
2600 Delk Road, Suite 100
Marietta, GA
30067-8835
Dear MI. Martin:
This is in response to your letter of April 16, 1996,
requesting clarification on the packaging requirements for
batteries under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49
CFR parts 171-180).
Specifically you ask whether a
palletized load of batteries shipped under the provisions of
49 CFR 173.159 (c) (1) is considered to be one package or
whether each battery on the pallet would be considered a
separate package.
Section 173.159 (c) (1) allows electric storage batteries that
are protected against short circuits to be transported in a
non-specification packaging (e.g., firmly secured to skids or
pallets capable of withstanding the shocks normally incident
to transportation and meeting certain other conditions).
Such a configuration is considered one package; each battery
need not be considered a package.
Except as discussed foI
batteries, you are correct in your understanding that
generally when packages are shrinkwrapped to a pallet the
shrinkwrap is an overpack.
Each individual package in an
overpack must be in full compliance with the HMR, including
marking and labeling.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
7989
f1
mar Hillin
Delmer F. Billings
Ap-
Chief,
Regulations Development
Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards
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