{"operation":"document","citation":"05-0121","title":"Covington & Burling — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2005-07-06","effective_on":null,"summary":"05-0121 response to Covington & Burling concerning 173.306.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0121.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0121.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0121","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050121.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nPipeline and\nJUL\n6 2005\nAdministration\nHazardous Materials Safety\nMr. Zachary G. Parks\nRef. No. 05-0121\nCovington & Burling\n1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\nWashington, DC 20004-2401\nDear Mr. Parks:\nThis responds to your letter dated May 19, 2005, requesting\nclarification of the classification procedures\nfor aerosols\nunder the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\nParts 171-180).\nSpecifically, you ask whether an aerosol\nthat does not meet the definition of a Division 2.1 or 2.3\nmaterial, or any other hazard class, and does not exert in\nthe packaging an\nabsolute pressure of 280 kPa (40.6 psia)\nor greater at 20 °C (68 °F), should be classed as a\nDivision 2.2 material.\nThe answer is no. If a material does not meet the\ndefinition of\nhazardous substance\na hazard class or division, and is not a\nor hazardous waste,\nit is not regulated\nunder the HMR. See S 173.115 (b).\nwe can be of further assistance.\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if\nSincerely,\nTalli\n2. mit/ell\nHattie L. Mitchell\nChief,\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nRegulatory Review and Reinvention\n173.306\n050121\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n05/19/2005\n17:30\nCOVINGTON & BURLING 921 → 93663012\nNO. 377\nP002\nCOVINGTON & BURLING\nStevens\n201 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NV\nTEL 202.992.8000\nJASHINGTON, DC 20004.240\nWASHINGTON\nNEW YORK\n/73.306\nFAX 202.962.0291\nSAN FRANCISCO\nwww.cov.com\nLONDON\nDenision\n05-0/21\nMay 19, 2005\nMr. Michael Stevens\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\nUS Department of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street S.W.\nWashington, DC 20590\nVIA FACSIMILE\nRe: Classification of Non-flammable Aerosols\nDear Mr. Stevens:\nThank you for taking the time to answer my questions today. As we discussed, I am\nwriting to request a written clarification regarding the classification of non-flammable aerosols.\nAccording to 49 C.F.R. § 173.115(b), a Division 2.2 material is \"any material (or\nmixture) which -- (1) Exerts in the packaging an absolute pressure of 280 kPa (40.6 psia) or\ngreater at 20° C (68° F), and (2) Does not meet the definition of Division 2.1 or 2.2.\" My\nquestion is: Should an aeroso! that does not meet the definition of Division 2.1 or 2.3 (or any\nother hazard class) be classified as a Division 2.2 material even if its contents do not exert in the\npackaging an absolute pressure of 280 kPa or greater at 20° C?\nA clarification on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to fax your\nreply to me at (202) 778-5576. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.\nSincerely,\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nPipeline and\nAdministratior\nlazardous Materials Safety\nJUL 2 9 2005\nMr. William R. Mason\nRef No.: 05-0130\nVice President of Operations\nABC Coke\nP.O. Box 10246\nBirmingham, Alabarna 35202\nDear Mr. Mason:\nThis responds to your May 16, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask for relief\nfrom the requirements in § 174.67(i) in effect at the time you submitted your request.\nOn October 30, 2003, the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA, we)\npublished a final rule under Docket HM-223 (68 FR 61906) entitled \"Applicability of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations to Loading, Unloading, and Storage.\" The HM-223\nfinal rule clarifies the applicability of the HMR to specific functions and activities,\nincluding hazardous materials loading and unloading operations and storage of hazardous\nmaterials during transportation. The final rule codifies in the HMR long-standing\npolicies and interpretations concerning the applicability of the regulations to specific\nfunctions and operations. The provisions of the HM-223 final rule became effective on\nJune 1, 2005.\nUnder the HM-223 final rule, tank car unloading operations conducted by consignee\npersonnel after the rail carrier has departed the consignee's premises generally are not\nsubject to regulation under the HMR (see § 171.1(c)(3)). As adopted in the HM-223 final\nrule, however, the requirements in § 173.31(g) apply to all tank car unloading operations\nas of June 1, 2005, even when those operations are conducted by consignee personnel.\ncars placed for unloading would continue to apply\" (68 FR 61918). As well,\nOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards may apply to such\nunloading operations.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n174-6100\n050130\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nSupko\nBirmingham, Alabama 35202.\nP.O. Box 10246\n9174.67(1)\nTelephone: 205-849-1300\nFax: 205-849-1322\n• Tark Car\nRail/Unloading\nBI\nNBC\n05-0130\nCOHE\nMay 16, 2005\nMr. Ed Mazzullo\nUS Department of Transportation\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n400 Seventh Street\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\n174.67(i).\nWe are requesting a variance to the DOT standard for unloading tank cars, 49 CFR\nAt present, one of the raw materials that is received at the Tarrant, AL coke\nis located in Appendix A. It is received in a railcar.\nmanufacturing plant is Sulfuric acid, 8,UN1830, PG II RQ. The Material Safety Data Sheet\nThe railcar unloading process occurs in a primary and secondary phase. The unloading\nnes are attached to the railcar for the unloading process to begin, see standar\nperating procedure for the unloading process in Appendix B. The sulfuric acid i:\nevery 16 hours. As the holding tanks are emptied, additional sulfuric acid is unloaded\ntransferred to two holding tanks and is used to produce ammonia sulfate approximately\nfrom the railcar until it is emptied. There is continuous monitoring with camera\nin the secured interior of the facility and a derailer is in use. See the site plan in Appendix\nsurveillance, see Appendix C. The rail line where the sulfuric acid is received is locatec\nD.\ncontinuously, we are requesting that the requirements of 174.6?(i) be waived and to\nsince we have the camera and personnel that monitors the location of the railca\nallow the tank car to remain attached to the unloading lines to keep employees' potential\nexposure to the sulfuric acid to a minimum.\nlines attached to the railcar:\nIn summary, there is no hazardous materials transportation risk of leaving the unloading\n• The location for unloading is in the secúred interior of the facility.\nThe railcar is monitored continuusly by remote carreras and personnel; and\nhealth and safety by minimizing any unnecessary exposure to the corrosive material,\nAllowing the unloading lines to remain connected to the railcar will protect employees'\nsulfuric acid.\nat 205-849-1338.\nPlease contact Steve Brakefield regarding the status of this request. He may be reached\nSincerely,\nwith as macon\nVice President of Operations","truncated":false,"body_characters":6853}