# U.S. Coast Guard MSO Jacksonville — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0124
- **title:** U.S. Coast Guard MSO Jacksonville — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-06-29
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0124 response to U.S. Coast Guard MSO Jacksonville concerning 176.83.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0124.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0124.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0124
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050124.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and
Administration
Hazardous Materials Safety
JUN 29 2005
Lt. John Fitzgerald
Ref No.: 05-0124
U.S. Coast Guard MSO Jacksonville
7820 Arlington Expressway, Suite 400
Jacksonville, FL 32211
Dear Lt. Fitzgerald:
This responds to your May 20, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
the vessel segregation requirements specified in § 176.83.
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CPR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask us to clarify
You ask us to reconsider an interpretation that was issued on June 1, 1995 to Ker. Prater
of Cotter & Company as it would apply to acetylene (Division 2.1) and oxygen (Division
2.2 primary and Division 5.1 subsidiary hazard). In that letter we interpreted the
regulations in effect as of June 1, 1995. Section 176.83 required Division 2.1 materials to
be segregated "separate from" materials with oxidizing properties (i.e., oxygen).
However, § 176.83(a)(8) permitted hazardous materials of the same class to be stowed
together without regard to segregation required by the secondary hazard if the materials
were not incompatible. The letter authorized propane (Division 2.1) to be stowed.
together with oxygen (Division 2.2 primary and Division 5.1 subsidiary hazard) when
transported by vessel because we considered the two materials to be of the same class
(Class 2), under the HIMR and they were not incompatible.
Section § 176.83(a)(8) was amended on June 2, 1999 under Docket No. RSPA-93-4185
(HM-215C). The revised language in § 176.83 currently states that "..hazardous
materials of the same class may be stowed together without regard to segregation
eact dangerously with each other and cause: (i) combustion and/or evolution o
equired by secondary hazards (subsidiary risk label(s)), provided the substances do no
considerable heat; (ii) evolution of flammable, toxic or asphyxiant gases; (iii) the
formation of corrosive substances; or, (iv) the formation of unstable substances." For the
purposes of the general segregation table in § 176.83(b), we now consider Division 2.1
and Division 2.2 materials to be of different classes, and they are listed as such in the
table. This is consistent with the approach in the International Maritime Dangerous
Goods (IMDG) Code.
176.83 (a)8)
050124

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Because Acetylene (Division 2.1) and Oxygen (Division 2.2) are now considered
separate classes for the purposes of § 176.83(b), the subsidiary hazard must be used to
determine the appropriate segregation. Therefore, acetylene must be stowed "separated
from" oxygen. This will be clarified in a future rulemaking.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Sincerely,
Xina Im,
John A. Gale
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
From:
Eichenlaut
Sent:
jfitzgerald@msojax.uscg.mil
Subject:
To:
INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Friday, May 20, 2005 10:31 AM
5176.83 G) (8)
Information Center Comments/Questions
Segregation
Below is the result of your feedback form.
It was submitted by
05-0124
LT John Fitzgerald (jfitzgerald@msojax.uscg.mil) on Friday, May 20, 2005 at
10:31:06.
Email:
jfitzgerald@msojax.uscg.mil
Name :
LT John Fitzgerald
Category: Interpretations
(Letters)
issued by PHMSA
Organization: US Coast Guard MSO Jacksonville
Street: 7820 Arlington Expressway, Suite 400
City: Jacksonville
State: Florida
Zip Code: 32211
Phone:
904-232-2640 sext 140 - Comancer Ronalds
Fax:
904-232-1014
Comments: IMMEDIATE RESPONSE NEEDED. May 20, 2005
I need a re-interpretation of Cotter and Company, 1995. The original interpretation
apply this interpretation to the segregation of acetylene and oxygen.
segregation of propane and oxygen.
Currently, we (USCG) have been requested to
49CFR176.83 (a) (8)..
Cotter and Company interpretation applies.
., I do not believe that the requested application of the orginal 1995
have military and commercial shipments that wish to apply this standard today.
Please provide me with clarification as we
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