# Huntsman — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0235R
- **title:** Huntsman — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-07-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0235R response to Huntsman concerning 173.12, 173.28.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050235.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
JUL 17 2007
Clifford W. Lester, MSPH. CIH, EMT B. DGSA
Hazardous Communication Specialist
Reference No. 05-0235R
Huntsman
10003 Woodloch Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Dear Mr. Lester:
request for clarification on how to package and describe spent catalysts being transported to a
This serves as a retraction of our June 7, 2006 (Ref. No. 05-0235) letter responding to your
facility for reclamation under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-
classes under the HMR, and your company enters the appropriate description for each material
180). In the scenario described in your letter, the catalysts meet the definitions of various hazard
on a standard bill-of-lading. You also state the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
determined these materials are solid wastes under 40 CFR 261.1(c)(1) and (c)(4),
but does not require them to be manifested as hazardous waste. Upon further review, we find
our previous responses to your questions were incorrect. Your paraphrased questions and the
correct answers are specified below. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Q1.
We currently use new UN standard drums to transport these spent catalysts to a facility
for final reclamation because we interpret that the original drums do not conform to
Is our understanding correct?
§ 173.12(c) solely because these material do not meet the definition of a hazardous waste.
Your understanding is not correct. As specified in the preamble of Docket HM-218D
(68 FR 48563; August 14, 2003; pertinent pages enclosed), § 173.12(c) authorizes the
reuse of packagings for shipments of all wastes, not just waste materials subject to EPA
waste manifest requirements, to designated facilities. The preamble further states, "This
includes shipments of spent/waste materials which are being returned to or shipped to an
EPA licensed and certified Storage or Disposal facility, but are not subject to the Uniform
Hazardous Waste Manifest requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
Q2.
Is the term "waste" as it is used in §§ 173.12(c) and 173.28 restricted to those materials
meeting EPA's definition of a hazardous waste?
A2.
The answer is no. See Al.
173.12 (c)
173.28
050235R

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Does a spent catalyst that is not an EPA-manifested waste being transported to a facility
for reclamation qualify for inclusion in the exception to reuse the non-bulk packagings
authorized for wastes under § 173.12(c).
A3.
Yes. See answer Al.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Enclosure
10003 Woodloch Forest Drive • The Woodlands, Texas 77380 • 713-235-6000 • Fax 713-235-6416

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Edmonson
$173.12 (e)
HUNTSMAN
$ 173-28
Waste/Reuse
Mr. Clifford W. Lester, MSPH, CIH, EMT-B, DGSA 05-02.35
10003 Woodloch Forest Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77308
September 19, 2005
Director, Hazardous Material Safety
400 7* Street SW
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Washingtor, DC 20590
Ref:
§173.12(c)
$173.28
Dear Sir,
Pursuant to the referenced requirements, we a looking for guidance concerning the shipment of DOT
various components are reclaimed. These catalyst are a hazardous material as defined by the HMR in
hazardous catalyst for reclamation. We ship a material that is a spent catalyst to a facility where
laden not a waste manifest pursuant to the US EPA's determination in 40 CFR 261.1(c)(1) & (4) spent
49 CFR 171.8 based on the characteristics of the material, however we ship this material on a bill-of-
catalyst is a solid waste (but not a hazardous waste requiring the use of a manifest).
reclamation
Our current practice is to use new UN specification drums when shipping these spent catalysts for fina
requirements of 49 CFR 173.12(c), solely as a result of the material not meeting the EPA definition of a
ur interpretation is that the use of the original drums does not conform to the
In light of the above, is the term "waste" as it is used in 49 CFR 173. 12(c) and 173.28 restricted to only
those materials meeting the EPA's definition of hazardous? Would the shipment of a spent catalyst to
a reclamation facility qualify for inclusion in the exception listed in 173.12(c) for reuse of a non-bulk
Should you have any questions concerning my request, please contact me at (281) 719-6622
Sincerely.
Hazardous Communication Specialist
Clifford W. Lester, MSPH, CIH, EMT'B, DGSA
10003 Woodloch Forest Drive • The Woodlands, Texas 77380 • 713-235-6000 • Fax 713-235-6416
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