# Cornerstone Systems. Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0035
- **title:** Cornerstone Systems. Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-03-16
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0035 response to Cornerstone Systems. Inc. concerning 171.8, 172.800.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0035.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0035
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070035.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

J.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and
Administration
Hazardous Materials Safety
MAR 16 2007
Mr. Jonathan Ward
Risk Manager
Ref. No. 07-0035
'ornerstone Systems. In
101 Wheelis Drive, Suite 30
Memphis, TN 38117
Dear Mr. Ward:
This responds to your February 7, 2007 e-mail, requesting clarification of the security plan
requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). In your
e-mail, you state your company arranges for the transportation of hazardous materials with
qualified motor carriers at the request of your customers. Your customers consist of customs
brokers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics companies. You state that you require
your customers to sign a document verifying they are in compliance with the registration,
security plan, and training requirements of the HMR. You state that many of your customers
refuse to sign this document because they are not required to have a security plan. You ask
whether custom brokers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics companies are required to
have a security plan in accordance with 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart I.
As required by § 172.800, each person who offers for transportation or transports in commerce
one or more of the hazardous materials specified in § 172.800(b) of the HMR must develop
and adhere to a security plan addressing personnel, unauthorized access, and en route security.
If a broker, freight forwarder, or agent meets the definition of a "person who offers or offeror"
in § 171.8 for one or more of the hazardous materials listed in § 172.800(b), then the broker,
freight forwarder, or agent must develop and implement a security plan covering the security
I: ks associated with the functions he or she performs.
As defined in § 171.8, a "person who offers or offeror" is any person who does either or both
function required under the HMR for transportation of a hazardous material in commerce; or
of the following: (1) performs, or is responsible for pertorming, any pre-transportation
(2) tenders or makes the hazardous material available to a carrier for transportat on in
commerce.
Pre-transportation functions are functions specified in the HMR under § 171.8 that are
required to assure the safe transportation of a hazardous material in commerce, and include:
(1)
Determining the hazard class of a hazardous material.
(2)
Selecting a hazardous materials packaging.
(3)
Filling a hazardous material packaging, including a bulk packaging.
171.8
172.800
070035

<<<PAGE 2>>>

(4)
Securing a closure on a filled or partially filled hazardous materials package or
container or on a package or container containing a residue of a hazardous material.
(5)
Marking a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.
(6)
Labeling a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.
(7)
Preparing a shipping paper.
(8)
Providing and maintaining emergency response information.
(9)
Reviewing a shipping paper to verify compliance with the HMR or international
equivalents.
(10)
For each person importing a hazardous material into the United States, providing the
shipper with timely and complete information as to the HMR requirements that will
apply to the transportation of the material within the United States.
(11)
Certifying that a hazardous material is in proper condition for transportation in
conformance with the requirements of the HMR.
(12)
Loading, blocking, and bracing a hazardous materials package in a freight container or
transport vehicle.
(13)
Segregating a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle
from incompatible cargo.
(14)
Selecting, providing, or affixing placards for a freight container or transport vehicle to
indicate that it contains a hazardous material.
If a broker, freight forwarder, or agent performs one or more pre-transportation functions to
prepare a hazardous materials shipment for transportation in commerce, then the broker,
freight forwarder, or agent is an offeror under the HMR and is subject to all applicable
regulatory requirements, including the security plan requirements. A third party logistics
company or broker who contracts with a carrier to transport a shipment on behalf of the
original shipper is not considered an offeror for purposes of the HMR unless it also performs
one or more pre-transportation functions to prepare the shipment for transportation in
commerce.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerel
Hohn A Calé D
/ Chief, Standards Developmen
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Foster
5/12.704
From: Jonathan Ward jward@cornerstone-systems.com]
$112.800
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 3:53 PM
To: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
8172.804
Subject: Haz-Mat Security Plan Compliance
Securityplans/.
Training
CORNERSTONE
07-0035
C...
Ed Mazzullo
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th St., S.W
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
I am in the need of a formal written answer/response to the following situation:
Washington, DC 20590
Cornerstone Systems, Inc is a transportation property broker based in Memphis, TN. We
of our customers.
arrange for the transportation of hazardous materials with qualified motor carriers at the request
Forwarders, and 3-PL) offer us hazardous materials shipments to handle for them. ' present
An on going problem we have is that a few of our customers (Customs Brokers, Fre ght
them with a document that we require them to sign off on stating they have a Haz-Mat Security
Many of these refuse to sign the document stating that they do not have to have a Haz-Mat
Plan and are compliant with the regulations, 49 CFR §107.608;§ 172.701-704;§ 172.800-804.
are cleared through Customs for delivery into the United States. Without the signed document /
Security Plan because they do not handle the freight. Most of these shipments are imports and
Customs Brokers have said they are not subject to such regulations and will pass the freight to
do not allow Cornerstone Systems to handle this customer's haz-mat freight. Some of the
any other party who will arrange for the transportation.
have a plan and they simply refuse to acknowledge the requirement.
In the past I have provided them with the copies of the CFR which shows they are required to
If you have any questions, please contact me by email at jward@cornerstone-systems.com or by
Are Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarders, and 3-PL's subject to this regulation?
calling 800-278-7677 ext 289
Jonathan Ward
Thank you and waiting for your response.
Risk Manager
Jonathan Ward
Risk Manager
5101 Wheelis Drive, Suite 300
Cornerstone Systems, Inc
jward@cornerstone-systems.com
Memphis, TN 38117
www.cornerstone-systems.com
TEL:
901.842.1239
Our Purpose: To provide a better place for people to work.
FAX:
901 888.0188
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