# Northern Air Cargo — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0233
- **title:** Northern Air Cargo — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-03-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0233 response to Northern Air Cargo concerning 173.301.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0233.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0233.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0233
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070233.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Mark Smith
Hazardous Materials Instructor
Northern Air Cargo
3900 Old International Airport Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99502
Ref. No. 07-0233
Dear Mr. Smith:
This is in response to your December 18,2007 letter regarding the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR 17 1 - 1 80) applicable to marking packages of limited quantities of
hazardous materials. Specifically, you ask whether it is permissible to add the proper shipping
name to a package containing a limited quantity of hazardous materials and transported
domestically by air.
As specified by 8 172.301, each person who offers a hazardous material for transportation in a
non-bulk packaging must mark the package with the proper shipping and identification number
preceded by the letters "LTN" or "NA," as applicable, for the entry as shown in the 8 172.101
Table. As specified in 5 172.3 15, except for transportation by air, a package containing a limited
quantity of hazardous materials is not required to be marked with the proper shipping name
provided it is marked with the identification (ID) number, preceded by the letters "UN" or "NA,"
as applicable, for the entry as shown in the 8 172.101 Table, and placed within a square-on-point
border. However, for transportation by air, a package containing a limited quantity of hazardous
materials is required to be marked with the proper shipping name. Therefore, it is not only
permissible, it is required to add the proper shipping name to a package containing a limited
quantity of hazardous materials and transported domestically by air.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

18 Dec 07
NORTHERN AIR CARGO
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Attn: PHH-10
U.S. Department of Transportation East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington DC 20590-0001.
Re: Limited quantity markings for air transport
Is it permissible to use the ICAO Technical Instructions method of marking a package of
limited quantities with the requirement of adding the proper shipping name to this
marking? There is no restriction of its use referenced in 49CFR 17 1.22, 17 1.23 and
17 1.24. There is a question arising from this because in 49CFR 172.3 15 there is an 'and'
inserted in the paragraph to make it include the square-on-point border that does not
appear or is referenced in the Federal Register HM-2 151.
Is this rendition of a limited quantity marking permissible for a domestic air transport
shipment under 49 CFR?
Paint Related Material
In the 2007-2008 ICAO Technical Instructions, 5;2.4.1 states:
+ "For packages containing limited quantities of dangerous goods, the UN number
(preceded by the letters "UN) may be placed within a diamond. If the diamond
marking is applied, the following requirements must be met. The width of the line
forming the diamond must be at least 2mm; the number must be at least 6mm high.
When more than one substance is included in the package and the substances are
assigned to different UN numbers, then the diamond must be large enough to include
each relevant UN number."
NORTHERN AIR CARGO INC 3900 Old International Airport Rd Anchorage AK 99502
907-243-3331 800-727-21 41 FAX 907-249-51 90 WWW.NORTHERNAIRCARGO.COM

<<<PAGE 3>>>

+ "Note.--- It is anticipated that displaying the UN number within a diamondfor
packages containing limited quantities of dangerous goods will become mandatory as
of 1 January 2009. "
HM-2 151 page FR 78598 dated 29 December 2006 states:
"Marking of Limited Quantity shipments.
The ICAO Technical Instructions include a marking requirement for packages
containing a limited quantity of hazardous material. The mark consists of the
identification number of the material placed within a square-on-point border. The
marking is anticipated to become effective January 1,2009. Except for transportation
by aircraft, this marking is currently authorized under the HMR as an alternative to
marking the proper shipping name on the package; we are allowing continued use of
this marking to minimize tr-ansportation costs and provide flexibility."
49CFR 172.315
"Except for transportation by aircraft or as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a
package containing a limited quantity of hazardous materials is not required to be
marked with the proper shipping name provided it is marked with the identification
(ID) number, preceded by the letters "UN" or "NA," as applicable, for the entry as
shown in the 5 172.10 1 Table, and placed within a square-on-point border in
accordance with the following:"
Sincerely,
Mark Smith
Northern Air Cargo
Hazardous Materials Instructor
907-249-5 186
NORTHERN AIR CARGO INC 3900 Old International Airport Rd Anchorage AK 99502
907-243-3331 800-727-21 41 FAX 907-249-51 90 W.NORTHERNAIRCARGO.COM
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