# Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 08-0027
- **title:** Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-02-26
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 08-0027 response to Hawkins, Inc. concerning 177.840.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080027.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
~drninistration-
FEB 2 6 2933
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Chris W. Gibson
EHS&R Manager
Hawkins, Inc.
3 100 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 554 13
Ref. No.: 08-0027
Dear Mr. Gibson:
This is in response to your January 22,2008 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80) applicable to cylinders. Your scenario
involves the loading requirements for a highway shipment of cylinders in accordance with
tj 177.840(a)(l). Specifically, you ask if a cylinder not equipped with a pressure relief device
and filled with anhydrous ammonia may be loaded in a horizontal position. Anhydrous
ammonia may be offered for domestic transportation as a Division 2.2 material or, otherwise,
as a Division 2.3 material.
The answer is yes. The last sentence in 5 177.840(;)(1) specifies "a pressure relief device,
when installed, must be in communication with the vapor space of a cylinder containing a
Division 2.1 (flammable gas) material." This provision does not apply to a cylinder not
equipped with a pressure relief device or a cylinder not containing a Division 2.1 material.
Therefore, the cylinders you describe may be transported in a horizontal position.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to
contact this office.
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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January 22,2008
Mr. Edward T, M a d l o
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOTFHMSA (PHH- 10)
400 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D,C. 20590-000 1
URGENT REQUEST FOR INTERPIRETATION
RE: 49 CFR 177.840(a)(11
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
49 CFR 177.840(a)(l) states the following:
(a)(l) Cylinders. Cylinders containing Class 2 gases must be securely restrained in an
upright or horizontal position, loaded in racks, or packed in boxes or crates to prevent the
cylinders fiom being shifted, overturned or ejected fiom the motor vehicle under normal
transportation conditions. However, after December 3 1,2003, a pressure relief device,
when installed, must be in communication with the vapor space of a cylinder containing a
Division 2.1 (flammable gas) material,
Anhydrous ammonia is shipped in SO#, loo#, and 150# cylinders, without any type of
pressure relief device.
Based on the regulation above, can cylinders of anhydraus ammonia be shipped in a
horizontal position.?
For an example, please see the picture below:

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If you have any questions, I can be reached at 6 12-33 1-69 1 0, x855 1, fax at 61 2-33 1 -5304,
or at chris.Gibson@hawkinsin.c.com
Written replies can be sent to the following;
C, W Gibson
EHS&R Manager
Hawkins, Inc.
3 1 00 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 5541 3
Thank you.
Sincerely,
-
Chris W, Gibson
EHS&R Manager
Hawkins, Inc.
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