Guidanceguidance
08-0143
Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
Current as of source date Government source
RegulusPipeline researchRegulusPipeline research08-0143
Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., S E Washington. DC 20590 AUG 7 2008 Mr. Chris W. Gibson EHS&R Manager Hawkins, Inc. 3 100 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 5541 3 Ref. No.: 08-0143 Dear Mr. Gibson: This responds to your letter dated May 2 1,2008, regarding the segregation requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 1 7 1 - 180) as they apply to various chemicals transported in the same motor vehicle. You did not provide any diagrams or photographs or specific information of the location or configuration of the packages on the transport vehicle. Your company was cited with a violation of the segregation requirements in fj 177.848; the citation stated that a material described as "Chlorine, 2.3, 8, Zone B, UN 1017" was prohibited from being loaded on the same transport vehicle with Class 5.1 (oxidizing) and Class 8 (corrosive) materials. You asked whether this citation is consistent with the - requirements of fj 177.848. Hazardous materials may not be loaded, transported, or stored together, except as specified in the "Segregation Table" in fj 177.848(d). As indicated by the letter "0" in the table, Division 2.3 (poisonous gas, hazard zone B), Class 8 (corrosive) liquid and Division 5.1 (oxidizing) materials may not be loaded, transported, or stored together in the same transport vehicle or storage facility during the course of transportation unless separated in a manner that, in the event of leakage from packages under conditions normally incident to transportation, commingling of hazardous materials would not occur. The hazardous materials mentioned above are not prohibited from being transported in the same transport vehicle. The provisions for separation can be met by placing barriers (i.e., impediments, obstructions, dividers, packages of non-hazardous materials, or intervening space) between packages inside of the transport vehicle that prevent commingling of materials in the event of leakage from the packages. Regardless of the methods of separation used, Class 8 (corrosive9 liquids may not be loaded above or adjacent to Class 4 (flammable solid) or Class 5 (oxidizing) materials; however, shippers#
Page 2may load truckload shipments of such materials together when it is known that the mixture would not cause a fire or a dangerous evolution of heat or gas (see §177.848(e)(3)). I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us. Sincerely, Susan Gorsky Acting Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standards#
Page 3May. 21. 2 0 0 8 2 : 4 5 P M Hawkins, I n c . N o . 4 6 4 8 P. 1 t?orporate W c e 3100 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413 Phone; (612) 331 -6910 Fw: (61 2) 331 -5304 May 21,2008 Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10) 400 7th Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 205 90-0001 URGENT REQUEST FOR INTEIRPIRIETATION DUE TO OOS VIOLATION RE: 49 CFR 177.848td) & el31 Dear Mr. MazzuUo: We are seeking an urgent interpretation based on a violation issued on 5/20/08 (see attached) for the transportation of Class 2.3, Zone B gases. The violation as stated, and based on comments by the officer performing the inspection appear to indicate that Class 2.3, Zone B gases (in this instance, Chlorine) is prohibited fiom being in the same transportation unit as Class 5.1 and Class 8 materials. The Segregation Table at 177.848(d) shows that the transportation of this material with regards to Class 5.1 & Class 8 as an "O", requiring adequate separation to prevent commingling. The inspector verbally indicated that no adequate separation was possible, since in an event of chlorine release, the gas would come into contact with anyfall material. To satisfy the inspector, an additional vehicle was driven 100 miles to the scene to remove the Chlorine gas fiom the transportation unit. We feel that this is a misinterpretation of the rule based on the following: 1. When the "0" is present in the segregation table, the materials must be adequately separated to prevent commingling during normal transportation. 2. The rule does NOT prohibit gases from being in the same space, as long as the containers are adequately segregated. 3. In addition, we are under the impression that if the products do NOT create a hazardous condition when commingled, then the materials may be adjacent to each other, if the mixture would not cause a fire or a dangerous evolution of heat or gas, based upon 177.848(e)(3) and Interpretation 03 -01 46.#
Page 4IVlay. 21. 2 0 0 8 2:45PIVI H a w k i n s , I n c . N o . 4 6 4 8 P. 2 Therefore, the following questions are: 1. Do you concur with our understanding that the rule was misapplied, and that no violation occurred? ' 2. Do you concur with our conclusion that all three product classes (2.3-Zone B, 5.1, and 8) may be transported in close proximity to each other if no fire or dangerous evolution of heat or gas would occur? If you have any questions, I can be reached at 61 2-33 1491 0, x8551 or at chris.Gibson@hawkinsinc.com Thank you. Sincerely, . Chris W. .Gibson - EHS&R Manager Hawkins, Inc.#
Page 5M a y - 21. 2 U U B . . 2 : 4 5 P k j 851 LUI LUUU La. A r H a w k i n s , - 6-2L Y - ~ W I n c HAWKINS WATER WYOYtNG HIOHWAY PATROL COMMERC~AL CARRIER SECllON aEjgb Whop BhPd Chsye~e,WY 82mSS4e p h ~ e : w?) 777.4872 1 F~IC (w) 777-2 DRIVERNIEHICLE EXAkd116AnON REPORT ~ e p m Number; WYERCC,OOOS14 I n a p d m Dab: 05/20120W Start Ybnel 01:M PM End Time: 02: 15 PM Insp. Level: Il-Walk-Around, Ncw14ulk HM Inq HAWKINS INC Driver. BLAKE, JOHN T 3100 EAST HENNEPlN AVE L I c l W . 2002419654127 State: MT UINNEAPOUS, MN -13-2423 Date of BMh: 1 W27/1966 USWTg: 0007 3303 Pha- (612)331-6910 CaDrivrr: M c m W : F m LkenaH: State; Rate of Wflh: L ~ R : DIHZ PORT OF ENTRY MIhPost: 16 Shipper; HAWKINS INC Highway: 1-90 Main; BILLINGS, WlT Blll d Wlng: 1280349 County: SHERIDAN, WY beatlnotian: WERDAN, WY Cargo: CORROSIVE, PW GAS, OXID1 .,.,..,,, --.---.-. -..----..111 nu-,. --. -,,.. ..". ---- - -. --.ha -..-- . .. -- -.-..--,--'-.-.I *.-I..--. i VEH4Gk.E KIENTlFlCATION ~ ~ D R ! s M a k e &f!I&lm Ucensad CMnpamrI mi! - QVWR $v&* I 1 TT 1Nn 1997 MN PRY17W 197 676820 8 0 , m . _._-.--- --**..--- -.-.-.-. ,ls-I...I.I.. . .,. . . C.".,". ..,-"--.I."--.--- -1 PBPI l .-A BRAKE.ACWUSlMENTS: No Brake hAeesurements Reqrrired For Lewel2 .--.---. - - . - A d . - - -,-.,*C.--.L---.C.--..--..-- ivlCHAT#)(ud 1 : I &$an Code Unlt O w _Crash y&Mbns Dky(cW 1 17zwa) F 1 v s76soy u u NO plwrd Car polrron inhalatien h a ~ ~ r d , Pl~mrd diapeyed 16 poieon nd i . - B mu I - U N Prohlbired lmdlng bampwtntSon, or stsmge combin+ at hazardous wreBlosdedwhhcomrrhw6andl~wkh5*1. - 1 N N TOM quanti not lisred carrec~y. TO^ ~uantttyfor tiypoghlorite Wuliond I i shows 18 ~ l y 4 In L ~ U W [ 172.202(a)(6) F 1 W N N ~ a t a l w r t y not I- v. , ~ ~ e u h s , a q m sohjti-, NOS stmm 1 i achret NONE I :-. ,..,..,- -----. Y,,..-,-.. ..,-,., 1 , - 1 . - -.-- -.--. .-. .- .. ... .-a Y .. ,,,, -, #,,, -,,.-*"--,-"". ' mt; 2.3 Zone B: 5.1 Olddhw; 8 C o ~ a materiel Placard: Yes Gargo Tank:#
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.