# Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 08-0143
- **title:** Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-08-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 08-0143 response to Hawkins, Inc. concerning 177.848.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0143.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0143.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0143
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080143.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.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 2>>>

may 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 3>>>

May. 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.

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IVlay. 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 5>>>

M 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 $v&*
I 1 TT 1Nn 1997 MN PRY17W 197 676820 8 0 , m
. _._-.--- --**..--- -.-.-.-. ,ls-I...I.I.. . .,. . . C.".,". ..,-"--.I."--.---
-1
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BRAKE.ACWUSlMENTS: No Brake hAeesurements Reqrrired For Lewel2
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ivlCHAT#)(ud 1
: I &$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
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mt; 2.3 Zone B: 5.1 Olddhw; 8 C o ~ a materiel Placard: Yes Gargo Tank:
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- **body characters:** 7247
