{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0240","title":"Association of American Railroads — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-11-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0240 response to Association of American Railroads concerning 172.602.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0240.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0240.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0240","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080240.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nMr. Robert E. Fronczak\nAssistant Vice President Environment & Hazmat\nAssociation of American Railroads\n50 F Street, NW\nWashington, DC 20001\nRef. No. 08-0240\nDear Mr. Fronczak:\nThis responds to your September 26,2008 letter requesting clarification of the emergency\nresponse information requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49\nCFR Parts 17 1-1 80). Specifically, you ask whether evacuation statements are a necessary\npart of the emergency response information required by tj 172.602(a).\nIn accordance with tj 172.602(a), \"emergency response information\" is information that can\nbe used to mitigate a transportation accident involving hazardous materials. The information\nmust include immediate precautions to be taken in the event of an accident or incident\n(8 172.602(a)(4)). Depending on the hazard characteristics and quantity of the material being\nshipped, such immediate precautions could include evacuation of the area surrounding the\naccident scene. If so, the emergency response information must include information to assist\nfirst responders to take the actions necessary to evacuate the scene, including appropriate\nevacuation distances.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\nSincerely,\n,.:\nSusan Gorsky\nActing chief, ~tandGds Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS 3/72 * b o o\n3 / 7 2 . L O L\n~ r n e y e s ~ R e s p o i l s e mo-.b'twi\nSafety and Operations\nRobert E. Fronczak, P.E.\nAssistant Vice President Environment & Hazmat\nSeptember 26, 2008\nMr. Edward Mazzullo\nDirector of Hazardous Materials Regulation PHH-10\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nWashington, DC 20590\nSubject: Interpretation Concerning the Need for Evacuation Statements\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nThe Association of American Railroads would like an interpretation under the\nHazardous Materials Regulation 49 CFR §172.600 and S172.602 regarding the\nemergency response information required under and §172.602(a) items 1 through 7.\nAAR has interpreted this section to mean that evacuation statements are not needed to\nfulfill the requirement for emergency response information. The specific statement\nneeding interpretation is § I 72.602(a)(4) which states \"Immediate precautions to be\ntaken in the event of an accident or incident\". Your confirmation of this interpretation is\nrequested.\nThank you for your time and attention to this matter. AAR looks forward to your\ninterpretation of the above mentioned statement.\nSincerely,\nRobert E. Fronczak, P.E\n50 F Street, NW I Washington, DC 20001 1 P (202) 639-2839 1 F (202) 639-2930 1 RFronczak@aar.org","truncated":false,"body_characters":2867}