{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0276","title":"PAML — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-12-11","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0276 response to PAML concerning 173.199.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0276.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0276.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0276","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080276.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nljE' 1 1\n1200 New Jersey Ave., S E\nWashington, DC 20590\nMs. Marguerite Busch\nPAML\nChief Compliance Officer\n1 10 W. Cliff Avenue\nSpokane, WA 99204\nRef. No. 08-0276\nDear Ms. Busch:\nThis responds to your October 30, 2008 request for clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180). Specifically, you ask if a petri dish covered\nwith and sealed to a lid with watertight tape or parafilm that is placed in a leakproof plastic\nbag meets the criteria for a primary packaging under $ 173.199 of the HMR.\nThe answer is yes. A primary or secondary Category B infectious substance (Division 6.2)\npackaging may consist of more than one packaging material or container provided the\ncompleted packaging and its components conform to the requirements prescribed in\n$ 173.199 that apply to the materials they contain. In accordance with $173.199, the\ncompleted packaging must be a triple packaging consisting of a primary receptacle, a\nsecondary packaging, and a rigid outer package. For liquid Category B infectious\nsubstances, both the primary and secondary packaging must be leakproof. For solid\nCategory B infectious substances, both the primary and secondary packagings must be\nsiftproof. In addition, a 5 173.199 package must be capable of successfully passing the\ndrop tests prescribed in paragraphs (d) and (h) of $ 178.609 at a drop height of at least 1.2\nmeters (3.9 feet). Capability may be demonstrated using a number'of methods, including\nactual previous handling and transportation experience, design specification, or, even\nthough not required, performance testing. Also, please note that under certain\ntransportation conditions the petri dish may meet the HMR's definition of a sharp (see\n$ 173.134(a)(6)). Care should be taken to ensure the dishes will not cut or otherwise\ndamage the secondary or outer packaging.\nI hope this answers your inquiry.\n~ h a r l e s E. Betts\nChief, Standards Development\nffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nRequest for interpretation sent 1011 512008\nPage 1 of 1\nDrakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>\nFrom: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>\nSent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 4:04 PM\nTo: Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>\nSubject: FW: Request for interpretation sent 1011 5/2008\nAttachments: Request for Interpretation 10.2008.pdf\nFrom: Busch, Marguerite [mailto:mbusch@PAIY L.com]\nSent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 1:15 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>\nSubject: Request for interpretation sent 10/15/2008\n08-0276\nIs there a way to know the status of this request for interpretation (see attached response from the DOT\nwebsite)?\n<<Request for lnterpretation 10.2008.pdf>>\nThank you.\nMarguerite Busch\nChief Compliance Officer\n1 10 W. Cliff Avenue\nSpokane, WA 99204\nDISCLAIMER:\nInformation contained in this message may be privileged and confidential.\nIf the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, be notified\nthat any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is\nstrictly prohibited. If this communication is received in error, please\nnotify the sender immediately by replying to the message and deleting\nfrom your computer. Thank you.\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nPage 1 of 1\n, Your Response Has Successfully Been Sent\nThe following was submitted to infocntr@dot.gov on Wednesday, October 15,2008 at 14:53:40. W h e\n3 173 * 175\nZdecboU. J L b s h\nCategory: Shippers-General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings (Sections 173.1 - 173.476)\nCommentslQuestion: Under 49 CFR 173.199, we understand that a verbal interpretation was provided to Washington State Department of Health\npersonnel by Ms. Edmondson of the DOT Standards Office regarding the shipment of petri dishes for microbiology testing. Can a petri dish - with\na complete seal around the lid with a watertight tape or parafilm - then placed in a leakproof plastic bag, be acceptable. Ms; Edmondson was\nreported to have said that the regulation was never intended to mean that primary containers must be manufactured to be leakproof or siftproof but\nthat it can be rendered leakproof by means of the tape or parafilm. I am requesting a written interpretation before we change our standing\nprotocols. The article in question can be seen at h t t p : l l w w w . d o h . w a . g o v k s q a l f s l l D o c u m e n t s ~ s t O 8 . p d f . Thank you.\nEmail: mbusch@paml.com\nPhone: 509-755-8799\n- . . . . ..., .-.-._I ............. ,^ . P - - - - - m m m m .1._....______1_-1-,,~e-.- pm,Tmw\nH.AZuTHome__S.a&ee I See=& ITableof C~nLe.e.ts.\n.x.~.>.:.. $~.~.-.~m-~.x,.c.~.~.~.~.x.,*~'.m~.-.~.~.-,.~*.,.-.- .","truncated":false,"body_characters":4624}