Challenge, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 N e w Jersey Ave, S.E. Washington. D.C. 20590 MAR 3 1 1009 Mr. Keith Hauser Technical Manager Challenge, Inc. 7950 Georgetown Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 Ref. No.: 09-0034 Dear Mr. Hauser: This responds to your January 27,2009 request for clarification of requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171 - 180) applicable to the marking of reconditioned drums. Specifically, you ask whether a sticker is sufficient to mark reconditioned drums in accordance with 8 178.503(c). The answer is yes. Marking a reconditioned drum with a permanent label printed with permanent ink to meet the requirements of 8 178.503(c) is acceptable provided the marking also meets the requirements specified in 8 178.3 for adequate accessibility, permanency, contrast, and legibility. Note, however, that, as specified in 5 173.28(b)(4), metal and plastic drums used as single packagings or the outer packagings of composite packagings are authorized for reuse only when they are marked in a permanent manner with the nominal or minimum thickness of the packaging material. This marking must be capable of surviving the reconditioning process; embossing is one acceptable method. See $ 178.503(a). I hope this answers your inquiry.#

Page 27950 Georgetown Road, Suite 200 Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 (317) 875-5068 (31 7) 876-1 103 - Fax E-mail: mktgQchallenge-inc.com WEB Site: &.cha~l&~e-inc.com Certified to IS0 9001 January 27,2009 Mr. Edward Mazzullo Director OHMS US Department of Transportation East Building, Second Floor 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20590 Dear Mr. Mazzullo, Pursuant to a phone conversation with Adam on the DOT Helpline, he recommended I write for clarification on 49 CFR 173.28 (b)(4) regarding marking reconditioned / retested non-bulk packaging. We are considering using reconditioned drums at the request of one of our toll blend customers. One of the drum suppliers we are reviewing utilizes a sticker on reconditioned drums to indicate they have been retested according to specifications. The marking on the sticker is a registered RA number with the DOT. However, the regulation states that packages are only authorized for reuse when they are "marked in a permanent manner." The only example offered i s embossing. Is the sticker an acceptable method.to mark these containers? . . We appreciate your clarification of this matter. Technical Manager Challenge, Inc. 7950 Georgetown Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 Office: 317-875-5068 Direct: 317-415-2036 Fax: 317-876-1103 khauser@challenge-inc.com -. . . . . . ! ... . . . - . Cc: Michael Thomas . ' 'Angela sparks . : . . : I , :. .i~.l:'..i:! . .'::%:, . '1 . . . . . . . . . < . . . . ,..: .... .:. - . . , . . . ',; : ; ,,. . , e : : , , : :; '-4, 7: ::;;j;., ..;,,.;(,i!::;;:i ;.*:, '. :,,, :, ti;:. ::; ':: :.' . . . . . ... . . ..... . . . . . . . . , ; , . . ; ,..,,' 1 ,I.,: ::,';!,::'I.: '.:,; ;;::::,:;;.I : I , : ' : . i.:.,:..,. ::i:.: .::L.., L: ,! !,'. -j,::.i: :.:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , . . , ; l '; : '' ' ' . . . . . . , . ,;-;:;:!~.;,:;,. ; 2 , ,. ,./,;',,,:;>,i.',!., . : , " ' 1.. , , < . ' , . , . . . . . . . . L. . . . . . . . . . . . : i.. ' . " ' ' , . . . . .#