# Challenge, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0034
- **title:** Challenge, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-03-31
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0034 response to Challenge, Inc. concerning 173.28, 178.503.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0034.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0034.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0034
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2009/090034.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.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 2>>>

7950 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.. ' . " ' '
, .
. . .
.
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 3336