# Arkema, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0076
- **title:** Arkema, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-11-25
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0076 response to Arkema, Inc. concerning 172.101, 173.225.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0076.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0076.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0076
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090076.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous·
Materials Safety
AdminIstration
NOV 2 5 2009
Ms. Christina M. Kurtz
Arkema, Inc.
2000 Market St., 24th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ref. No. 09-0076
Dear Ms. Kurtz:
This is in response to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CPR Parts 171-180) regarding the appropriate selection of a proper
shipping name. Specifically, you ask whether a generic chemical name may be used for the
technical name with the concentration added when transporting an organic peroxide in place
of the specific name as shown in the § 173.225 Organic Peroxide Table.
The answer is no. A generic chemical name may not be used in place of the technical name
listed in the § 173.225 Organic Peroxide Table. Because of the unique hazards posed by
organic peroxides, the specific technical name as listed in the Organic Peroxide Table must be
used. Chemical families of organic peroxides do not necessarily display similar
characteristics throughout the entire family. In addition, different concentrations of the same
organic peroxide exhibit different characteristics, so the proper shipping name must include
the actual concentration being shipped or the concentration range for the appropriate generic
listing. See § 172.101 (c)(6).
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office should you have additional
questions.
Sincerely,
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA> ~ /72 . 2D3(y...J
From: INFOCNTR <PHMSA> l1cu.urd/~
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 9:06 AM ocr OtJ
To: Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA> Subject:
FW: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions,
Hazardous Materials Communications
-----Original Message----From:
PHMSA-Feedback [mailto:PHMSA-Feedback]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:18 PM
To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter; PHMSA Webmaster
Subject: Hazmat Information Center Feedback: Hazardous Materials Table, Special
Provisions, Hazardous Materials Communications
Request for an interpretation letter.
We would like to ship one of our Organic Peroxides and use a generic technical name
because we do not want to reveal the exact chemistry of the material for competitive
reasons.
Under 49CFR 171.8, lATA 4.1.2.1(d), ICAO 3.2.2 and IMDG 3.1.2.8.1.1 the technical name may
be a chemical group that is used in scientific and technical handbooks, and journals.
But, 49CFR 172.203(k) states that the technical name must include the concentration or
concentration range for organic peroxides. The example shows "dibenzoyl peroxide,
52-100%)". This is the exact chemical from the 49CFR 173.225 table and not a generic
description.
This section of 49CFR is not duplicated in any of the other regulations. It creates
confusion because our carriers believe we should be using the exact chemical name from the
173.225 table.
Can you please clarify if the carriers' interpretation of the regulations is correct or if
we can use a generic chemical name as the technical name (not from 49CFR 173.225 table)
and add the concentration?
Name: Christina M. Kurtz
Organization: Arkema Inc.
Email: chritina.kurtz@arkema.com
Address: 2000 Market Street, 24th Floor
City: Philadelphia
Zip Code: 19103
Phone: 215-419-7417
FAX: 215-419-5212
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