{"operation":"document","citation":"09-0146","title":"Westinghouse Electric Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2009-08-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"09-0146 response to Westinghouse Electric Company concerning 172.101, 173.125.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0146.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0146.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0146","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090146.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nAUG 2 7 2009\n1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.\nWashington. D.C. 20590\nMr. Michael D. Alston\nWestinghouse Electric Company\nP.O. Box 355\nPittsburgh, PA 15230-0355\nRef. No. 09-0 146\nDear Mr. Alston:\nThis responds to your June 16,2009 letter requesting clarification of the applicability of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1-1 80) to \"Zirconium powder,\nwetted, UN 1358.\" Specifically, it is your position that when wetted with 25 percent water or\nmore, the material may be transported as a non-regulated material.\nYour understanding is incorrect. Wetted zirconium powder with not less than 25 percent\nwater may not be transported as a non-regulated material. Wetted zirconium powder with\nnot less than 25 percent water is classed as a Division 4.1 material and assigned Packing\nGroup I1 as specified in the $ 172.10 1 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) and as required by\nfj 173.125(a). Determination of the packing group on the basis of test results following test\nmethods provided in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and using the criteria provided in\nfj 173.125(b) does not apply. You should be aware that the limitation to be wetted with not\nless than 25 percent water is a condition to suppress the pyrophoric properties of dry\nzirconium powder, UN2008 (i.e., zirconium powder wetted with less than 25 percent water),\nwhich is a Division 4.2 spontaneously combustible material. By designation in the HMT,\nwetting dry zirconium powder (with not less than 25 percent water) requires the material to\nbe reclassed from Division 4.2 to Division 4.1.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerelv.\nhief, Standards Development\nMaterials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nWestinghouse Electric Company\nLegal & Contracts, Environment, Health &Safety\nP.O. Box 355\nPittsburgh, PA\n15230-0355 -\nU.S.A.\nJune 16,2009\nU.5. Department of Transportation\nPHMSA CPffic;e of Hazardous M.aterials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nDear Sir or Madame,\nWestinghouse is requesting a letter of interpretation regarding the use and application of the\nproper shipping name: Zirconium Powder, wetted with not less than 25 percent water, 4.1,\nUN1358, 11. It is Westinghouse's position that Zirconium Powder when wetted and shipped\nwith a minimum of 25% water will not burn as described in 49 CFR $$173.125 (b)(l),\n$ 5 173.125 (2)(i) and when following the hTN Manual of Tests and Criteria. When performing the\nV-notched burn rate test, the Zirconium Powder is wet, but does not have a minimum of 25%\nwater present: md;,@pre@~; it could possibly exhibit a flammable characteristic. However,\nWestinghousels pasition is that the material when wetted with 25% water or more may be\nshipped as non regulated and Westinghouse does not envision a scenario when this proper\nshipping name would be used.\nSincerely,\n~ i c h i e l D. Alston, CHMM\nPrincipal Engineer, I-Iazardous Materials Transport\nWestinghouse Electric Company LLC\n4350 Northern Pike . ; ::,. , : , . . . . . . , . ' . < , ,,.;'. Monroeville, .PA;d5&6.+2886 #. , ...\n(412) 3,744652 . : . . , : . , :. ., . . , . , .\n,. I z ) : , . ' . '\n. . T . .\n; i . . * .' . ,\n, ' d ! .\nMDNjlr :.:\n, .","truncated":false,"body_characters":3361}