{"operation":"document","citation":"09-0221","title":"The Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2010-02-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"09-0221 response to The Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc. concerning 175.501, 175.8.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0221.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0221.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0221","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090221.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nu.s. Department 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nof Transportation Washington. DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nFEB 5 2010\nMr. Tom Ferguson\nTechnical Consultant\nThe Council on Safe Transportation\nof Hazardous Articles, Inc.\n7803 Hill House Court\nFairfax Station, VA 22039\nRef. No.: 09-0221\nDear Mr. Ferguson:\nThis responds to your September 24, 2009 letter regarding requirements for oxidizers and\ncompressed oxygen when cylinders are transported by air under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether oxygen cylinders\ntransported by an airline for use by cabin crews in the event of smoke or depressurization in\nthe cabin are eligible for the exceptions provided in § 175.501(e).\nThe answer is no. Section 175.501(e) applies only to medical-use compressed oxygen that is\neither owned or leased by the air carrier for passenger use during flights or offered for\ntransportation by a passenger needing it for personal medical use at a destination. Oxygen\ncylinders transported by an airline to be used in the event of an emergency on board the\naircraft must be transported in accordance with the requirements in § 175.8(a) regarding\nairworthiness and items of replacement (company material (COMAT)).\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n1~-----\nHattie L. Mitchell\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nSeptember 24, 2009\nPresident\nRobert Heinr'ich\nNovartis Pharmauuticals\nRobert.Heinrich@novanis.com\nFirst Vice Presideot\nDonald Bossow\nJobnsonDiver\"Sey,lltc.\ndonald.bossow@johnoondiversey.com\nSecond Vice Pr'esidentIT reasurer\nJohn D1Aloia\nMary Kay, Inc.\njohn.d'alaia@mkcorp.com\nSecretary\nJeanne Z-mich\nLabelmaster\nJEANNEZ@a1c-net.com\nExecutive Committee Member\nRichard Lattimer\nEli Lilly and Company\nKLattimer@lilly.oom\nBoa .. d ofDirectors\nJeanette DeGennaro\nThermo Fisher Scientific\njeanette.degennaro@fuermofisher.com\nSteven Dishion\nProcter &: Gamble\ndishion.sl@pg.com\nDavid Evans\nPurolator Courier Ltd.\ndevans2@purolator.com\nAmy Fischesser\nSun Chemical COl'por'ation\namy.fischesser@na.sunchem.com\nAlicia Gaines\nAbbott Laboratories\naJicia.gaines@abbott.com\nDave Madsen\nAutoliv, Inc.\nDave.Madsen@autoliv.com\nruth Moskowitz\nAmel'ican Trucking Association~ Inc.\nrmoskowitz@trucking.org\n- Christopher Palabl'ica, CPM, CHMM\nMays Oemital Co.\nchrisp@mayschem.com\nGeneral Counsel\nRichard Schweitzer, PLLC\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation •\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE N I e..keJs\nEast Building, 2nd Floor ~ 115.g\nWashington, DC 20590 ~ f15 . ~() I\nVia: infocntr@dot.gov Ii .It f ndet!.., I\n~ Oq.. 01.JA-I\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles\n(COSTHA) includes within its membership a number of air\ncarriers that serve both domestic and internationl:ll\ndestinations. These carriers are subject to both 14 CFR and 49\nCFR requirements when transporting or shipping hazardous\nmaterials, including company materials (COMAT). In PHMSA\nDocket No. RSPA-04-17664 (HM-224B) Final Rule effective\nOctober 1,2007, amendments were made to Parts 173 and\n175, 49 CFR. Among those amendments included the\nrequirement of specific, performance-based packaging for\noxygen and oxidizer cylinders. As you are aware, commercial\naircraft operate in a pressure-reduced atmosphere when at\naltitude. Therefore, many carriers offer medical oxygen for use\nby passengers who require it for proper respiratory functions\nabove 8,000 feet. In addition, carriers are required by the\nFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain additional\noxygen cylinders on board for emergency oxygen for the 'flight\nand cabin crew in the case of smoke in the cabin or\ndepressurization. Thus, this rule has the potential to impact\nboth passenger medical oxygen as well as a carrier's\nemergency medical oxygen programs.\nPer 49 CFR 175.8(a){2), oxygen cylinders installed or carried\nwithin the aircraft and used specifically for emergency crew\noxygen are not subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR) because such materials are required under\nairworthiness requirements and operating regulations.\nParagraph (a)(3) of 49 CFR 175.8 also details that items of\nreplacement are subject to HMR, and must be handled and\ntransported accordingly. However, the HMR does provide\nconditions which allow the transportation of oxygen cylinders in\nthe cabin of the aircraft within 49 CFR 175.501 (e). Specifically,\n175.501 (e) states:\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc.\n7803 Hill House Court Fairfax Station, VA 22039 Phone: 703/451-4031 Fax: 703/451-4207\nmail@costha.com www.costha.com\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n(e) A cylinder containing medical-use compressed oxygen, owned or leased by\nan aircraft operator or offered for transportation by a passenger needing it for\npersonal medical use at destination, may be carried in the cabin of a passengercarrying\naircraft in accordance with the following provisions: ...\nThe paragraph goes on to specify quantity, size, and minimal packaging standards that\nmust be met. The definition of medical-use compressed oxygen is of particular\nimportance given the new requirements of HM-224B. Does oxygen required for\nemergency medical use, owned or leased by the air carrier, and transported as\ncompany materials qualify for this exception detailed in 175.510(e)? The wording\n\"owned or leased by an aircraft operator or offered for transportation by a passenger\nneeding it for personal medical use at destination [bold and italics added for emphasis]\"\nsuggests that emergency medical oxygen bottles that are subject to the HMR (not\ninstalled for airworthiness requirements) but transported as company materials are\nindeed eligible for transport under 175.51 O(e).\nAny clarification with this issue would be greatly appreciated by our membership.\nSincerely,\n7~'9~\nPG, CHMM, DGSA\nTechnical Consultant","truncated":false,"body_characters":6021}