# Argonne National Laboratory — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0266
- **title:** Argonne National Laboratory — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2010-01-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0266 response to Argonne National Laboratory concerning 173.4.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090266.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE
Washington. DC 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
JAN "l8 2010
Mr. John Pearson
Materials Science Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass A venue
Argonne, IL 60439
Ref. No.: 09-0266
Dear Mr. Pearson:
This responds to your letter dated November 9, 2009 requesting clarification ofthe Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the small quantity
exception. Specifically, you ask if the person who classes, ensures compliance, and offers a
hazardous material into transportation using the small quantity exception is subject to formal
training requirements under the HMR.
The answer is no. Materials that meet the requirements of49 CFR § 173.4 are not subject to
any other requirements of the HMR. Therefore, persons who ship hazardous materials under
the provisions of § 173.4 are not subject to the formal training requirements of Subpart H in
Part 172. A person who offers small quantity shipments under § 173.4 is still responsible for
properly classifying and naming the material as well as correctly determining ifthe material
may be shipped as a small quantity. Thus, persons who ship hazardous materials under the
small quantity exception will find it necessary to acquire the basic knowledge necessary to
understand the provisions in § 173.4 and the provisions applicable to classifying the
hazardous material they intend to ship under the small quantity exception.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
f \ ..
atf?, ..
I C~It....." '.. .
Charles E. Betts .
~hief, Standards Development
Office ofHazardous Materials Standards

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~r13. ~ John Pearson
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Principal Engineer
Materials Science Division
E.x.cep+i0 V)~ Argonne National Laboratory
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9700 South Cass Avenue, Bldg. xxx
()~f.t;& Argonne, IL 60439
1-630-252-7738 phone
1-630-252-7777 fax
Pearson@anl.gov
Date 1119/2009
To:
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-lO)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Request for letter of interpretation.
Dear Sir,
I would like to detennine what are the requirements for training persons involved in the planning and packaging
of shipments under the 49 CFR 173.4 Small Quantity Exception.
I have read your letters of interpretation 070054,990001 and 020237. You state, "a person who offers small
quantity shipments is responsible for properly classifying the material, detennining that the material may be
shipped as a small quantity and otherwise ensuring compliance with the provisions of 137.4."
Are there any DOT training requirements for:
1) The person who offers materials for SQE shipment?
2) The person who is responsible for properly classifying materials for SQE shipment?
3) The person who detennines that the materials may be shipped under the SQE?
4) The person who ensures compliance with the provisions of 173.4?
If any of the answers are "yes", please provide some details of the training requirements.
If any ofthe answers to 2,3 or 4 are "yes", does the person (classifying, detennining or ensuring compliance)
need to do so for each shipment or can it be done once for shipments of similar packaging, materials and hazards?
I need a written reply.
Your help in clarifying this issue is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
John Pearson
Au.S. Oepartment of Energy laboratory managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC
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