# Polymet Alloys, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0117
- **title:** Polymet Alloys, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2010-07-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0117 response to Polymet Alloys, Inc. concerning 173.22.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0117.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0117.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0117
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100117.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
JUL - 8 2010
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Matt Gilmore
Sales and Operations Manager
Polyrnet Alloys, Inc.
170 I Providence Park, Suite 100
Birmingham, AL 35242
Ref. No.: 10-0117
Dear Mr. Gilmore:
This is in response to your June 2, 2010 letter requesting clarification on the applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to an approximately 91.4 %
pure calcium-silicon (33/67) alloy material produced by Rima Industrial S/ A in Brazil. You
request confirmation from this office that the test report submitted with your letter provides
sufficient verification that the tested material is not subject to the requirements ofthe HMR.
As provided in § 173.22, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous
material. Such determinations are not required to be verified by this office. However, based on
the test results you provided, it is our opinion that the calcium-silicon alloy material described in
the test report does not meet the definition of a Division 4.3 material and, provided it does not
meet the criteria for another hazard class, it is not subject to the HMR.
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact
this office.
Charles E. Betts
ief, Standards Development
Office ofHazardous Materials Standards

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Drakeford, Carol
From: Betts, Charles (PHMSA) ~ ;"'P€ (IS .'nI)nslh,·j·~
Sent: Wednesday, June 02,201012:56 PM 'iT"'"
I
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) 10 0 I 111
Subject: FW: Request for Hazmat Exemption for Calcium Silicon - Ii I I
Attachments: GexCon-2010-F44586-RA-3_rev-01.pdf
Please log this new request for interpretation in for proper handling.
From: Matt Gilmore [mailto:matt.gilmore@polymetalloys.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 12:42 PM
To: Betts, Charles (PHMSA)
Subject: Request for Hazmat Exemption for Calcium Silicon
Dear Mr. Betts,
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your time and attention during our conversation yesterday.
As we discussed, Polymet Alloys Inc. would like to request confirmation from the Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards that the Calcium Silicon produced by Rima Industrial S/A in Brazil does not meet the definition of Division 4.3
material, hence it should not be subject to the HMR.
Attached you will find test results issued by Gexcon, an independent lab, which was performed on Rima Industrial S/A's
Calcium Silicon on January 3, 2010. As you can see from the report, Gexcon concluded: liThe substance tested does not
accommodate the criteria for classification under the division 4.3 of the "United Nations Recommendations on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Test and Criteria Part III - 33.4.1.4" [lJ. Some gas did develop in contact with
water. It is highly likely that the gas developed was hydrogen. The gas development slowed after a peak some hours
after the test started".
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any question or need any further clarification.
Sincerely,
MATT GILMORE
Sales and Operations Manager
Mechanical Engineer
POLYMET ALLOYS, INC.
1701 Providence Park Suite 100, Birmingham, Al35242 USA
E-mail: matt.gilmore@polymetalloys.com
Office: +1 (205) 981-2200 Ext. 105
Mobile: +1 (205) 937-9869
Fax: +1 (205)981-1583
Home Page: www.polymetalloys.com
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments thereto may contain privileged and
confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication ofthis communication is
strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email or at +1
(205)981-2200 and destroy all copies of the original message.
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