# Mr. Daniel J. VenRoy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0217
- **title:** Mr. Daniel J. VenRoy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-11-16
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0217 concerning 171.1.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0217.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0217.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0217
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100217.pdf
**body:**

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u.s. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
of Transportation Washington. DC 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration 
 NOV 1 6 2011
Mr. Daniel J. VenRoy
14564 - 84th Ave.
Coopersville, MI 49404
Ref. No. 10-0217
Dear Mr. VenRoy:
This is in response to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the private transportation of
explosives on a public highway. Specifically, you ask if you are subject to the HMR and
must also obtain a Hazardous Material Endorsement on a Commercial Driver License
(CDL) when transporting such explosives from the point of purchase to your farm.
I apologize for the delay in responding and any inconvenience it may have caused.
The answer to both of your questions is dependent upon whether the purchased explosives
are being transported on a public highway in furtherance of a commercial enterprise (e.g., a
for-profit agricultural operation). As specified in § 171.1, the HMR govern the
transportation of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce. The
term "in commerce" means in furtherance of a commercial enterprise. Hazardous
materials that are purchased and transported to support a commercial enterprise are fully
subject to the HMR. Further, a Hazardous Material Endorsement is required on a CDL
when the placarding of a transport vehicle is required by the HMR as prescribed in the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) at 49 CFR 383.93. Accordingly,
hazardous materials that are sold for personal, non-commercial use and transported by such
persons in their personal vehicles are not subject to the HMR.
Please note that whether or not you are subject to the HMR or FMCSRs, there may be
other Federal, state, and local standards or regulations governing the purchase, movement,
and storage of explosives intended for non-commercial use on private property.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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September 23,2010
Daniel J. VenRoy
14564 - 84th Ave
Coopersville, Mi. 49404
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office ofHazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOTIPHMSA (PHH-lO)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Sir:
I am a retired Sheriffs Deputy and own a blueberry farm in
Coopersville, Mi. I have constructed an A TF approved Type-I
magazine to store high explosives and I am currently waiting for
my A TF license to arrive.
I have received conflicting answers on the transportation of
explosives. I want to purchase dynamite for my own use from the
Dyno Nobel Company but I have to transport it in my pick up
truck about 200 miles. First, I would like to know what safeguards
I need to take besides an A TF approved "Day Box"
mounted in my truck bed. What, ifany, additional equipment or
identifying labels do I need? Also, do I have'to have a CDL
endorsement on my driver's license?
I will not be making any kind ofdeliveries nor will I be diverting
from the most direct route there and home. Any information you
can provide would be most appreciated.
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