# Environmental Management — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0054
- **title:** Environmental Management — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-03-29
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0054 response to Environmental Management concerning 172.101, 173.21, 173.226, 173.227, 173.24.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0054.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0054.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0054
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110054.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
FEB 2 9 2011
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Ms. Misha Gonzales
Shipping and Receiving
Environmental Management
P.O. Box 700
Guthrie, OK 73044
Ref. No. 11-0054
Dear Ms. Gonzales:
This responds to your February 25, 2011 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask us to clarify the
packaging specifications pertaining to certain waste materials that are toxic by inhalation in
Hazard Class 6.1, Packing Group 1. You indicate that you do not wish to take advantage of the
exceptions provided in § 173.12(b). Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows:
Q1. May we pack four 32-ounce containers ofUN1809, Phosphorus trichloride, 6.1 (8), PG I,
Hazard Zone B, in one outer container?
AI. The answer to your question is yes, as long as the combination packagings comply with the
specifications of § 173.227. Section 173.227(a) allows materials poisonous by inhalation, in
Division 6.1, Packing Group I, Hazard Zone B, to be transported in packagings as authorized in
§ 173.226. Section 173.226(c) specifies combination packaging consisting ofan inner
packaging system and an outer packaging. The inner packaging system consists of an impactresistant
inner receptacle packed within a leak-tight packaging. This combination packaging in
turn is packed within the outer packaging. The total amount of liquid contained in the outer
packaging must not exceed 16 L (4 gallons). Both the inner packaging system and the outer
packaging must conform to the performance test requirements of subpart M ofpart 178.
Q2. May we pack two 32-ounce containers ofUN1605, Ethylene dibromide, 6.1, PG I, Hazard
Zone B, and two containers ofUN2487, Phenyl isocyanate, 6.1 (3), PG I, Hazard Zone B, in one
outer container?
A2. Yes, provided Ethylene dibromide and Phenyl isocyanate are not capable of reacting
dangerously with each other and will not cause combustion or dangerous evolution of heat;
evolution offlammable, poisonous, or asphyxiant gases; or formation of unstable or corrosive
materials (see §§ 173.21(e) and 173.24(e)(4)). It is the shipper's responsibility to determine
whether any of these dangerous reactions can occur. Shippers may use a variety of methods to
determine whether or not a hazardous material will react dangerously with other materials in a

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packaging. including testing or similar analysis. experience, information from a Material Safety
Data Sheet, or information from publications or reference material pertaining to chemicals and
their interactions.
Q3. If the answer to Q2. Is "yes," may we use the proper shipping description UN2929, Toxic
liquid, flammable, organic, n.o.s., (Ethylene dibromide, phenyl isocyanate), 6.1 (3),
PG I, Hazard Zone B?
A3. The answer to your question is no. When selecting a proper shipping name, the shipper
must select the name that most appropriately describes the material (see § 172.101(c)(12».
I hope this information is helpful. Ifyou have further questions, please contact this office at
(202) 366-8553.
Sincerely,
~5~
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Winter
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Environmental
MANAGEMENT
February 25, 2011
U.S. DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: PHH-I0
East Buiiding
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE:
Washington, DC 20590-0001
To Whom It May Concern:
Please accept this letter as a request for a formal interpretation from your office.
Environmental Management, Inc. wishes to receive clarification on the packaging of Class 6.1,
Packing Group I, Poison Inhalation Hazard materials (any zone).
Question 1: We have four 32-ounce containers ofUN1809, Phosphorous Trichloride, 6.1 (8), PG
I, Poison Inhalation Hazard Zone B. We do not wish to take advantage of the exceptions
provided in 49 CFR 173.12(b). Can these four containers be packed together in one outer
container ifwe fully comply with all the requirements of the HMR for this material?
Question 2: We have two 32-ounce containers of Ethylene Dibromide and two 32-ounce
containers of Phenyl Isocyanate, both ofwhich are Class 6.1, Packing Group I and Poison
Inhalation Hazii:rd Zone B. We do not wish to take advantage ofthe exceptions provided
in 49 CFR 173.12(b). Can these four containers be packed together in one outer
container if we fully comply with all the requirements ofthe HMR for this material?
Question 3: Ifquestion 2 is a yes, can we use the proper shipping description:
UN2929, Toxic Liquid, Flammable, Organic, N.O.S., (Ethylene Dibromide, Phenyl
Isocyanate), 6.1(3), PGI, Inhalation Hazard Zone B?
Thank you in advance for your time and input on these questions. Please contact me at
mgonzales@emiokcom. or (405) 282-8510 ifthere is a need for clarification to adequately
address these questions.
Regards,
~
Misha Gonzales
Shipping and Receiving
for an environment we can an live with today & tomorJl'ow
Post Office Box 700 f Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044-0700 '/ 405282-8510 / Web Site: WWW.EMIOK.com
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