{"operation":"document","citation":"13-0079","title":"Texas Department of Public Safety – CVE — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2013-06-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"13-0079 response to Texas Department of Public Safety – CVE concerning 177.834.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0079.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0079.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0079","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130079.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nJUN 0 5 2013\nSergeant Patrick Zatopek\nTexas Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement\nTexas Department of Public Safety- CVE\n5505 Ave. N\nRosenberg, Texas 77471\nRef. No.: 13-0079\nDear Mr. Zatopek:\nThis is in response to your April 03, 2013 e-mail requesting clarification of the requirements\nin the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you\nask if§ 177.834(c) which prohibits smoking on or about any motor vehicle while loading or\nunloading any Class 1 (explosive), Class 3 (flammable liquid), Class 4 (flammable solid),\nClass 5 (oxidizing), or Division 2.1 (flammable gas) materials applies to the use of\nelectronic cigarettes otherwise known as e-cigarettes.\nThe answer to your question is no. The requirement prohibiting smoking during loading and\nunloading ofthe types ofmaterials listed in§ 177.834(c) is intended to address lit tobacco\nproducts. As e-cigarettes operate on battery power, and without the application of an open\nflame, the use of these products do not fall under the scope of prohibited activities under\n§ 177.834(c).\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nUl?d· .\nDelmer Billings ~\nSenior Regulatory Advisor\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n---\n--------\n~-~~----\n--~-- ---~-----------·\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carol n PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nBillings, Delmer (PHMSA)\nThursday, April 11, 2013 9:02AM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFW: Electronic Cigarettes\nCarolyn\nPlease log for a memo response to Paul. Have specialist see me.\nThanks,\nDel\nFrom: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA)\nSent: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 2:27 PM\nTo: Patrick.Zatopek@dps.texas.gov\nCc: Billings, Delmer (PHMSA)\nSubject: Electronic Cigarettes\nRequest:\nI am requesting clarification and/or interpretation regarding 49 CFR § 397.13 Smoking. This referenced section states:\n\"No person may smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe on or within 25 feet of-\n( a) A motor vehicle which contains Class 1 materials, Class 5 materials, or flammable materials\nclassified as Division 2.1, Class 3, Divisions 4.1 and 4.2; or\n(b) An empty tank motor vehicle which has been used to transport Class 3, flammable materials,\nor Division 2.1 flammable gases, which when so used, was required to be marked or placarded in\naccordance with the rules in §177.823 of this title.\"\nMy question is whether this section relates to an electronic cigarette otherwise known as an e-cigarette? My knowledge\nof e-cigarettes is that they use lithium batteries to power the device that converts liquid nicotine into a mist, or vapor,\nthat the user inhales. There's no fire, no ash and no smoky smell. In my opinion, the word \"lighted\" in the above\nreferenced section excepts the e-cigarettes from this regulation. I request your clarification or interpretation on this\nmatter in order to promote uniform enforcement practices.\nI will also contact the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) to make this same request as it relates to\n49 CFR §177.834(c) on smoking while loading or unloading. Your consideration and clarification on this request is\nappreciated.\nThank you,\nPatrick B. Zatopek, Sergeant\nTexas Highway Patrol\nCommercial Vehicle Enforcement - Rosenberg\nResponse:\nSgt. Zatopek:\nThe question on electronic cigarettes came up in January 2012. At that time, I conferred with Delmer Billings at\nPHMSA. We agreed that, because of the way electronic cigarettes operate (a small heating coil that produces steam), it\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\ndoes not meet the same level of heat as a burning cigarette. Therefore, electronic cigarettes are not prohibited under\n397.13 or 177.823.\nI am cc'ing Mr. Billings, in case he wants to add anything.\nRegards,\nrf!J5dai @ifcbJJ~R!ne~t\nChief· Hazardous Materials Division\nU.S. Department ofTransportation\nFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration MC-ECH\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE ·West Building W63-313\nWashington, DC 20590\n'l'elephoue: 202-493-0027\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4137}