# Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 13-0087
- **title:** Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-06-14
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 13-0087 response to Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command concerning 178.503.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130087.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
JUN 1 4 2013
Mr. Daniel A. Maham
Director of Safety
Department of the Army
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
1 Soldier Way
Scott AFB, IL 62225-5006
Reference No.: 13-0087
Dear Mr. Maham:
This is in response to your April 22, 2013 letter to the Standards and Rulemaking Division of
the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether the use of a label
to apply the specification markings to a packaging is permitted by§ 178.3.
The answer is yes, provided the markings meet all applicable requirements of§§ 178.3 and
178.503.
Section 178.3(a)(3) provides, "The markings must be stamped, embossed, burned, printed or
otherwise marked on the packaging to provide adequate accessibility, permanency, contrast,
and legibility so as to be readily apparent and understood."
Section 178.503(a) further provides that the markings must be durable, legible and placed in a
location and of such a size relative to the packaging as to be readily visible. Except as
otherwise provided every reusable packaging liable to undergo a reconditioning process
which might obliterate the packaging marks must bear the marks in a permanent form able to
withstand the reconditioning process.
The requirements of§§ 178.3(a)(3) and 178.503(a) cited above are performance requirements.
While this office does not generally recommend the use of a label to display the specification
markings on a packaging that is likely to undergo reconditioning, provided you can ensure
compliance with the requirements of§§ 178.3 and 178.503, including, if applicable, the
ability to withstand the reconditioning process, a label is an acceptable method to display the
packaging specification markings.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
saltar- .
Delmer Billings ~
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND
1 SOLDIER WAY
SCOTT AFB, IL 62225-5006
Director, Command Safety Office
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April22, 2011
Standards and Rule Making Division
Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Attn: PHH-10
U.S. Department ofTransportation
!200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590-0001
To whom it may conce~
In accordance with the provisions ofTitle 49, CFR, Part 105, Section 105.20, the Department of Defense
(DOD) hereby requests an Interpretation of the Hazardous Materials Regulations as outlined below. DOD petitions
for a clarification of 49 CFR 178.3 Marking of Packagings, in particular 178.3(a) (3 ).
File Number: Interpretation 178.3(a) (3) (4-16)
Re: Request Interpretation of 49 CFR 178.3(a) (3) Marking ofPackagings
Proponent: Department of Defense (DOD)
The DOD is requesting clarification to the allowed methods in applying UN Specification Markings to
packagings tested and certified by the DOD and to ensure compliance with CFR, Part 178, Section 178.3(a) (3).
The DOD, as a registered entity with the Department of Transportation. Research and Special Programs
Administration, has the authority to test and assign UN Specification Markings to packagings as prescribed in
DLAD 4145.41, AR700-143/AFJI24-210/NAVSUPINST 4030.55B/MCO 4030.40B and as authorized by 49 CFR
173.7.
Certain shippers are questioning the method used by the DOD to apply the markings to packages by using a
label. The DOD contends that a label may be used with the appropriate UN Specification Markings if it meets the
requirements of I 78.3(a)(3) and meets the permanency requirements by ensuring the labels displaying the UN
Specification Markings do not peel, fade or in any manner become compromised during transportation.
The DOD respectfully asks that a confmnation be provided where labels may be used to mark DOD tested
packagings with the appropriate UN Specification Markings and that hazardous materials offered for transportation
by the DOD, under the provision of 49 CPR 173,7, may be reshipped by the shipper to any consignee provided the
original packaging has not been damaged or altered in any manner.
My point of contacts for this matter are .Mr. Marco Boasso, (618) 220-5040, e-mail
marco.boasso.civ@maiLmil and Mr. Elias Cantu, (618) 220-5041, e-mail elias.v.cantu.civ@rnail.mil or
usamw.scott.sddc.mbx.omb-for-safetv@mail.mil Safety Team, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution
Command ..
Sincerely,
c: I '//; (t
})ru;:e~~ Ma~a~ ...
Director of Safety
I
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