{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0068","title":"Dart Container Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2014-05-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0068 response to Dart Container Corporation concerning 171.8, 176.907.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0068.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0068.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0068","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140068.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\nMAY 1 5 2014\nMr. Tristam Harrington\nCorporate Transportation Procurement Manager\n500 Hogsback Road\nMason, MI 48854\nRef. No.: 14-0068\nDear Mr. Harrington:\nThis is in response to your email dated March 31, 2014, requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to shipments of\npolymeric beads, expandable and plastic molding compounds, and the definition of\nhermetically sealed. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as follows:\nQ1. Does the \"or\" in§ 176.907(c)(1) separate, \"packed in hermetically sealed\npackagings\" from the temperature and pressure requirements ofthe IBC's packing group II\nperformance level for liquid dangerous goods?\nA1. The answer to your question is no. The \"or\" in this section separates packed in\nhermetically sealed packagings from IBC's. To be excepted from the requirements of\nparagraphs (a) and (b), shipments would have to be offered in hermetically sealed packaging\n(either non-bulk packaging or IBC's) that meet the performance packing group level and\npressure requirements found in § 176.907( c )(1 ). The hermetically sealed requirement,\nperformance packing group level, and pressure requirements apply to all packagings\nincluding IBC's. As an IBC is a type of packaging it is noted that the use ofthe phrase\n\"non-bulk packaging\" instead of\"packaging\" in§ 176.907(c)(1) would be more\nappropriate. PHMSA may revise this section in a future rulemaking.\nQ2. The definition of hermetically sealed as given in§ 171.8 states \"Hermetically sealed\nmeans closed by fusion, gasketing, crimping, or equivalent means so that no gas or vapor\ncan enter or escape.\" If one of the seals listed above is used and prevents gas or vapor from\nentering or escaping and the packaging is made of a suitable material so the strength of the\nmaterial used and the construction of the bag is appropriate to the capacity of the bag and its\nintended use, and that joins and closures withstand pressures and impacts liable to occur\nunder normal conditions of transport, does this meet the requirements of§ 176.907 as being\nhermetically sealed.\nA2. The definition of hermetically sealed in § 171.8 does apply to packagings considered\nunder§ 176.907(c)(l). From your incoming letter it appears you are asking about the\npossibility of utilizing \"bags\" to comply with the requirements of§ 176.907(c)(l). It is\nimportant to note in order to utilize the exception from transporting polymeric beads,\nexpandable and plastic molding compounds in ventilated cargo transport units, the package\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nmust be capable of conforming to packing group II performance level for liquid dangerous\ngoods and meet theapplicable pressure requirements shown in§ 176.907(c)(l). This office\nis unaware of any flexible bag type IBC's that are able to meet these requirements.\nI trust this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\n~-(,[~¥\nDuane A. Pfund\nInternational Standards Coordinator\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nWe~b\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) s n {p .q Q 7 &, J~)\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA) v~ ssei\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nTuesday, April 01,201411:19 AM Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) 1 Q..\nI Y - 00 \\0 0\nFW: Letter of Interpretation Request regarding section 176.907 (c) (1) and requirements for\nhermetically sealed.\nThis caller requested we submit this e-mail as a formal letter of interpretation after speaking with Adam Lucas in the HMIC\nHi Carolyn,\non 3/31/14.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nFrom: Tristam.Harrington@dart.biz [mailto:Tristam.Harrington@dart.biz]\nSent: Monday, March 31, 2014 6:22PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubject: Letter of Interpretation Request regarding section 176.907 (c) (1) and requirements for hermetically sealed.\nDart Container is looking for a Letter of Interpretation pursuant to the following two items related to the below article of Title\n49\nQ1) Does the \"or\" highlighted in red lettering in section 176.907 (c) (1) separate, \"Packed in hermetically sealed pakagings\"\nfrom the temperature and pressure requirements of the IBC's packaging group II performance level for liquid dangerous\ngoods?\n§176.907 Polymeric Beads and Plastic Molding Compounds.\n(c) The requirements in paragraph (a) and (b) of this section do not apply if the hazardous material is:\n(1) Packed in hermetically sealed packagings or IBC's which conform to packing group II performance level for liquid\ndangerous goods with a total pressure in the packaging (i.e., the vapor pressure of the material plus the partial pressure of\nair or other inert gases, less 1 OOkPa (15 psia)) at 55 ac ( 131 oF), determined on the basis of the hazardous material not\ncompletely filling the receptacle at a temperature of 55 ac (131 °C) or less at a filling temperature of 15 ac (59 °F), will not\nexceed two-thirds of the marked test pressure.\nQ2) The definition of hermetically sealed as given in section §171.8 states\nHermetically sealed means closed by fusion, gasketing, crimping, or equivalent means so that no gas or vapor can enter or\nescape.\nIf one of the seals listed above is used and prevents gas or vapor from entering or escaping and the packaging is made of a\nsuitable material so the strength of the material used and the construction of the bag is appropriate to the capacity of the\nbag and its intended use, and that joins and closures withstand pressures and impacts liable to occur under normal\nconditions of transport, does this meet the requirements of 176.907 as being hermetically sealed?\nYour clarification of our interpretation will be most appreciated.\nTristam Harrington\nCorporate Transportation Procurement Manager\nDart Container Corporation\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nMason, Ml 48834\n517-244-3945\n{QAR_?>\n~\"'>,.,.,., . .,..~.- •\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":5909}