{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0201","title":"ESCI EnviroServices, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-04-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0201 response to ESCI EnviroServices, Inc concerning 172.101, 173.56, 173.59, 173.63.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0201.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0201.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0201","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/140201.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington, DC\n20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nAPR 0 2 2015\nMr. Steven M. Lichten\nESCI EnviroServices, Inc.\n4401 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 200\nLong Beach, CA 90807\nRef. No. 14-0201\nDear Mr. Lichten:\nThis letter responds to your October 13, 2014 email regarding requirements in the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180) for shipment of misfired\nsmall arms blank ammunition. In your email, you indicate that occasionally the\nammunition you use (e.g.,.38 caliber blank cartridges) fails to function properly and needs\nto be properly disposed of at an approved facility. Further, in a telephone conversation\nwith a member of my staff, you shared that the material is subject to EPA waste manifest\nrequirements under 40 CFR § 262.20. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as\nfollows:\nQ1: Are these misfired cartridges properly described and classified using the\nshipping description \"Waste cartridges for weapons, blank, UN0014, 1.4S, II\"?\nAl: Yes, provided that all conditions of 49 CFR § 173.56(h) are met. The\ndescription \"Cartridges, small arms, blank\" may be more appropriate, provided the\nmaterial meets the criteria in § 173.59. Furthermore, as you have indicated, the\nproper shipping name must be preceded by the word \"Waste\" if the material is\nsubject to EPA manifest requirements (see § 172.101(c)(9)). Finally, note that the\nbasic description must now begin with the UN number (see § 172.202(b)). Thus,\n\"UN0014, Waste cartridges for weapons, blank, 1.4S, II,\" and \"UN0014, Waste\ncartridges, small arms, blank, 1.4S, II\" are appropriate descriptions.\nQ2: Can these misfired cartridges be shipped as limited quantities under\n§ 173.63(b)(1)(i) and packaged as described in § 173.63(b)(2)?\nA2: Yes, provided they meet the requirements of § 173.63(b). The entry for either\ndescription mentioned above and listed in the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table\nreferences in Column 8A § 173.63 for exceptions. Thus, small arms ammunition\n(blank) properly classed as 1.4S may be transported under the provisions of\n§ 173.63(b).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3: If these misfired cartridges cannot be shipped as described per questions Q1\nand Q2 above, how must they be transported?\nA3: See Al and A2.\nI trust this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\nActing Chief, Standard Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nBroussand\n$173.63(b)(z))\nPackaging Exceptions\n14-0201\nESCI ENVIROSERVICES, INC.\nCOMPULENCE PROGMY & PLANS • TRaNg & Audry • Pratos • MaNAGEMENT SiNgesE\n4401 ATLANTIC AVENUE\nSUITE 200\nPHONE: 562-984-2079\nLONG BEACH, CA 90807\nwww.enviroservices.com\nFAX: 562-984-2001\nVIA EMAIL\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\n13 October 2014\nAttn: PHH-10; East Building\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nSUBJECT: Request for Interpretation - Blank Cartridges\nESCI EnviroServices, Inc., a small environmental and hazardous materials compliance\nconsulting and training firm, is requesting a formal opinion/interpretation from the US\n(PHMSA) concerning the highway shipment for treatment/disposal of mis-fired small arms\nDepartment of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nblank (no projectile) ammunition.\nThe ammunition is used for theatrical effects and\nthe manufacturer described as \"Cartridges for weapons, blank, UN0014, 1.4S, II.\" The\nsaluting in various entertainment-related productions. The ammunition is received from\nblank ammunition consists of .38 caliber cartridges and 12 gauge shot shells.\nOccasionally, the ammunition fails to function and needs to be properly disposed (or\ntreatment for disposal) by shipping to an approved waste disposal facility by commercial\nmotor carrier.\nWe are requesting guidance for these shipments and ask the following three questions:\nShip he those me fras cations proper dario and case i\nQ2: Can these cartridges be shipped as limited quantities as described in 49 CFR\n173.63(b)(1)(i) and packaged as described in 49 CFR 173.63(b) (2)?\nQ3:\nIf these cartridges cannot be shipped as described per questions 1 and 2\nabove, how must these cartridges be shipped?\n• Assisting Industry and Government to Achieve Competitive Environmental and Economic Advantage •\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nRequest for Interpretation - Blank Cartridges\n13 October 2014\nPage 2\nWe appreciate PHMSA's timely response (as these mis-fires are awaiting shipment for\ntreatment/disposal), and very much appreciate your assistance. Should you have any\nquestions or require additional information, please contact Mike Hagen\nmhagen@enviroservices.com.\nThank you again.\nSincerely,\nESCI EnviroServices, Inc.\nPresident\nSteven M. Lichten, REA, CPEA, CPP\nPrincipal Environmental Scientist\nESCI ENVIROSERVICES, INC.\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nCiccarone, Michael CTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nThursday, October 16, 2014 1:50 PM\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Request for Interpretation (Blank mis-fired small arms cartridges)\nAttachments:\nESCI EnviroServices - USDOT Request for Interpretation - Blanks 10-2014 LH.pdf\nShante and Alice,\nPlease submit this for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nMike\n-----Original Message----\nFrom: Steven Lichten [mailto:slichten@enviroservices.com]\nSent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 12:54 PM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSubject: Request for Interpretation (Blank mis-fired small arms cartridges)\nPlease find attached a request for interpretation from ESCI EnviroServices regarding classification and packaging for mis-\nfired small arms cartridges (ammunition) used in theatrical performances. We are requesting this interpretation on\nbehalf of one of our clients.\nThank you for your response.\nBest regards,\nSteve\nSteven M. Lichten\nPresident\nESCI EnviroServices, Inc.\n4401 Atlantic Avenue; Suite 200\nLong Beach, CA 90807\n714-322-0470 (cell - the preferred contact phone)\n562-984-2079 (main office)\n714-256-4812 (fax)","truncated":false,"body_characters":6093}