# Arkema Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 15-0026
- **title:** Arkema Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2015-03-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 15-0026 response to Arkema Inc. concerning 172.303, 172.401.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0026.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0026
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150026.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, DC 20590
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Materials Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous
Administration
MAR 1 7 2015
Ms. Christina M. Kurtz
Manager, Regulations and Packaging
Arkema Inc.
900 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Reference No. 15-0026
Dear Ms. Kurtz:
This is in response to your January 20, 2015 letter proposing a revision to § 172.303(b) of
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You believe that the
current language of the exception in § 172.303(b) relating to prohibited marking, where
each of the sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) are independent conditions is not correct. You
suggest the language should be changed to require that all conditions must be met for the
exception to apply, consistent with the requirements of § 172.401(d) relating to prohibited
labeling.
It is the position of this Office that the current language of§ 172.303(b) is correct. Unlike
§ 172.401 (d) where all three conditions must be met for the exception to apply, the intent of
§ 172.303(b) is for the exception to apply if any of the three conditions is met.
I trust this information is helpful and thank you for bringing this concern to my attention.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.
Sincerely,
I can 1. PL
Duane A. Pfund
International Standards Coordinator
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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:
Babich
172,303 (b)
Prohibite l. Markangs
ARKEMA
15-0024
Telephone: 610-205-7417
Email:
Fax:
610-205-7096
Christina.Kurtz@arkema.com
January 20, 2015
Standards and Rulemaking Division
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Attn: PHH-10, U.S. Department of Transportation
East Building
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: §172.303(b)
Dear Sir/Madam:
Per 49CFR §106.95, Arkema Inc. is proposing new wording be incorporated into section
49CFR §172.303(b). We propose that the change mimics 49CFR §172.401(d). Since
this is a clarification, it could be part of the next Miscellaneous Docket (HM-218H).
Currently, 49CFR §172.303(b) pertaining to Prohibited marking is written so that (1), (2),
and (3) are independent. Each statement ends with a period. We believe this was not
the intent.
49CFR §172.401(d) pertaining to Prohibited labeling is written so that (1), (2), and (3)
are dependent. Statements (1) and (2) end with semicolons. Also, (2) ends with "and".
Thus, we propose 49CFR §172.303(b) be changed so sections (1) and (2) end with
semicolons plus the word "and" is at the end of (2).
See below the changes in red:
§172.303 Prohibited marking.
(a) No person may offer for transportation or transport a package which is marked with the
proper shipping name, the identification number of a hazardous material or any other markings
indicating that the material is hazardous (e g., RQ, INHALATION HAZARD) unless the
package contains the identified hazardous material or its residue.
(b) This section does not apply to-
(1) Transportation of a package in a transport vehicle or freight container if the package is not
visible during transportation and is loaded by the shipper and unloaded by the shipper or
consignee;
900 First Avenue
Arkema Inc.
610-878-6500
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
www.arkema.com

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Page 2
§172.303(b)
(2) Markings on a package which are securely covered in transportation; and
(3) The marking of a shipping name on a package when the name describes a material not
regulated under this subchapter.
Sincerely,
Christina M. Kurtz
Manager, Regulations and Packaging
Arkema, Inc.
900 First Avenue
Arkema Inc.
610-878-6500
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
www.arkema.com
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