{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0038","title":"Hazardous Materials Consultant — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-05-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0038 response to Hazardous Materials Consultant concerning 173.465.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0038.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0038.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0038","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150038.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nWashington, DC 20590\nSafety Administration\nMAY 0 5 2015\nMr. Mark B. Hawk\nHazardous Materials Consultant\n49 Palisades Parkway\nOak Ridge, TN 37830\nReference No. 15-0038\nDear Mr. Hawk:\nThis is in response to your July 16, 2014 e-mail and attached letter, forwarded to the\nStandards and Rulemaking Division on February 25, 2015, requesting clarification on the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) concerning use of a\nDepartment of Transportation (DOT) Specification 7A, Type A container with a package\nmass less than the qualified package mass of the container. We have paraphrased your\nquestions and answered them in the order you provided.\nQ1. Can a DOT Specification 7A, Type A container that has been qualified to a package\nmass equal to or greater than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) but less than 10,000\nkilograms (22,000 pounds) be used for a shipment having a package mass less than\n5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) without any additional testing or demonstration of\ncompliance per § 173.461?\nA1.\nThe answer is no. The package described in your scenario cannot be used without\nadditional testing or demonstration of compliance. The Type A packaging tests\nspecified in § 173.465 require a free drop distance of 0.9 meters (3 feet) for\npackages with a mass between 5,000 and 10,000 kilograms; for packages under\n5,000 kilograms, the free drop distance specified in § 173.465 is 1.2 meters (4\nfeet). Thus, a package which has been qualified for the greater mass (and lower\ndrop distance) would need to be re-qualified for the lesser mass (and higher drop\ndistance) per the requirements in § 173.465. The impacts of any other changes in\nthe properties of the contents would also need to be assessed against the\nrequirements of § 173.465.\nQ2.\nIf any additional demonstration of compliance is required, please specify what\ntesting and/or documentation is required.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA2.\nTesting, or other demonstration of compliance in accordance with § 173.461, must\nbe done to show the package meets the requirements of § 173.465. The testing or\nother demonstration of compliance must be documented in accordance with the\nrequirements of § 173.415(a).\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nAlenFoster\nT. Gienn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nedmonson\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\n173.461\nFrom:\nCiccarone, Michael CTR (PHMSA)\nrackagung Requirement\nSent:\nWednesday, February 25, 2015 4:54 PM\nTo:\n15-5038\nSubject:\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Request for Clarification\nAttachments:\nDOT Request for Clarification July 16, 2014 pdf\nShante/Alice,\nPlease submit this for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nMike\nFrom: hawkn14@gmail.com [mailto:hawkn14@gmail.com]\nTo: infocntr@dot.gov\nSent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 8:24 PM\nSubject: Request for Clarification\nDear Sir/Madam:\nAttached is a request for clarification concerning the use of a DOT Specification 7A, Type A container.\nIf you have any questions concerning this request, please contact me.\nThank you!\nMark Hawk\nHazardous Materials Consultant\n865-250-3300\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nJuly 16, 2014\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards,\nPipeline and Hażardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: PHH-10\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubject: Clarification of Type A Packaging Requirements\nDear Sir/Madam:\nA clarification is requested concerning the use of a DOT Specification 7A, Type A container with a\npackage mass less than the certified package mass of the container. More specifically, can a DOT\nSpecification 7A, Type A container that has been qualified to a package mass equal to or greater than\n5000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) but less than 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) be used for a shipment\nhaving a package mass less than 5000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) without any additional testing or\ndemonstration of compliance per 49 CFR 173.461? If any additional demonstration of compliance is\nrequired, please specify what testing and/or documentation is required.\nThank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this request. If you require additional\ninformation, please contact me at (865)250-3300, or by e-mail.\nSincerely,\nMark Hank\nMark B. Hawk\nHazardous Materials Consultant\n49 Palisades Parkway\nOak Ridge, TN 37830\n865-250-3300\nhawkn14@gmail.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":4483}