{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0072","title":"Compliance Plus Servicves, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-08-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0072 response to Compliance Plus Servicves, Inc. concerning 172.101, 173.158, 173.202, 173.242, 173.3.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0072.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0072.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0072","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150072.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington, DC: 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nAUG 2 7 2015\nDenise E. Ernest, CRCM\nroject Manage\nCompliance Plus Services. Inc\nPO Box 186\nHatboro, PA 19040\nRef. No.: 15-0072\nDear Ms. Ernest:\nThis is a response to your April 6, 2015 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to offering and\ntransporting non-bulk packages containing various amounts of nitric acid. In your email,\nyou state that you understand it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a\nhazardous material and that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA) does not perform this function, but that you would appreciate PHMSA's\nguidance with the following issues. Your questions are paraphrased and answered as\nfollows:\nQ1. What packaging section is one referred to when shipping \"UN3264, Waste\nCorrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s. (multiple technical names), 8, PG II\" if\nnitric acid is one of multiple constituents causing the final solution to meet the\ndefinition of a Class 8 (corrosive) material?\nA1.\nAssuming the shipper has properly classified the solution as \"UN3264, Waste\nCorrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s. (multiple technical names), 8, PG IT\" then\nthe packaging section it should select from the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table\n(HMT) is § 173.202 (non-bulk packagings for liquid hazardous materials in Packing\nGroup (PG) II.\nQ2.\nThe shipping description, \"UN2031, Nitric acid other than red fuming with not more\nthan 20 percent nitric acid, 8, PG II,\" specifies not more than 20% nitric acid in the\nsolution. Is this intended to be a range of 1%-20%? Is there a minimum percentage\nto be included in this shipping description (ex. anything <1%)?\nA2.\nIn order to utilize the HMT entry of \"UN2031, Nitric acid other than red fuming\nwith not more than 20 percent nitric acid, 8, PG II,\" you must meet the following\ntwo conditions:\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n(1) Nitric acid must be the predominant hazardous material in the solution that\ncreates the corrosive hazard. The PG II corrosive hazard must be solely due to\nthe concentration of nitric acid present in the solution and not from any other\nacidic materials in the solution. If the solution is a mixture of nitric acid with\nother acidic materials and they only meet the PG II corrosive hazard criteria due\nto the combination of the individual components present, then the proper\nshipping name should be \"UN3264, Corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s.\n(technical names of acids)\"; and\n(2) The amount of nitric acid must not exceed 20 percent.\nQ3.\nWould a material with the shipping description, \"UN2031, Nitric acid other than red\nJuming with not more than 20 percent nitric acid, 8, PG II\" (that does not contain\nsulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid as impurities), containing at least 1% nitric acid,\nbe subject to the authorized packaging requirements listed in § 173.158?\nA3.\nPlease see A2. If a shipper has properly classified a solution as \"UN2031, Nitric\nacid other than red fuming with not more than 20 percent nitric acid, 8, PG II,\" then\nthe § 172.101 HMT directs the reader to § 173.158 as the appropriate packaging\nsection for nitric acid in non-bulk packagings. Additionally, the § 172.101 HMT\ndirects the reader to § 173.242 as the appropriate packaging section for nitric acid in\nbulk packagings.\nQ4.\nAfter having been placed in transportation, if a package containing a hazardous\nwaste of nitric acid that is subject to § 173.158 is not contained in one of the\nauthorized packages listed in § 173.158 and the material cannot be safely transferred\ninto one of the appropriate authorized packages, would it be appropriate for the\nmaterial to be placed into a salvage drum?\nA4.\nThe answer is yes. As provided by § 173.3(c), packages of hazardous materials that\nare damaged, defective, or leaking; packages found to be not conforming to the\nrequirements of Subchapter C of the HMR after having been placed in\ntransportation; and, hazardous materials that have spilled or leaked may be placed in\na metal or plastic removable head salvage drum that is compatible with the lading\nand shipped for repackaging or disposal under the conditions listed in (c)(1) through\n(7) of § 173.3.\nQ5.\nIf one can place the material referenced in Q4 into a salvage drum, must the salvage\ndrum be made of stainless steel to comply with § 173.158(b)(1)?\nA5.\nAs provided by § 173.3(c)(1), the salvage drum must be a UN 1A2, 1B2, 1N2 or\n1H2 tested and marked for PG III or higher performance standards for liquids or\nsolids and a leakproofness test of 20 kPa (3 psig), and a capacity may not exceed\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n450 L (119 gallons). Depending on the characteristics and concentrations of the\nnitric acid, these materials must be placed in a metal or plastic removable head\nsalvage drum that is compatible with the lading and shipped for repackaging or\ndisposal.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\n'Ann Faster\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nNickels\n•\n13.152\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nauthorized Packag\nFrom:\n15-0072\nSent:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\nTo:\nThursday, April 09, 2015 2:47 PM\nSubject:\nHazmat Interps\nAttachments:\nFW: Request for a Formal Letter of Interpretation\nPHMSA Request for Letter of Interpretation.pdf\nHi Shante and Alice,\nAttached is a request for a formal letter of interpretation. Please let me know if you need any more information.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Denise E. Ernest [mailto: desrtss@comcast.net]\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSent: Monday, April 06, 2015 3:15 PM\nCc: Cunningham, Brad; Logan, Mike\nSubject: Request for a Formal Letter of Interpretation\nDear U.S. DOT, PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards:\nPlease find attached to this email, a Request for a Formal Letter of Interpretation.\nIf you have any questions regarding this request, please feel free to contact me at 215-734-1414, or\nvia electronic mail at dernest@CPS-2comply.com.\nThank you for your attention to this request.\nSincerely,\nDenise E. Ernest\nDenise E. Ernest, CRCM\nProject Manager\nCompliance Plus Services, Inc.\nPO Box 186\nHatboro, PA 19040\nPA Office 215-734-1414\nPA Office Fax 215-734-1424\nCell Phone 856-981-5065\nSite Address:\n120 Gibraltar Road, Suite 210\nHorsham, PA 19044\ndernest@CPS-2comply.com\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nCOMPLANCE PUIS SERVICES\nApril 6, 2015\nVia Electronic Mail\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRE:\nRequest for a Formal Letter of Interpretation\nTo Whom It May Concern:\nCompliance Plus Services, Inc. (\"CPS\"*) is a consultant to a variety of clients in respect to EPA,\nDOT and OSHA regulations.\nOne of our clients has asked CPS to answer questions regarding the shipment of certain Waste\nCorrosive Liquids, Inorganic materials. Therefore, we are requesting a clarification of the\napplicable regulations as discussed in the sections below, in the form of a formal letter of\ninterpretation.\nIt is understood that it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a hazardous material,\nand that the PHMSA Office does not perform that function. However, we appreciate your\nguidance with the following questions.\nIn selecting authorized packaging for shipments of non-bulk packages (other than lab packs)\ndescribed as UN3264 Waste Corrosive Liquids, Acidic, Inorganic, N.O.S, 8, PG II., and\nassuming the Offerer/Generator has properly described and classified their hazardous material;\n• If one of the listed technical names is identified as nitric acid, but the material does not\ncontain sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, is it required to select an authorized\nspecification package from CFR 49 173.158 or 173.202(c)?\nI am including the section from the Hazardous Materials Table applicable to this question, for\nyour reference.\nG Corrosive liquid, acidic,\nSUN3264 I 8A6, B10, T14, TP2,None201/243 0.5 2.5340\ninorganic, n.o.s\nTP27\nI 8 B2, IB2, T11, TP2,154 202242 1 L|30 L)B 40\nTP27\nШ83, T7, TP1, TP28|154 203/241 5 L|60 L A 40\nPremier Industry Pravi. 5-Compleml and Safety Services\nHatboro, PA 19040\n› 0. Box 186\nPh: 215-734-1414 Fax: 215-734-142+\n1866.97(PLIS(7587)\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n• The shipping description, Nitric acid other than red fuming with not more than 20\npercent nitric acid, 8, UN2031, PGII, specifies not more than 20% nitric acid in solution.\nIs this intended to be a range of 1%-20%? Is there a minimum percentage to be included\nin this shipping description (ex. anything <1%)?\n• Would a material with the shipping description, Nitric acid other than red fuming with\nnot more than 20 percent nitric acid, 8, UN2031, PGII (that does not contain sulfuric acid\nor hydrochloric acid as impurities), containing at least 1% nitric acid, be subject to the\nauthorized packaging requirements listed in 173.158?\n• If a package containing a hazardous waste of nitric acid that is subject to 173.158 is not\ncontained in one of the authorized packages listed in 173.158 and the material cannot be\nsafely transferred into one of the appropriate authorized packages, would it be\nappropriate for the material to be over-packed into a salvage drum?\n• If you can over-pack the material into a salvage drum, must the salvage drum be made of\nstainless steel to comply with 173.158(b)(1)?\nAgain, a copy of the section from the Hazardous Materials Table applicable to these\nquestions follows for your reference:\nNitrating acid\n8 UN1826 I 8,\nA7, T10, None 158243 Forbidden\n25LD 40,66\nmixtures, spent with\n5.1\nTP2,\nmore than 50 percent\nTP13\nnitric acid\nNitrating acid mixtures 8 UN18261I8\nA7, B2, None 158242 Forbidden\n30 LD\n40\nspent with not more\nIB2, T8,\nthan 50 percent nitric\nTP2\nacid\nNitrating acid\nmixtures with more\n801179618,\nA7, T10, None 158243 Forbidden\n2.5 LD 40, 66\n5.1\nthan 50 percent nitric\nTP13\nTP2,\nacid\nNitrating acid\nU1796118\nA7, B2, None 158242 Forbidden\n30 LD\n40\nmixtures with not more\nIB2, T8,\nthan 50 percent nitric\nTP2,\nacid\nTP13\nNitric acid other than\n8 UN2031 118,\nA6, B2, None 158242 Forbidden\n30 LD\n66,\nred fuming, with at\n5.1\nB47,\n74,\nleast 65 percent, but\nnot more than 70\nB53, IB2,\n89,90\npercent nitric acid\nIP15, T8,\nTP2\nNitric acid other than 8/UN2031|II8\nA6, B2, None 158242 Forbidden\n30 LD\n44,\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nred fuming, with more\nB47,\n66,\nthan 20 percent and\nB53, IB2,\nless than 65 percent\nIP15, T8.\n89,90\n74,\nnitric acid\nTP2\nNitric acid other than\n8UN203111\nA6, B2, None 158242\n30 LD\nred fuming with not\nB47,\nmore than 20 percent\nnitric acid\nB53, IB2,,\nT8, TP2\n+ Nitric acid, red fuming 8 UN2032 I 8,\n2, B9, None 227244 Forbidden Forbidden D\n40,\n5.1, B32, T20,\n6.1\n66,\nTP13,\n74,\n89,90\nTP38,\nTP45\nNitric acid other than\n8UN2031I8,\nA3, B47, None 158243 Forbidden\n2.5 LD\nred fuming, with more\n5.1 B53, T10,\n44,\n66,\nthan 70 percent nitric\nTP2,\nacid\n89,\nTP12,\nTP13\n90,\n110,\n111\nThank you for your attention to this request. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the\nquestions posed, please feel free to contact me at your convenience at 215-724-1414.\nSincerely,\nDenise E. Ernest, CRCM\nProject Manager\nCompliance Plus Services, Inc.\ncc: Bradley Cunningham, Engineer, CPS\nMichael D. Logan, VP, CPS\nN:ILETTERS15200-5299\\5210-PHMSA Letter to Request Formal Interpretation of Regulations Concerning Nitric Acid.docx","truncated":false,"body_characters":11480}