{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0087","title":"Con-way Freight — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-06-11","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0087 response to Con-way Freight concerning 172.204.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0087.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0087.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0087","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150087.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nWashington. DC 20590\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nJUN 1 1 2015\nMs. Marie Easley-Cook\nHazardous Materials Administrator\nCon-way Freight\n2211 Old Earhart Road, Suite 100\nAnn Arbor, MI 48105\nReference No. 15-0087\nDear Ms. Easley Cook:\nThis is in response to your letter dated April 27, 2015 regarding the shipper's certification\nprescribed in § 172.204 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-\n180). Specifically, you ask whether a shipper's certification may be signed using only the\ninitials of the person certifying the shipment.\nIn accordance with 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart C, each person who offers a hazardous\nmaterial for transportation must certify that the material is offered for transportation by\nprinting (manually or mechanically) on the shipping paper the certification contained in\n§ 172.204(a)(1) or the certification (declaration) containing the language in\n§ 172.204(a)(2). Further, in accordance with § 172.204(d), the certification must be legibly\nsigned by a principal, officer, partner, or employee of the shipper or his agent; and may be\nsigned manually, by typewriter, or by other mechanical means. The HMR do not define\n• the term signature; therefore, the signature requirement prescribed in § 172.204(d) may be\nsatisfied by the use of initials provided the initials are traceable to the person certifying the\nhazardous materials for transportation.\nI trust this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\nBane 17A1\nDuane Pfund\nInternational Standards Coordinator\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nWiener\n$172.204(d)\nConway.\nFREIGHT\nShpper's Signature\n15-0087\nApril 27, 2015\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRE: Request for interpretation letter\nI am requesting formal clarification of the 172.204(d) signature requirement.\nMy question is about the use of initials as a signature. The only letter of\ninterpretation referencing a person's initials in connection with 172.204(d) is\nReference No. 05-0005. It appears to be acceptable.\nIs it acceptable for a person certifying a hazardous material shipment to sign using\ntheir solely their initials?\nThe question was posed to the Hazardous Material Information Center on today's\ndate. The answer was initials could be used as the shipper's certification signature.\nPlease confirm.\nRegards,\nMarie Easley-Cook\nHazardous Materials Administrator\nCon-way Freight\n2211 Old Earhart Road\nSuite 100\n734-994-6600\nAnn Arbor, MI 48105","truncated":false,"body_characters":2699}