{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0091","title":"Ammunition Surveillance Division — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-07-16","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0091 response to Ammunition Surveillance Division concerning 171.8, 172.101.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0091.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0091.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0091","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150091.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington, DC\n20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJUL 1 6 2015\nJames Gibson\nAmmunition Surveillance Division\n6280 Sunny point RD\nSouthport, NC 28461\nRef. No. 15-0091\nDear Mr. Gibson:\nThis responds to your May 6, 2015 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the reportable quantity (RQ) of a\nhazardous material. You offer an explosive article containing 15 to 16 pounds of white\nphosphorus classified as, \"UN0243, Ammunition, incendiary, white phosphorus.\" Your\nquestions are paraphrased and answered as follows:\nQ1. Does the entry \"phosphorus\" in § 172.101 Table 1 to Appendix A apply to\n\"white phosphorus\"?\nAl. Yes. Materials and their corresponding RQs listed in Appendix A to § 172.101\nare designated as \"hazardous substances\" under Section 101(14) of the\nComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act\n(CERCLA). This definition includes substances listed under section 311(b)(2)(A) of\nthe Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 40 CFR 116.4 provides a list of materials\ndesignated as hazardous substances including section 311(b)(2)(A) materials. Table\n116.4A lists the common name, \"Phosphorus\" with the associated synonyms, \"black\nphosphorus, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus.\" Therefore, the\n\"phosphorus\" entry listed in § 172.101 Table 1 to Appendix A includes \"white\nphosphorus.\"\nQ2. Does the explosive article described in this scenario meet the definition of a\nhazardous substance?\nA2. Yes. If a package contains a quantity of hazardous material that meets or\nexceeds the RQ, it meets the definition of a hazardous substance and must satisfy all\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\napplicable requirements. Based on the information you provided, each package\ncontaining the article as described, would exceed the one pound RQ for phosphorus;\nand meets the definition of a hazardous substance (see § 171.8).\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nirk Der Kinde\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nliccarone\n§172.201\ntaper.\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nWednesday, May 06, 2015 10:15 AM\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Formal Letter of Interpretation Request\nHi Shante and Alice,\nAttached is a formal letter of interpretation. Mr. Gibson spoke with myself about the issue and it was further discussed\nwith Adam Lucas and Britain Bruner.\nThanks,\nShelby\n---Original Message-----\nFrom: Gibson, James SCIV USARMY 596 TRANS BDE (US) [mailto:james.s.gibson4.civ@mail.mill\nSent: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 4:19 PM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSubject: Formal Letter of Interpretation Request\nI would like to request a Formal Letter of Interpretation concerning shipping papers and the requirement to identify\nmaterials with a Reportable Quantity of a Hazardous Substance. When shipping Ammunition, incendiary, white\nphosphorus, 1.2H, UN0243, is there a requirement to identify the item as a Reportable Quantity? Specifically, this item\nis an explosive article (class 1) that contains upwards of 15 or 16 pounds of white phosphorus per 155mm projectile.\nThe 49 CFR, 172.101, Table 1 to Appendix A (Hazardous Substances Other Than Radionuclides) states that Phosphorus is\na Reportable Quantity if a package contains 1 pound or more. The term Phosphorus by itself is not listed in the HAZMAT\nTable, and the Hazardous Substance Table does not specify if the term Phosphorus includes the various types such as\nwhite or red. If the term Phosphorus includes white and red in the Hazardous Substance Table, does the Reportable\nQuantity requirement pertain to an ammunition item that uses the substance as a primary filler? Response can be sent\nby email or to the physical address listed below.\nJames Gibson\nAmmunition Surveillance Division\n6280 Sunny Point RD\nSouthport, NC 28461\nJames.s.gibson4.civ@us.army.mil\nCell: 910-200-2626","truncated":false,"body_characters":4046}