{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0168R","title":"AECOM — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2018-05-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0168R response to AECOM concerning 173.240.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0168r.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0168r.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0168r","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/57886/150168r.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMAY 0 2 2018\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nAndrew N. Romach\nRegulatory Compliance Manager\nAECOM\n1600 Perimeter Park Drive\nMorrisville, NC 27560\nRef. No. 15-0168R\nDear Mr. Romach:\nThis letter supersedes our December 11, 2015 letter to you under Reference No. 15-0168 that\nresponded to your August 10, 2015 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the definition of a bulk packaging as it\nrelates to a solid material. In your email, you described a non-specification packaging that can\naccommodate a maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 Ibs) and has a maximum capacity\nless than 450 L (119 gallons). You asked whether it meets the definition of bulk packaging.\nThe answer is no. After careful review of our original response to you, we have reconsidered our\nconclusion. In accordance with § 171.8, the definition of a bulk packaging is a packaging with a\n\"maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450\nI (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid.\" Based on a strict reading of this definition, your\npackaging does not meet the definition of a bulk packaging in the HMR.\nPrior to 1990, the non-specification closed bin described in your original email would have been\nconsidered a bulk packaging. As currently defined in § 171.8 of the HMR, a bulk packaging\nmust have a maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity\ngreater than 450 liters (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid. Because the non-specification\nclosed bin used to package a solid material described in Reference No. 15-0168 has a volumetric\ncapacity of less than 450 liters (119 gallons) and a maximum capacity of greater than 400 kg\n(882 pounds), it does not meet the definition of a bulk packaging under the HMR; therefore, its\nuse is not authorized under the description's bulk packaging provisions prescribed in\n§ 173.240(c) and may only be used to package solid material under the terms of an approval\ngranted in accordance with § 178.601(h).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nPlease accept our apologies for any inconvenience this reconsideration of our original guidance\nmay cause. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nShane C. Kelley\nDirector\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n5 / 10.240 (c)\nBulk Packagung\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\n15-0168\nFrom:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nTo:\nMonday, August 10, 2015 3:55 PM\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Request for written DOT interpretation\nAttachments:\nDOT interpr def of bulk nonbulk 08102015.paf\nDear Shante and Alice,\nAttached is a request for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Norris, Carolyn [mailto: carolyn.norris@aecom.com]\n.......\nSent: Monday, August 10, 2015 1:44 PM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSubject: Request for written DOT interpretation\nCc: Romach, Andy\nDear Infocenter,\nI have attached a request for a written DOT interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions.\nThank you in advance for your assistance.\nThanks,\nSenior Project Scientist/Project Manager, EHS Department\nCarolyn Norris, DGSA\nCarolyn.norris@aecom.com\nD 1-919-461-1238 F 1-919-461-1371\nAECOM\nT 1-919-461-1100 F 1-919-461-1400\n1600 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 400, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560\nwww.aecom.com\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nAECOM\nAugust 10, 2015\nStandards and Rulemaking (PHH-10)\nMr. Charles Betts, Division Director\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nEast Building, 2nd Floor\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Mr. Betts:\nI am writing to request a Department of Transportation (DOT) written interpretation concerning the\ncorrect assignment of \"bulk packaging\" or \"non-bulk packaging\" when shipping a medium hazard solid\nPGII material.\nThe following definitions are listed in 49 CFR 171.8:\n\"bulk packaging\" has:\n(2) A maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater\nthan 450 L (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid;\n\"non-bulk packaging\" has:\n(2) A maximum net mass of 400 kg (882 pounds) or less and a maximum capacity of 450 L\n(119 gallons) or less as a receptacle for a solid;\n[Emphasis added.]\nBased on the above-listed definitions, a hazardous material would be required to meet both the net mass\nand maximum capacity criteria to qualify as either a bulk packaging or a non-bulk packaging.\nWe would like to ship a medium hazard PGII solid hazardous material, which has a net mass in excess of\n882 pounds, yet the material is collected and contained in a receptacle that has a maximum capacity less\nthan 450 liters. Based on the definitions listed above, this hazardous material meets neither the definition\nof \"bulk packaging\" nor \"non-bulk packaging\".\nWe understand that non-bulk packaging rated to a UN specification must meet both the net mass and the\nmaximum capacity criteria as set out in the non-bulk packaging UN specification section 49 CFR 178\nSubpart L; for example: For a steel drum, the net mass and maximum capacity limits are listed in 49 CFR\n178.505(a)(6) & (7).\nIn our case, the net mass of this hazardous material is greater than 882 pounds; however, the capacity of\nthe receptacle that it is contained in is less than 119 gallons. Both the net mass and the maximum\ncapacity must be met to meet the definition of a non-bulk packaging. As this hazardous material does not\nmeet the criteria for a non-bulk packaging, and does not meet the criteria for a bulk packaging either, we\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nAECOM\nDOT/PHMSA Interpretation Request\nPage 2 of2\nAugust 10, 2015\nwould like to know if the hazardous material can be shipped following the bulk packaging requirements\nin 49 CFR 173.240(c).\nThe receptacle in which we collect this material is a non-specification strong metal container, that meets\nthe requirements of a sift-proof, closed bin in 49 CFR 173.240 and can accommodate the heavy weight of\nthis material, which is about 1,200 pounds; however, the capacity of this packaging is less than\n100 gallons.\nCould we consider our receptacle as a sift-proof, closed bulk bin as described in 49 CFR 173.240(c)?\nI appreciate your assistance with these questions.\nSincerely,\nAndrew N. Romach\nAECOM\nRegulatory Compliance Manager\nAECOM\n1600 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560\nFax: 919.461.1371\nTel: 919.461.1220\nandy.romach@aecom.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":6479}