# ARKEMA Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 15-0176
- **title:** ARKEMA Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2016-02-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 15-0176 response to ARKEMA Inc. concerning 172.101.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0176.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0176
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150176.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
FEB 1 7 2016
Ms. Christina Kurtz
Manager Hazmat Regulations and Packaging
ARKEMA Inc.
900 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19046-1308
Ref. No. 15-0176
Dear Ms. Kurtz:
This responds to your August 10, 2015 letter regarding the classification of your company's
product under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You
state that your company has a line of mixtures containing resins or paints that you classify as
"UN1866, Resin Solution" and "UN1263, Paint" as instructed by§ 172.lOl(c)(lO)(i)(F) of
the HMR. You note that previous interpretation letter Reference No. 05-0317 supports this
classification; however the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code is not
clear on classifying materials based on application. You believe the wording in paragraphs
2.0.2.5.1and3.1.3.2 of the IMDG Code supports the classification of your company's product
as Resin Solutions and Paints. Specifically, you ask whether the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) interprets paragraphs 2.0.2.5.1and3.1.3.2.l of the
IMDG Code in the same way as§ 172.lOl(c)(lO)(i)(F) of the HMR.
Based on the information you provided, it is the opinion of this Office that paragraphs
2.0.2.5.l and 3.1.3.2.l of the IMDG Code and§ 172.lOl(c)(lO)(i)(F) of the HMR should be
applied in the same manner. You are correct that the IMDG Code does not specifically
provide guidance to shippers as to when the shipping description "UNI 866, Resin Solutions"
should be chosen based on application. However, if you as the shipper make this
determination based on your knowledge and understanding of the commodity, its
composition, and the intended use under the provisions provided in 3.1.3.2.1 of the IMDG
Code, "UN1866, Resin Solutions" would be a proper description for your material.
I hope this satisfies your request.
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Telephone: 610-205-7417
Fax: 610-205-7096
Email: Christina.Kurtz@arkema.com
August 10, 2015
International Standards and Rulemaking Division
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Attn: PHH-13, East Building
1200 New Jersey Ave_, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Re: 49CFR §172.101 (c) (i) (F) and IMDG §3.1 _3_2.1 and §2.0.2.5.1
Dear Sir/Madam:
Arkema Inc. is seeking an interpretation of IMDG §3.1.3.2.1 and §2.0.2.5.1.
Currently we manufacture a line of mixtures containing resins or paints containing
solvents (i.e. xylene, butyl acetate). We classify these mixtures as UN 1866, Resin
Solution and UN 1263, Paint as per §172.101 (c) (i) (F). Interpretation No. 05-0317
supports this decision.
Unfortunately, the IMDG regulations are not as clear when classifying materials based
on use/application. Thus, some of our European colleagues believe the classification
of the same high viscosity resin solutions and paints should be UN 1123, Butyl Acetate
Solution and UN 1307, Xylene Solution.
Arkema Inc. believes the wording in IMDG §2.0.2.5.1 and §3.1.3.2 does support the
same classification since Resin Solution and Paints are mixtures/solutions identified in
the Dangerous Goods List. Unfortunately, application examples are not provided in
The IMDG.
Please confirm the intention of IMDG §2.0.2.5.1 and §3.1.3.2.1 is the same as what is
written in 49CFR § 172.101 ( c) (i) (F).
r~Th~ 'cniFsff na M. Kurtz - - b
,~
Manager, Regulations and Packaging
Arkema, Inc.
Arkema Inc.
900 First Avenue
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
610-878-6500
www .arkema.com
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