{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0035","title":"SJ Transportation Co. Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-07-26","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0035 response to SJ Transportation Co. Inc. concerning 172.516.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0035.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0035.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0035","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160035.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nJUL 2 6 2016\nMaureen Levy Poole\nSJ Transportation Co, Inc.\n1176 US Route 40 PO Box 169\nWoodstown, NJ 08098\nRef. No. 16-0035\nDear Ms. Poole:\nThis responds to your March 3, 2016 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to placarding. You request\nclarification on what constitutes substantially reduced placard visibility, as provided in\n§ 172.516. In your email, you provide an example of a placard that is partially obstructed by\na placard holder and ask whether this is considered damaged.\nThe answer is no. We do not consider the example placard provided to be damaged.\nHowever, we note that the picture you provided shows a placard that does not fit precisely in\nthe placard holder, which appears to be designed according to the placard holder\nspecifications in Appendix C to Part 172. The Dimensional Specifications for Recommended\nPlacard Holder in Appendix C to Part 172 were originally adopted to be consistent with the\nlarger minimum size requirements of 273 mm × 273 mm (or 10¾ in. × 10¾ in.) for placards\nprior to the publication of final rule HM-218F on July 20, 2011 [76 FR 43510]. The HM-\n218F rule reduced the placard minimum size requirements to 250 mm x 250 mm (~ 9¾ in. x\n9¾ in.) to harmonize with international standards.\nThe horizontal cross members of the recommended placard holder do not obstruct or cover\nany of the essential design elements of the original larger minimum size placard (i.e., a 273\nmm × 273 mm placard). Yet, if a placard is designed to the current minimum size\nrequirements (i.e., a 250 mm × 250 mm placard), it would not fit precisely in a placard holder\nstrictly designed to Appendix C standards. The specifications in Appendix C are not intended\nto be fixed and should be adjusted accordingly for consistency with the size of the placard it is\nintended to hold.\nRegardless of which size placard is affixed to a transport vehicle, the placard holder used\nshould not obscure the format of the placard.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nAs required by § 172.516(c)(6), each placard on a transport vehicle, bulk packaging, freight\ncontainer or aircraft unit load device must be maintained by the carrier in a condition so that the\nformat, legibility, color, and visibility of the placard will not be substantially reduced due to\ndamage, deterioration, or obscurement (emphasis added) by dirt or other matter.\nI trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely\nirk Der Kindere\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nAccarone\n$172.5166)6)\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nPlacarding\nFrom:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\n16-0035\nSent:\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nWednesday, March 02, 2016 3:46 PM\nSubject:\nFW: 49 CFR 172.516 (c)(6)\nAttachments:\n0226160723-00.jpg\nDear Shante and Alice,\nForwarded is a request for a formal letter of interpretation. Ms Levy spoke with Jordan in the HMIC.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Maureen Levy [mailto:mlevy@sjtransportation.com]\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 1:28 PM\nSubject: 49 CFR 172.516 (c)(6)\nGood Afternoon,\nI am seeking to gain clarification of the placarding requirements under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180. Specifically, clarification on what constitutes substantially\nreduced placard visibility, as referenced in § 172.516.\nAttached is an example of a placard. Can you please advise if this would be considered\ndamaged? Thank you for your help with this matter.\nSafe Travels!\nMaureen Levy Poole\nDirector of HR & Risk Management\nSJ Transportation Co, Inc.\n1176 US Route 40\nPO Box 169\nWoodstown, NJ 08098\n856-769-2741 ext. 125 ~ Phone\n856-769-9811 ~ Fax\nwww.sjtransportation.com ~ Website\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nMission Statement: Relentless pursuit to be the safest most respected transportation provider in\nNorth America/Canada; Delivering quality service and solutions that exceed our customers' &\nemployees expectations\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nTank tended\n= be fled by\n3264","truncated":false,"body_characters":4165}