# Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 16-0118
- **title:** Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-03-23
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 16-0118 response to Public Utilities Commission of Ohio concerning 173.5.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0118.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0118.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0118
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/160118.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
MAR 2 3 2017
Mr. Tom Forbes
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Transportation Department
Field Supervisor Enforcement Division
180 East Broad Street
Suite 421
Columbus, OH 43215
Reference No. 16-0118
Dear Mr. Forbes:
This letter is in response to your July 5, 2016, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to agricultural operations as
prescribed in§ 173.5(a)(2). In your email, you ask a series of questions related to a clarification
issued by this Office on May 27, 2016, under Reference No. 16-0002, that you believe may have
been in error as the result of a possible misunderstanding of the facts as presented in your
original letter.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
QI. As prescribed in§ 173.5(a), for other than a Class 2 material, the transportation of an
agricultural product over local roads between fields of the same farm is excepted from the
requirements of the HMR if it is transported by a farmer who is an intrastate private
motor carrier and the movement of the agricultural product conforms to requirements of
the State in which it is transported and is specifically authorized by a State statute or
regulation in effect before October 1, 1998. Does the Ohio statute in effect prior to
October 1, 1998 "specifically authorize" such movement?
Al. The answer is yes. Section 4923.02 of the Ohio statute, which was in effect prior to
October 1, 1998, explicitly authorized the movement by a private motor carrier engaged
in the transportation of farm supplies to the farm or farm products from farm to market.
Q2. AnswerAl in your May 27, 2016, clarification states that the current State law or
regulation must have come into effect before July 1, 1998. It is our understanding that
you meant October 1, 1998. In 2013, the State of Ohio adopted the HMR by reference.
If you find that the 1998 Ohio statute specifically authorized the movement described in
Question Q 1, what impact, if any, does the revised statute have on use of the exception
authorized in§ 173.5(a)?

<<<PAGE 2>>>

A2. · Q3. A3. The State of Ohio's adoption of the HMR by reference in a 2013 statute amendment is
not relevant. Unless otherwise excepted, the HMR has been applicable to the intrastate
transportation of hazardous materials since October 1, 1998. However, because the
movement of the agricultural product conformed to the requirements of the State in
which it was transported, and was specifically authorized by a State statute or regulation
in effect before October l, 1998, the exception in§ l 73.5(a) is authorized. Further, the
Federal hazmat transportation law does not prohibit a State from enacting a law or
regulation that would restrict or repeal the agricultural exceptions provided by§ 173.S(a)
of the HMR regardless of the effective date.
Answer A2 in your May 27, 2016, clarification appears to be in conflict with Answer A 1.
In Answer Al, you state the current State law or regulation must be in effect before
July 1, 1998 (October 1, 1998). In Answer A2, you state that a State statute or regulation
does not have to exist authorizing movement in accordance with§ l 73.5(a)(2) and that
the HMR independently excepts shipments from any State law that came into effect after
July 1, 1998 (October 1, 1998). Please explain.
Answers Al and A2 of this response clarify the authorization to use the exceptions
provided by§ 173.5(a)(2) of the HMR either before, after, or before and after
October 1, 1998. However, in retrospect, it is the opinion of this Office that the four
conditions prescribed in§ 173.S(a) are not mutually exclusive; all four conditions must
be met. Consequently, the exception from the requirements of the HMR for other than a
Class 2 product must be transported by a farmer who is an intrastate private motor carrier,
and the movement of the agricultural product must conform to requirements of the State
in which it is transported and be specifically authorized by a State statute or regulation in
effect before October l, 1998.
We apologize for the inconsistency in our previous response and for any inconvenience it may
have caused. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Dodd, Alice (PHMSA}
From: Rivera, Jordan CTR (PHMSA)
Sent:
Wednesday, July 06, 2016 11:47 AM
To:
Hazmat Interps
Subject: FW: Interpretation Request
Attachments: Farmer Local Roads 160002.pdf; 4923 Statute 2013.docx
Hi Shante/Alice,
Please submit this as a letter of interpretation. Eileen wrote the interpretation letter in question.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Jordan
From: tom.forbes@puco.ohio.gov [mailto:tom.forbes@puco.ohio.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2016 7:02 PM
To: PHMSA HM lnfoCenter
Subject: Interpretation Request
Dear Sir or Madame:
This letter is to seek clarification of your response to my request for interpretation regarding 173.S(a)(2} (attached 16-
0002} as it relates to Ohio law as it stood in 1998 and as it stands today. I believe the facts at issue may have been
misunderstood. 173.S(a)(2) requires that the movement of the agricultural product conform to the requirements of the
state and is specifically authorized by a state statute or regulation in effect before October 1, 1998. In 1998, Ohio had in
place a state statute that excepted farmers from all motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations in
intrastate commerce (see 4923.02(A}(6) attached). In 2013, as a results of a FMCSA audit Ohio changed the statute so
that farmers now have to comply with the HMRs. My questions are as follows:
1. 2. 3. Did the 1998 version of 4923.02(A}(6), which exempted farmers from the FMCSRs and HM Rs, "specifically
authorize" the transportation contemplated in in 173.S{a)?
In your letter you state that the current state law or regulation must have come into effect before July 1,
1998. As mentioned above, Ohio changed the statute in 2013 so that farmers now must comply with the
HM Rs. If you find that the 1998 version of 4923.02(A}(6) did specifically authorize the transportation at issue,
how does the fact that the statute was later amended affect the analysis?
Your answer to Q2 in your letter appears to be in conflict with your answer to Ql. Again, in Al you state that
the current state law or regulation must have come into effect before July 1, 1998. In the answer to Q2, you
state that 173.S independently excepts shipments from the HMRs and from any state law that came into effect
after July 1, 1998. Is it PHMSA's position that 173.5 prohibits a state from enacting a law or regulation that
would abrogate the 173.S exemption that an intrastate farmer may have enjoyed under a prior state law or
regulation? It would seem to me that 173.S allows a farmer to enjoy such exemption only as long as a state has
an applicable pre-October 1998 law or regulation on the books, which the state can amend or repeal at any
time .
Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Tom Forbes
1

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Transportation Department
Field Supervisor Enforcement Division
180 E Broad St, STE 421
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Cell (614) 519-2811
PUCO.ohio.gov
Eu
This message and any response to it may constitute a public record and thus may be publicly available to anyone
who requests it.
2

<<<PAGE 5>>>

2013 Ohio Statute
4923.02 Exemption from provisions of chapter.
(A) As used in this chapter, "private motor carrier" does not include a person when engaged in
any of the following in intrastate commerce:
(1) The transportation of persons in taxicabs in the usual taxicab service;
(2) The transportation of pupils in school busses operating to or from school sessions or school
events;
(3) The transportation of farm supplies to the farm or farm products from farm to market or to
food fabricating plants;
(4) The distribution of newspapers;
(5) The transportation of crude petroleum incidental to gathering from wells and delivery to
destination by pipe line;
(6) The transportation of injured, ill, or deceased persons by hearse or ambulance;
(7) The transportation of compost (a combination of manure and sand or shredded bark mulch)
or shredded bark mulch;
(8) The transportation of persons in a ridesharing arrangement when any fee charged each
person so transported is in such amount as to recover only the person's share of the costs of
operating the motor vehicle for such purpose;
(9) The operation of motor vehicles for contractors on public road work.
(B) The public utilities commission may grant a motor carrier operating in intrastate commerce a
temporary exemption from some or all of the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted
under it, when either of the following applies:
(1) The governor of this state has declared an emergency.
(2) The chairperson of the commission or the chairperson's designee has declared a
transportation-specific emergency.
(C) The commission may adopt rules not incompatible with the requirements of the United States
department of transportation to provide exemptions to motor carriers operating in intrastate
commerce not otherwise identified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section.
(D) Divisions (A) to (C) of this section shall not be construed to relieve a person from compliance
with the following:
(1) Rules adopted under division (A)(2) of section 4923.04 of the Revised Code, division (E) of
section 4923.06 of the Revised Code, division (B) of section 4923.07 of the Revised Code, and
section 4923.11 of the Revised Code;
(2) Rules regarding commercial driver's licenses adopted under division (A)(l) of section
4923.04 of the Revised Code;

<<<PAGE 6>>>

2013 Ohio Statute
(3) Rules adopted under section 4921.15 of the Revised Code regarding uniform registration and
permitting of carriers of hazardous materials and other applicable provisions of that section and
division (H) of section 4921.19 of the Revised Code.
Amended by !30th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 483, §101.01, eff. 9/15/2014.
Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.127, HB 487, §101.01, eff. 6/11/2012.
4923.04 Rules applicable to transportation of persons, property, or hazardous
materials; authority of commission to obtain warrant or subpoena.
(A) The public utilities commission shall adopt rules applicable to all of the following:
(1) The transportation of persons or property by motor carriers operating in interstate and
intrastate commerce ;
(2) The highway transportation and offering for transportation of hazardous materials by motor
carriers, and persons engaging in the highway transportation and offering for transportation of
hazardous materials, operating in interstate or intrastate commerce;
(3) The use and interchange of intermodal equipment, as those terms are defined in section
4923.041 of the Revised Code.
(B) The rules adopted under division (A) of this section shall not be incompatible with the
requirements of the United States department of transportation.
(C) To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to assist the commission in the performance of
any of its powers or duties, the commission, either through the public utilities commissioners or
employees authorized by it, may do either or both of the following:
(1) Apply for, and any judge of a court of record of competent jurisdiction may issue, an
appropriate search warrant;
(2) Examine under oath, at the offices of the commission, any officer, agent, or employee of any
person subject to this chapter. The commission, by subpoena, also may compel the attendance
of a witness for the purpose of the examination and, by subpoena duces tecum, may compel the
production of all books, contracts, records, and documents that relate to compliance with this
chapter or compliance with rules adopted under this chapter.
Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.
Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.127, HB 487, §101.01, eff. 6/11/2012.

<<<PAGE 7>>>

Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Geller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)
Monday, January 04, 2016 4:40 PM
Hazmat Interps
FW: Interpretation Request
1998 Ohio Statute.pdf
Dear Shante and Alice,
Forwarded is a request for a formal letter of interpretation.
Thanks,
Shelby
From: tom.forbes@puc.state.oh.us [mailto:tom.forbes@puc.state.oh.us]
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2016 3:12 PM
To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter
Cc: tom. forbes@puc.state.oh.us; joseph .turek@puc. state.oh. us
Subject: Interpretation Request
Dear Sir or Madame:
I am requesting a written interpretation of the Hazardous Materials regulations. Specifically 173.5(a)(2) what is
meant by the phrase "is specifically authorized by a State statute or regulation in effect before October 1,
1998." The regulation states:
173.5 Agricultural operations.
(a) For other than a Class 2 material, the transportation of an agricultural product over local roads between
fields of the same farm is excepted from the requirements of this subchapter. A Class 2 material transported
over local roads between fields of the same farm is excepted from subparts G and Hof part 172 of this
subchapter. In either instance, transportation of the hazardous material is subject to the following conditions:
(1) It is transported by a farmer who is an intrastate private motor carrier; and
(2) The movement of the agricultural product conforms to requirements of the State in which it is transported
and is specifically authorized by a State statute or regulation in effect before October 1, 1998.
Ohio had a State statue in place in 1998 that excepted farmer from all motor carrier safety and hazardous
materials regulations while in intrastate commerce. Does this exception allow a farmer moving agriculture
products other than class 2 over local roads between fields of the same farm to utilize the exception in 173.S(a)
or did their need to be a State statue specifically authorizing this for the except in 173.S(a) to be utilized. In
2013 Ohio changed it statue stating farm moves had to comply with the hazardous materials regulations they
continue to be exempt from the motor carrier safety regulation in intrastate commerce
An Ohio Inspector recently stopped a cargo tank operated by a farmer between fields of the same farm
transporting diesel fuel in a cargo tank. TJ;ie diesel fuel was leaking from the cargo tank and had no hazard
communications on the package and no shipping paper. We need to understand if this shipment is exempt from
the hazardous materials regulations based on 173.S(a) and the attached 1998 Ohio statue 4923.02(A)(6).
Thank you for your assistance on this matter.
1

<<<PAGE 8>>>

Tom Forbes
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Transportation Department
Field Supervisor Enforcement Division
180 E. Broad Street, STE 421
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Cell (614} 519-2811
Office (614} 644-0296
PUCO.ohio.gov
lj[J
This message and any response to it may constitute a public record and thus may be publicly available to anyone
who requests it.
2

<<<PAGE 9>>>

,...
I
puco-PRIVATE MOTOR CARRIERS
4923.02
cJ.S. Motor Vehiclt:s §§ 16, 44 et seq.
oJur 3d: 5, Appellate Review !l 496; 7, Auto·
mobiles and Other Vehicles§ 254; 13, Car·
riers § 8, 99; 77, Public Transit§ 212
4923.02 Det'lnJtlons
As used in sections 4923.0 l to 492.3.17 of the Revised Code:
(A) "Private motor earner" or "contract carrier by motor vehicle" includes
every corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, person, firm,
or copartnership, their lessees, legar or personal representatives, trustees, or
receivers or trustees appointed by any court, not included in the definition
under section 4921.02 of the Revised Code, when engaged in the business of
private carriage of persons or property, or both, or of providing or furnishing
such transportation service, for hire, in or by motor-propelled vehicles of any
kind, including trailers, over any public highway in this state, but does not
include any corporation, company, ai;sociation, joint-stock association, per·
son, firm, or copartnershlp, their lessees, legal or personal representatives,
trustees, or receivers or trustees appointed by any court:
(I) Engaged or proposing to engage, directly or indirectly, as a private
owner or operator of motor vehicles employed or used by a private motor
carrier, or by a motor transportation company as defined in section 4921.02 of
the Revised Code;
(2) Insofar as they are engaged in the transportation of persons or property,
or both, exclusively within the territorial limits of a municipal corporation or
within such limits and the territorial limits of municipal corporations immedi-
ately contiguous to such municipal corporations;
(3) Engaged in the transportation of persons in taxicabs in the usual taxicab
business or in hotel busses operating to and from hotels;
(4) Engaged in the transportation of pupils in school busses operating to or
from school sessions or school events;
(5) Engaged, as a motor transportation company holding a certificate of
public convenience and necessity for the transportation of persons, in the
carriage of persons in emergency or additional motor vehicles on charter
party trips to or from any point within the county or counties in or through
which such motor transportation company provides regular route scheduled
service, provided that such use of such emergency or additional motor vehicle
is repoJ1ed and the tax paid as prescribed by the public utffities commission by
general rule or temporary order;
(6) Engaged in the transportation of farm supplies to the farm or farm
products from farm to market;
(7) Engaged in the operation of motor vehicles for contractors on public
road work;
(8) Engaged in the transportation of newspapers;
(9) Engaged in the transportation of crude petroleum incidental to gather·
ing from wells and delivery to destination by pipe line;
(10) Engaged in the towing of disabled or wrecked motor vehicles;
489

<<<PAGE 10>>>

4923.02 PUBLIC UTILITIES
(11) Engaged in the transportation of injured, ill, or deceased persons by
hearse or ambulance;
(12) Engaged in transportation of compost (a combination of manure and
sand or shredded bark mulch) or shredded bark mulch;
(13) Engaged in the transportation of persons in a ridesharing arrangement
when any fee charged each person so transported is in such ~mount as to
recover only the person's share of the costs of operating the motor vehicle for
such purpose.
(B) "Motor vehicle" includes any automobile, automobile truck, tractor,
trailer, semitrailer, motor bus, or any other self-propelled vehlcle not operated
or driven up~n fixed rails or tracks.
(C) "Charter party trip" means the carriage of persons in one or more
motor vehicles under a special contract for the exclusive use of each such
vehicle for each trip, which contract shall not provide for continuing opera·
tions between .the same termini, and which operation shall in no event
become regular. The limitations of section 4921.18 and any other sections of
the Revised Code as to the seating capacity of such emergency or additiona1
motor vehicles operated by a motor transportation company do not apply to
charter party trips.
(DJ "Ridesharing arrangement" has the same meaning as in section 4921.02
of the Revised Code.
(1988 H 708, eff. 4-19-88; 1982 H 406; 1981H53; 1973 H 941; 129 v 1706; 1953
H 1; GC 614-103)
Historical and Statutory Notes
Pre-1953 H I Amendments: 119 v 163;
118 v 407, § I; 117 v 349, § I; 115 v Pt 2, 96;
115v254
Cross References
Changes by city transit company. 4921.24
Contract carriers by motor vehicle, enforce·
men1 of rules and laws by state highway
patrol, 5503.02
Contract carriers by motor vehicle, registra·
tion as hazardous materials carriers,
4905.80
Motor transportation companies, certificate of
regular route bus service, conditions,
4921.101
No additional tax paid by dry transit com·
pany, 4921.20
Public utilities commission, interstate operat·
ing authority; definitions, 49 l 9. 75
Restrictions for union terminal company serv·
ice, 4953.04
Ohio Administrative Code References
Definitions, knowledge of rules and regula·
tions required. OAC 4901:2·5·01
Automobiles ()::::> 60.
W~TLAW Topic No. 48A.
C.J.S. Motor Vehicles§§ 16, 44 et seq.
Ubrary References
OJur 3d: 13, Carriers § 8
Am Jur 2d: 13, Carriers§ 8, 9
490

<<<PAGE 11>>>

ruco-MOTOR TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES 4921.02
4921.02 Definitions
As used in sections 4921.01 to 4921.32 of the Revised Code;
(A) "Motor transportation company," or "common carrier by motor vehi-
cle," includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock associa-
tion, person, firm, or copartnership, and their lessees, legal or personal repre-
sentatives, trustees, and receivers or trustees appointed by any court, when
engaged or proposing to engage in the business of transporting persons or
property, or the business of providing or furnishing such transportation serv~
ice, for hire, whether directly or by lease or other arrangement, for the public
in general, in or by motor-propelled vehicles of any kind, including trailers,
over any public highway in this state. AU laws regulating the business of motor
transportation, their context notwithstanding, apply to such motor transporta-
tion company or common carrier by motor vehicle. "Motor transportation
company," as so used, does not include any person, firm, copartnership, vol-
untary association, joint-stock association, company, or corporation, wherever
organized or incorporated:
(1) Engaged or proposing to engage as a private motor carrier as defined by
section 4923.02 of the Revised Code;
(2) Insofar as they own, control, operate, or manage motor vehicles used for
the transportation of persons or property, operated exclusively within the
territorial limits of a municipal corporation, or within such limits and the
territorial limits of municipal corporations immediately contiguous to such
municipal corporation;
(3) Insofar as they are engaged in the transportation of persons in taxicabs
in the usual taxicab service or in hotel busses operating to and from hotels;
(4) Engaged in the transportation of pupils in school busses operating to or
from school sessions or school events;
(5) Engaged in the transportation of farm supplies to the farm or farm
products from farm to market or to food fabricating plants;
(6) Engaged in the distribution of newspapers;
(7) Engaged in the transportation of crude petroleum incidental to gather-
ing from wells and delivery to destination by pipe line;
(8) Engaged in the towing of disabled or wrecked motor vehicles;
(9) Engaged in the transportation of injured, ill, or deceased persons by
hearse or ambulance;
(10) Engaged in the transportation of compost (a combination of manure
and sand or shredded bark mulch) or shredded bark mulch;
(11) Engaged in the transportation of persons in a ridesharing arrangement
when any fee charged each person so transported is in such amount as to
recover only the person's share of the costs of operating the motor vehicle for
such purpose.
(B) "Trailer" means any vehicle without motive power designed or used for
carrying property or persons and for being drawn by a separate motor-pro-
pelled vehicle, inc1uding any vehicle of the trailer type, whether designed or
used for carrying property or persons wholly on its own structure, or so
421

<<<PAGE 12>>>

I
l
I
4921.02 PUBLIC UTILITIES
designed or used that a part of its own weight or the weight of its load rests
upon and is carried by such motor-propelled vehicle.
(C) "Public highway" means any public street, road, or highway in this
state, whether within or without the corporate limits of a municipal
corporation.
(D) "Fixed termini" refers to the points between which any motor transpor·
tation company usually or ordinarily operates, provides, or proposes to oper·
ate or provide motor transportation service.
(E) "Regular route" refers to that portion of the public highway over which
any motor transportation company usually or ordinarily operates, provides, or
proposes to operate or provide motor transportation service.
(F) "Irregular route" refers to that portion of the public highway over which
is conducted or provided any other operation of any motor vehicle by a motor
transportation company transporting property.
(G) "Ridesharing arrangement" means the transportation of persons in a
motor vehicle where such transportation is incidental to another purpose of a
volunteer driver, and includes ridesharing arrangements known as carpools,
vanpools, and buspools.
Whether or not any motor-propelled vehicle is operated or such transporta-
tion service is provided or furnished by such motor transportation company,
between fixed termini or over a regular route, or over an irregular route, or
whether or not a corporation, company, association, joint-stock association,
person, firm, or copartnership, or their lessees, trustees, or receivers or trust·
ees appointed by any court, is engaged as a motor transportation company, are
questions of fact. The finding of the public utilities commission on such ques-
tions is a final order which may be reviewed as provided in section 4921.17 of
the Revised Code. The commission has jurisdiction to receive, hear, and deter-
mine such questions upon complaint of any party, or upon its own motion,
upon not less than fifteen days' notice of the time and place of such hearing
and of the matter to be heard.
(1981 H 53, eff. 7·1-82; 1973 H 941; 129 v 1706; 1953 H l; GC 614-84)
Historical and Statutory Notes
Pre-1953 H 1 Amendments: 118 v 407;
118 v 277; 117 v 349; 113 v 482; 111v511; ti I
\I 19; 110 v 211
Cross References
Motor transportation companies, enforce-
ment of rules and laws by state highway
patrol, 5503.02
Motor transportation companies. registration
as hazardous materials carriers, 4905.80
Motor transportation company, defined,
4905.03
Private motor carriers, granting of permit;
contract of carriage effective, 4923.07
Private motor carriers, ridesharing arrange·
ment defined, 4923.02
Railroads, highway and aerial transportation
authorized, 4961.03
Transportation terminal companies, rest;ic·
lions for union terminal company servu:e,
4953.04
422

<<<PAGE 13>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
MAY 2 · 7 2016
Mr. Tom Forbes
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Transportation Department
Field Supervisor Enforcement Division
180 East Broad Street, Ste. 421
Columbus, OH 43215
Reference No. 16-0002
Dear Mr. Forbes:
·This letter is in response to your January 2, 2016 e-mail requesting clarification of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to agricultural
operations as prescribed in§ 173.5(a)(2). In your request, you indicate that an Ohio
Inspector recently stopped a farmer with a leaking cargo tank containing diesel fuel. You
would like to know if the shipment is exempt from the HMR. Your questions are
paraphrased and answered below.
Ql. . What is the meaning of the phrase "is specifically authorized by a State statute or
regulation in effect before October 1, 1998"?
Al. The phrase "is specifically authorized by a State statute or regulation in effect before
October 1, 1998" in§ l 73.5(a)(2) means movement of the agricultural product must
conform to any law or regulation of the State in which it is transported. The current
State law or regulation must have come into effect before July 1; 1998. It is
important to note that this exception only applies to "local roads." According to the
Federal Highway Administration, "Local Roads in rural areas typically serve very
low density, dispersed developments with relatively low traffic volume .... Local
Roads are often classified by default. In other words, once all Arterial and Collector
roadways have been identified, remaining roadways are classified as Local Roads"
(See "Highway Functional Classification Concepts," 2013 Edition.)
Q2. Must a State statute or regulation exist to authorize the use of§ l 73.5(a)(2)? You
enclosed a copy of Ohio Revised Code, Title [49] XLIX Public Utilities, Chapter
4921: MOTOR CARRIER AUTHORITY AND PERMITTING, 4921.02
Definitions, and Chapter 4923: MOTOR CARRIER OPERATIONS, 4923.02,
Definitions.

<<<PAGE 14>>>

A2. The answer to your question is no. This provision, 49 CFR § 173.5, independently
excepts shipments of "other than a Class 2 material" from the requirements of 49
CFR Parts 171 - 180 and from any state law that came into effect after July 1, 1998.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 28946
