{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0129","title":"National Cargo Bureau — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-09-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0129 response to National Cargo Bureau concerning 172.101, 173.12, 174.81, 175.78, 176.83, 177.848.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0129.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0129.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0129","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160129.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nlaterials Safet\nipeline and Hazardou\nAdministration\nSEP 4 7 2016\nMr. Edward F. Walker, Jr.\nDeputy Chief Surveyor Pacific Ports\nNational Cargo Bureau\n17 Battery Place, Suite 1232\nNew York, NY 10004\nReference No. 16-0129\nDear Mr. Walker:\nThis letter is in response to your July 28, 2016, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to exceptions for\nwaste materials prescribed in § 173.12 and their segregation requirements in transportation.\nYou note that the HMR define \"hazardous waste\" but not \"waste materials.\" We have\nparaphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1.\nYou ask the meaning of \"waste materials\" as it is used in the title and text of\n§ 173.12.\nAl.\nAs you state in your letter, the HMR do not define \"waste materials.\" However,\n\"waste materials\" as it is used in § 173.12 means hazardous materials intended for\ndisposal that meet the applicable criteria prescribed in § 173.12. The HMR define a\n\"hazardous material\" as \"a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation\nhas determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and\nproperty when transported in commerce... includes hazardous substances, hazardous\nwastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as\nhazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and materials that\nmeet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in\" 49 CFR Part 173. (See\nQ2.\nYou ask if the segregation requirements prescribed in § 173.12(e) apply to hazardous\nwastes shipped in the same freight container with wastes that are exempt from the\nEnvironmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements\nbut are being shipped for disposal and meet the definition of a hazardous material\nunder the HMR.\nA2.\nThe answer is no. The segregation requirements prescribed in § 173.12(e) apply to\nhazardous wastes, as defined in § 171.8, that comply with the requirements in\n§ 173.12(b). Under the HMR, waste hazardous materials not subject to EPA's\n\n<<>>\n\nHazardous Waste Manifest Requirements do not meet the definition of a \"hazardous\nwaste\" under § 171.8, but do meet the definition of a \"hazardous material\" under the\nHMR. Therefore, these materials are subject to the applicable segregation\nrequirements for hazardous materials prescribed by mode and/or material in the HMR\n(e.g., see §§ 174.81 (rail), 175.78 (aircraft), 176.83 (vessel), and 177.848) (highway))\nand, if transported internationally, the segregation requirements for international\nhazardous materials shipments prescribed in 49 CFR Part 171, Subpart C.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nLehman\n8173.159\nBatterie.\n16-0131\n| 600 North 18\" Street/12N-0831\nALABAMA A\nBirmingham, AL 35203\nPOWER\nA SOUTHERN COMPANY\nJuly 22, 2016\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nSubmitted via email: phmsa.hm-infocenter@dot.gov\nRe:\nRequest for Written Clarification\n49 CFR 173.159\nTo Whom It May Concern:\nOur company ships varying numbers and sizes of used batteries (primarily lead acid) from the field back\nto a central facility where they are accumulated for shipment to a recycler. Often, the lead acid\nbatteries can vary in size, up to 120 pounds each. A pallet serves as our non-specification package for\nthe batteries per 49 CFR 173.159(d)(1).\nIn order to further secure the batteries and provide additional protection from short circuit and damage\nto the terminals [49 CFR 173.159(a)(2) and (3)], we are considering the addition of a non-specification,\ndurable fiberboard box to the process. The packaging process would be as follows:\n(1) Place an unconstructed box bottom on a standard pallet\n(2) Place a heavy polyethylene battery bag on top of the cardboard box base (precautionary in the\nevent of a spill during transport\n(3) Place non-leaking batteries inside the bag\n(4) Band the batteries together with non-metallic banding\n(5) Ensure each battery's terminals are taped, and caps are in place\n(6) Secure the bag around the banded batteries\n(7) Insert a cardboard piece designed to form the sides of the box\n(8) Insert waffleboard material (1\" and 2\" thick pieces available) inside the box to fill any voids and\nclose the box\n(9) Place top on box\n(10)Band (with non-metallic banding) the box to the pallet, using at least 4 straps.\nThese steps are demonstrated in the enclosure.\nOur interpretation is that the package remains the non-specification pallet per 49 CFR 173.159(d)(1),\nand the non-specification box further secures the batteries and the terminals per 49 CFR 173.159(a)(2)\n\n<<>>\n\nand (3). In addition, it is our interpretation that the addition of a non-specification box to the pallet as\ndescribed will not subject the non-specification package to the limitations on the weight and number of\nbatteries outlined in 49 CFR 173.159(d)(3) through (7), but rather the non-specification package remains\nsubject to the weight limitations of 49 CFR 159.173(d)(1).\nOn May 25, 2016, we spoke with a representative of the Hazardous Materials Information Center and\nthe representative agreed the box would provide further protection of the terminals and would help\nensure the batteries are firmly secured to the pallet. As such, the pallet would remain the non-\nspecification package (and thus the box does not have to meet UN specifications).\nQuestions:\nWe request DOT's confirmation that:\n1. The box added to the packaging process is not required to be a specification package, as the\nadded box is to further secure the batteries and terminals per 49 CFR 173.159(a)(2) and (3).\n2. The pallet remains the non-specification package per 49 CFR 173.159(d)(1)\n3. The non-specification box added to the packaging process would not be subject to the\nlimitations on the weight and number of batteries outlined in 49 CFR 173.159(d)(3) through\nOur mailing address is as follows:\nAttn: Sharon Trippany\nAlabama Power\nEnvironmental Compliance - Land\n600 North 18* Street / 12N-0831\nBirmingham, AL 35203\nWe appreciate your time in reviewing this request. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned\nat (205) 257-4462 or sctrippa@southernco.com.\nSincerely,\nSha Cuppar\nSharon C/ Trippany, CHMM\nEnclosure (1)\n\n<<>>\n\nENCLOSURE\n\n<<>>\n\n*Battery transport boxes come in two sizes to accommodate\nBattery transport.\n4. Transport batteries from one location to another.\nThis program will outline the proper method to:\nthe various number of batteries being shipped.\n1. Package\n2. Load\n3. Secure\n\n<<>>\n\nSteps involved in battery transportation include,\n9. Fill any voids around plastic bag inside shipping box\n12. Label shipping box with UTR #, number of batteries,\nbattery type (lead acid), shipped form (location)\n5. Place the batteries inside plastic bag on pallet\n11. Band shipping box to the pallet for transport.\n(Minimum of 4 bands)\n2. Place plastic bag on box base\n8. Install shipping box side portion\n10. Install top portion of shipping box\nand shipping to (location).\n1. Place box base on pallet\n6. Band batteries together\n7. Seal bag around batteries\n3. Install shipping caps\n4. Tape terminals\n\n<<>>\n\nStandard 40\"X48\" pallet.\n\n<<>>\n\n1. Place box base on pallet\n\n<<>>\n\nPlace plastic bag on box\nbase.\n\n<<>>\n\nInstall shipping caps.\n\n<<>>\n\nprel\nTape terminals.\np elle llol\n\n<<>>\n\nPlace the batteries inside plastic bag on pallet.\n\n<<>>\n\nBand batteries together.\n\n<<>>\n\n46\n45\nBand batteries together.\n\n<<>>\n\nSeal bag around batteries.\n\n<<>>\n\nFold bottom corners of shipping box base.\n\n<<>>\n\nInstall shipping box side portion.\n\n<<>>\n\nFill any void around plastic bag inside shipping box.\n\n<<>>\n\nInstall top portion of shipping box.\n\n<<>>\n\nMinimum of 4 bands\nBand shipping box to pallet for transport.\n\n<<>>\n\nLeadAcid\nLabel shipping box with DOT label, number of batteries,\nCORROSIVE\nbattery type (lead acid), shipped form (location)\nand shipping to (location).","truncated":false,"body_characters":8384}