{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0131","title":"Alabama Power — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-09-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0131 response to Alabama Power concerning 173.159.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0131.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0131.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0131","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160131.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nSEP 2 7 2016\nMs. Sharon Trippany\nAlabama Power\nEnvironmental Compliance - Land\n600 North 18th Street/ 12N-0831\nBirmingham, AL 35203\nReference No. 16-0131\nDear Ms. Trippany:\n·This letter is in response to your July 22, 2016, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to·non-\nspecification packaging exceptions for wet, lead acid batteries. Specifically, you provide a\ndetailed scenario and accompanying photographs of wet, lead acid batteries that are\nsurrounded by a polyethylene battery bag, placed in a :fiberboard box, and secured by straps\nto a pallet. You further explain that the battery terminals are protected with tape and caps\nand that waffleboard material is used to close the box.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ 1. You ask for confirmation that the pallet, to include the added :fiberboard box, remains\na non-specification package in accordance with § 173 .159( d)(l ).\nAl. Typically, pallets are considered \"overpacks\" as defined in§ 171.8. However,\n§ 173 .159( d)(I) permits the use of a pallet as a non-specification packaging, provided\nthe requirements of§§ I 73.159(d)(l) and I 73.159(a) are both met. In accordance\nwith§ 173.159(d)(l), the electric storage batteries must be firmly secured to skids or\npallets capable of withstanding the shocks normally incident to transportation. The\nheight of the completed unit must not exceed 1 Yi times the width of the skid or pallet.'.\nThe unit must be capable of withstanding, without damage, a superimposed weight\nequal to two times the weight of the unit or, if the weight of the unit exceeds 907 kg\n(2,000 pounds), a superimposed weight of 1,814 kg (4,000 pounds). Battery\nterminals must not be relied upon to support any part of the superimposed weight and\nmust not short out if a conductive material is placed in direct contact with them.\nQ2. You ask for confirmation that a non-specification box added to your packaging\nconfiguration would not be subject to the limitations on weight and number of\nbatteries that are outlined in§ I 73.159(d)(2) through (d)(7).\n\n<<>>\n\nA2. Q3. A3. Section 173.159(d) provides the option for seven, separate non-specification\npackaging configurations listed in paragraphs (d)(l) through (d)(7). Therefore, if the\nbattery is packaged in accordance with the option provided in § 173 .159( d)(l ), the\npackaging options and corresponding weight limitations of paragraphs ( d)(2) through\n(d)(7) are not applicable. It should be noted that the requirements of§ 173.159(a)(l)\nthrough (a)(3) must be followed.\nYou ask for confirmation that the fiberboard box in your packaging configuration is\nnot required to be a specification package, as it is added to further secure the batteries .\nand terminals in accordance with§ 173.159(a)(2) and (3).\nSection 173.159(a) prohibits wet, lead acid batteries from being packed with other\nmaterials (including other battery types) and requires protective measures to prevent\ndangerous evolution of heat, short circuit, and damage to terminals. The examples of\nprotective measures in§ l 73.159(a) are illustrative and do not require the use of\nspecification packaging. ·\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\n600 North 18th Street/12N-0831\nBirmingham, AL 35203\nJuly 22, 2016\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubmitted via email: phmsa.hm-infocenter@dot.gov\nRe: Request 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-specification1\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 taped1 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 2'1 thick pieces available) inside the box to fill any voids and\nclose the box\n(9) Place top on box\n(lO)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. 2. 3. 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).\nThe pallet remains the non-specification package per 49 CFR 173.159(d)(1)\nThe 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\n(7).\nOur mailing address is as follows:\nAttn: Sharon Trippany\nAlabama Power\nEnvironmental Compliance - Land\n600 North 13th Street I 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,\nEnclosure (1)\n\n<<>>\n\nENCLOSURE\n\n<<>>\n\nBattery transport.\nThis program will outline the proper method to:\n1. Package\n2. Load\n3. Secure\n4. Transport batteries from one location to another.\n*Battery transport boxes come in two sizes to accommodate\nthe various number of batteries being shipped.\n•,\n\n<<>>\n\nSteps involved in battery transportation include,\n1. Place box base on pallet\n2. Place plastic bag on box base\n3. Install shipping caps\n4. Tape terminals\n5. Place the batteries inside plastic bag on pallet\n6. Band batteries together\n7. Seal bag around batteries\n8. Install shipping box side portion\n9. Fill any voids around plastic bag inside shipping box\n10. Install top portion of shipping box\n11. Band shipping box to the pallet for transport.\n(Minimum of 4 bands)\n12. Label shipping box with UTR #, number of batteries,\nbattery type (lead acid), shipped form (location)\nand shipping to (location).\n·.\n\n<<>>\n\nStandard 40\"X48\" pallet.\n\n<<>>\n\n1. Place box base on pallet\n\n<<>>\n\nx\n0\n..c\nc\n0\ntlO\nro .\n..c QJ\nu Vl\nro\n+J ..c\nVl\nro\n-\nc..\nQJ\nu\nro\n-\n0..\n\n<<>>\n\n.\nVl\nc..\nro\nu\ntlD\nc\n·-\nc..\nc..\n·-\n..c\nVl\n-\n-\nro\n+-'\nVl\n,C\n-\n\n<<>>\n\n1\nTape terminals.\n\n<<>>\n\n-\n-\nro\nc..\nc\n0\ntl.O\nro\n...a\nu\n·-\n+-'\n(/')\nro\n-\nc..\nOJ\n-0\n·-\n(/')\nc\n·-\n(/')\nOJ\n·-\nOJ\n+-'\n+-'\nro\n...a\nOJ\n..c\n+-'\nOJ\nu\nro\n-\na..\n~\n\n<<>>\n\n~\nQJ\n...c\n......,\nQJ\ntlO\n0\n......,\nV>\nQJ\n·-\nLo.\nQJ\n......,\n......,\nro\n..c\n-0\nc\nro\nca\n\n<<>>\n\nBand batteries together.\n\n<<>>\n\nSeal bag around batteries.\n\n<<>>\n\n,· .-\n•\nQJ\nV')\nro\n..c\nx\n0\n..c\nb.O\nc\n·-\nc..\nc..\n·-\n..c\nV')\n4-\n0\nV')\n!ii....\nQJ\nc\n!ii....\n0\nu\nE\n0\n+-' +-'\n0\n..c\n\"'U\n-\n0\nLL\n\n<<>>\n\n•\nc\n0\n·-\n·-\nVl\nx\n0\n..0\nb.O\nc\n·-\nc..\nc..\n·-\n..c\nVl\n-\n-\nro\n+-'\nVl\nc\n-\n\n<<>>\n\n•\nx\n0\n...c\nbD\nc\n·-\n0..\n0..\n·-\n..c\nVl\nOJ\n-0\n·-\nVl\nc\n·-\nbD\nro\n...c\nu\n·-\n+-'\nVl\nro\n-\n0..\n-0\nc\n:J\n0\nL-\nro\n-0\n·-\n0\n>\n> c\nro\n-\n-\n·-\nLL\n\n<<>>\n\n•\nx\n0\n..c\nb.O\nc\n·-\nc..\nc..\n·-\n..c\nV>\n'+-\n0\nc\n0\n·-\n+-' !......\n0\nc..\nc..\n0\n+-'\n-\n-\nro\n+-'\nV>\nc\n-\n\n<<>>\n\n.\n+-'\n!....\n0\nc..\nVl\nc\nro\n!....\n+-'\n~\n0\n\"+--\n+-'\nQJ\n-\n-\nro\nc..\n0\n+-'\nx\n0\n..c\ntlO\nc\n·-\nc..\nc..\n·-\n..c\nVl\n-c\nc\nro\ncc\n\n<<>>\n\nLabel shipping box with DOT label, number of batteries,\nbattery type (lead acid}, shipped form (location}\nand shipping to (location}.\n\"·","truncated":false,"body_characters":9371}