{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0140","title":"Fuchs Lubricants Co. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-12-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0140 response to Fuchs Lubricants Co. concerning 171.8, 173.150.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0140.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0140.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0140","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160140.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue; SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nDEC 2 2 2016\nMr. Tony Celo\nProduct Stewardship Specialist\nFuchs Lubricants Co.\n17050 Lathrop A venue\nHarvey, IL 60426\nReference No. 16-0140\nDear Mr. Celo:\nThis letter is in response to your August 24, 2016, email and subsequent phone conversation ,\nrequesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180)\napplicable to combustible liquids. Specifically, you ask whether a non-bulk package reclassified\nas a combustible liquid may display the identification number and proper shipping name marking\nwhen transported domestically in accordance with § 173. l 50(f). You further explain the package\nis classified as a flammable liquid when transported internationally.\nSection 173.1 SO(f) specifies that a flammable liquid with a flash point at or above 100 °F and\nbelow 140 °F may be reclassed as a combustible liquid except when transported by vessel or\naircraft. Combustible liquids in non-bulk packages are excepted from the requirements of the\nHMR (including marking and labeling) unless they meet the definition in § 171 .8 for a\n\"hazardous waste\" or \"hazardous substance.\"\nAlthough it is not in violation of the HMR to display relevant markings or labels even when not\nrequired, please note this may create confusion in the enforcement or emergency response\ncommunity. Such confusion may result in issuance of a ticket or frustration of your shipment.\nTo avoid this confusion, we suggest one of the following options:\n1. Remove, obliterate, or securely cover the identification number and proper shipping\n2. name; or\nLeave the marking in place and provide an indication on the package or bill of lading that\nthe material is not regulated for ground transportation in the United States.\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<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject: j l_p - 0 / l{O\nRivera, Jordan CTR (PHMSA)\nWednesday, August 24, 2016 4:21 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: 49 CFR 173.lSO(f) flammable/combustible liquid exception\nHi Shante/ Alice,\nPlease submit this as a letter of interpretation. Mr. Celo spoke with Jodi and Isaac.\nPlease let me know if you have any questions.\nThanks,\nJordan\nFrom: Tony Celo [mailto:tcelo@fuchsus.com]\nSent: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 2:32 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubject: 49 CFR 173.lSO(f) flammable/combustible liquid exception\nHello,\nWe are requesting a letter of interpretation regarding the flammable/combustible liquid exception for liquids with a\nflashpoint above 100°F. Under 49 CFR 173.lSO(f), flammable liquids can be treated as not regulated when shipped in\nnon-bulk containers(< 119 gallons) via ground transport. Product that we ship with this exception indicate that they are\nnon-hazardous. As part of our GHS label we have the UN/NA 1993 shipping description if it applies to a flammable liquid.\nOur transporters have gotten confused when they saw the UN/NA 1993 shipping description on our products even if\nthey fall under the exception. We would like to keep the UN/NA 1993 shipping description on our products because we\nare not sure what our customer will do with the product. If the customer moves the flammable liquid out of the country\nit no longer falls under the exception and needs to be identified as a dangerous good. Our system that generates our\nGHS labels automatically puts the UN/NA 1993 shipping description on our labels and removing the phrase would be a\nburdensome. Our hazardous material transporters, such as UPS and FedEx, have stopped our shipments because they\nare confused by the UN/NA 1993 shipping description on products that fall under the exception. We would like some\nguidance on this topic. Can we have the UN/NA 1993 shipping description on our non-hazardous products under the 49\n. CFR 173.lSO(f) combustible liquid exemption? If it is okay, we could provide the letter of interpretation to our\ntransporters to clarify that we are in compliance with DOT under the exception.\nRegards,\nTony Celo\nProduct Stewardship Specialist\nFuchs Lubricants Co.\n17050 Lathrop Avenue\nHarvey, IL 60426\nOffice: 708-225-6859\ntcelo@fuchsus.com\nwww.fuchsus.com\nThis e-mail may contain confidential an.d/or privileged information of\nFUCHS PETROLUB SE and/or its affiliates. If you are not the intended\nrecipient or have received this e-mail in error. we kindly ask you to notify\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nthe sender immediately and to delete this e-mail and any attachment\nfrom your system Any unauthorized copying, disclosure or distribution of\nthe material in this e-mail is strictly forbidden and may cause liability.\nPlease be advised my email address has changed to:\ntcelo@fuchsus.com.\nPlease make sure you change it in your address books.\nThank You.\nTony Celo\nFUCHS Lubricants Co.\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":5007}