{"operation":"document","citation":"17-0015","title":"Mr. Richard Lloyd — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2017-04-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"17-0015 concerning 173.158, 173.24.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0015.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0015.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0015","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/170015.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nRichard J. Lloyd\n31 Bastian Lane\nAllentown, PA 18104\nReference No. 17-0015\nDear Mr. Lloyd:\nThis letter is in response to your February 2, 2017, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to packaging for\nnitric acid of less than 90 percent concentration. Specifically, you describe your packaging\nconfiguration and ask if it meets the packaging requirements of § 173.158(e).\nYou describe in your email the following packaging configuration:\n• The packaging is comprised of six 2.5L glass bottles placed between partitions and\npacked with absorbent padding to provide extra cushioning.\n• This configuration is then placed in a 4 mil plastic bag and tied.\n• The bag and intermediate packaging is then placed inside a 4G fiberboard box, and\nbefore the outer package is closed, additional Styrofoam padding is placed on top of the\nbottles.\n• The materials in this packaging configuration are non-reactive to the nitric acid.\nSection 173.158(e) outlines a packaging authorization for nitric acid of less than 90 percent\nconcentration when offered for transportation or transported by rail, highway, or water in 4A,\n4B, or 4N metal boxes, 4G fiberboard boxes, or 4C1, 4C2, 4D, or 4F wooden boxes with inside\nglass packagings not over 2.5 L (0.66 gallon) capacity each. When packaged in wooden or\nfiberboard outer packagings, the glass inner packagings must be packed in tightly-closed,\nintermediate packaging, cushioned with an absorbent material. The intermediate packaging and\nabsorbent material must be compatible with the nitric acid.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nSincerely,\nChief, Standards Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nPlease submit this as a letter of interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions.\nThanks,\nJordan\nFrom: Richard Lloyd [mailto:dickchar@rcn.com]\nSent: Thursday, February 02, 2017 3:01 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) < INFOCNTR. INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: Interpretation Request -Packaging for Nitric Acid\nDear Sir:\nI will appreciate confirmation that the packaging configuration specified in this e-mail complies with the\nHazardous Materials Regulations applicable to certain shipments of nitric acid. Docket HM-218H amended\nSec. 173.158(e) so that nitric acid of less than 90 percent concentration, when placed in wooden or fiberboard\nouter packagings, the glass inner packagings must be packed in tightly-closed, non-reactive intermediate\npackagings, cushioned with a non-reactive absorbent material.\nTo meet this requirement, please provide your opinion that the following combination packaging is satisfactory\nfor shipments of nitric acid of less than 90 percent concentration:\nSix, 2.5 L glass bottles will be placed into individual molded cells or partitions of a Styrofoam tray. The\nStyrofoam tray covers about half the height of the glass bottles.\nAt the top of the bottles, there is a ~1 1/5\" Styrofoam pad to protect the cap area.\nEach cell or partition in the Styrofoam tray will have a 6 inch square absorbent pad inserted to provide\ncushioning. The entire tray (with the 6, 2.5 L bottles) will be encapsulated in a 4mil plastic bag that will be tied\nclosed. The six glass bottles of nitric acid will collectively be enclosed in the intermediate packaging which will\nthen be placed in an UN 4G approved fiberboard box (outer packaging). The Styrofoam pad will be inserted\non top of the closed bottles and external to the bag prior to carton closure. All packaging materials, Styrofoam\ntray and pad, absorbent material, etc., will be non-reactive to the nitric acid.\nBelow are several pictures of the packaging described above.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nThank you for your response and guidance in support of our hazardous materials compliance procedures.\nRichard J. Lloyd\n31 Bastian\nLane\nAllentown, PA 18104\nTelephone: 610-398-\n3954\nE-mail: dickchar@rcn.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":3895}