# Waste Management Sustainability Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 17-0055
- **title:** Waste Management Sustainability Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-11-14
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 17-0055 response to Waste Management Sustainability Services concerning 171.1.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0055.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0055.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0055
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56181/170055.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Project Manager
Waste Management Sustainability Services
P.O. Box 16682
Denver, CO 80216
Reference No. 17-0055
Dear Mr. Biancavilla:
This letter is in response to your May 11, 2017, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the transportation of
hazardous wastes. You describe a large quantity generator of hazardous wastes that transports
drums of hazardous waste between three contiguous facilities that operate under one U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Identification Number. You state that although the three
facilities are contiguous, a public road must be used to move between the locations.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q1.
You ask if the transporter (i.e., carrier) of hazardous wastes is considered a carrier of
hazardous materials and subject to the marking, labeling, placarding, and training
requirements of the HMR.
A1.
Based on the understanding that the wastes are classified as hazardous materials subject
the HMR and that access to the public road is not restricted, the answer is yes. Note also
that if public access to the facility is unrestricted, the movement of drums of hazardous
materials exclusively within the confines of the facility is regulated and all applicable
requirements of the HMR (e.g., marking, labeling, placarding, and hazardous material
employee training) must be met unless otherwise excepted. In accordance with
§ 171.1(d)(4), if movement of hazardous materials occurs on or across a public road
within the contiguous boundary of the facility, that transport is subject to the HMR unless
access to the public road is restricted by signals, lights, gates, or similar controls during
transport.
Q2.
You ask if the transportation of hazardous wastes requires drivers to register for a U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Number, have hazardous materials driver's license
endorsement on a commercial driver's license (CDL), and meet insurance requirements.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

field office. A list of field offices and contact information is available at
https://www.fimcsa.dot.gov/mission/field-offices or you may contact FMCSA
Headquarters in Washington, DC at 202-385-2400.
For questions regarding the HMR, you may contact the Hazardous Materials Information
Center at 1-800-467-4922.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Affighte
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Re:
Hazardous Materials Transporter
Dear Sir / Madame:
I am requesting that the USDOT offer a Federal interpretation or guidance on the regulations
surrounding the transportation of hazardous materials; particularly when there are several
locations considered contiguous and share one US EPA ID Number for a Large Quantity
Generator of Hazardous Waste site.
This issue surrounds transporting drums of hazardous waste from two of the three locations to
one final 90-day storage area, located on a third property.
A public road must be driven on to accomplish the task of moving hazardous waste containers
from two of the three contiguous areas to the final location where the hazardous waste storage
area is located.
Is the transporter of the hazardous waste deemed a hazardous materials transporter that must
comply with obtaining a US DOT ID Number and is the driver/carrier subject to all applicable
labeling, placarding (if applicable), marking, hazardous materials driver's license endorsement
requirements, insurance requirements, hazardous materials transportation training, such as
HM-126, HM-181, HM215, 49 CFR Part 172, and 49 CFR Part 177 compliance as a carrier of
Hazardous Materials ?
Sincerely,
Juan Sancanth
Brian Biancavilla, Project Manager
May 11, 2017
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