{"operation":"document","citation":"17-0112","title":"Tom Boyd — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2018-05-17","effective_on":null,"summary":"17-0112 concerning 173.159.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0112.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0112.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0112","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/58571/170112.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMAY 1 7 2018\nMr. Tom Boyd\n389 Brighton Hill Road\nMinot, ME 04258\nReference No. 17-0112\nDear Mr. Boyd:\nThis letter is in response to your October 10, 2017, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the configuration\nof wet batteries secured to a pallet. Specifically, you ask three questions regarding a letter of\ninterpretation previously issued by this Office under Reference No. 14-0037.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1.\nYou ask whether Configuration #1 in Reference No. 14-0037 complies with the\nprovisions of § 173.159(d), which authorize the use of non-specification packagings for\nbatteries packed without other materials.\nAl.\nThe answer is no. Because the non-battery materials are placed on top of the\nshrink-wrapped battery layer on the same pallet in Configuration #1, the scenario is not in\ncompliance with § 173.159(d).\nQ2.\nYou ask whether a shipper may place batteries packed in 5-sided slip covers on the same\npallet with other materials under § 173.159(d).\nA2.\nThe answer is no. The scenario you describe in Question Q2 is only authorized under the\nterms of a special permit.\nQ3.\nYou ask if Special Permit DOT-SP 16171 authorizes other materials, such as pails, cans,\nor pipes, to be packed with batteries on the same pallet. ,\nA3.\nThe answer is yes, provided the pails, cans, or pipes are packed in plastic totes or\ncontained in strong outer packagings that are sift-proof if solid or leakproof if liquid.\nfiberboard boxes under the terms of the special permit. Further, the materials must be\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\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 3>>>\n\nstevens\n$173.3.\nBatteries\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\n17-0112\nFrom:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nFriday, October 13, 2017 9:39 AM\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Clarification on Letter of interpretation 114-0037\nHi Alice,\nPlease submit this as a letter of interpretation. Mr. Boyd spoke with Eamonn and Breanna.. Let me know if you have any\nquestions.\nThanks,\nJodi\nFrom: Tom Boyd [mailto:tom@eastbranchdelivery.com]\nSent: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 9:55 AM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter <PHMSAHMInfoCenter@dot.gov>\nSubject: Clarification on Letter of interpretation 114-0037\nDear Sirs,\nI need to know if option 1 of the above letter of interpretation is a legal meaning of shipping Batteries, Wet,\nfilled with acid, electric stowage. The letter seems to say option 2 is ok but does not clearly say option 1 is ok. My read\non option 1 is that to use that method, which allows for co-mingling batteries without individual packaging with other\nfreight in a shrink wrapped pallet, is only allowed by obtaining a special permit 16171.\nPlease produce a written response clarifying whether or not a shipper can ship batteries without individual\npackaging and labeling, like the 5 sided cartons which were the standard for a long time, co-mingled with other freight\nlike cartons, shipping totes, pails, cans, pipes, etc. in a shrink wrapped pallet without a special permit.\nMy read on the provisions of the special permit limit what can be co-mingled to cartons and shipping totes\nwhich would disallow the pails cans pipes etc. even if a special permit was obtained.\nThank you,\nTom Boyd\n389 Brighton Hill Road\nMinot, ME 04258\n207-577-4631\n1","truncated":false,"body_characters":3602}