{"operation":"document","citation":"19-0012","title":"Military Surrface Deployment and Distibution Command — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-06-03","effective_on":null,"summary":"19-0012 response to Military Surrface Deployment and Distibution Command concerning 178.603, 178.609, 178.965.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0012.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0012.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0012","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/71511/190012.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration JUN O 3 2019\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nJeffrey M. Leitschuh\nHazmat/Transportation Safety Manager\nMilitary Surface Deployment and Distribution Command\n1 Soldier Way, Bldg 1900W\nScott AFB, IL 62225\nReference No. 19-0012\nDear Mr. Leitschuh:\nThis letter is in response to your February 5, 2019, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the design\nqualification testing of a packaging used for infectious substances. Specifically, you request\nclarification of the conditioning requirements for test samples in§§ l 78.609(f), l 78.603(c)(l),\n178.81 0(b)(4), and 178.965(c) as they apply to a Category A packaging constructed of plastic.\nYou interpret the conditioning requirements in § 178.609(f) to be the same as those specified in\n§§ l 78.603(c)(l), 178.810(b)(4), and l 78.965(c). The conditioning period as stated in\n§ l 78.609(f) must be sufficient to ensure that the test sample (the packaging and its contents) has\nbeen reduced to -18 °C or lower prior to performing the drop test. You interpret the phrase \"a\nperiod of at least 24 hours\" to be the minimum required amount of time for conditioning the test\nsample. In addition, your understanding is the conditioning period must continue past 24 hours\nif the test sample has not been fully reduced to -18 °C or lower at the end of the initial 24-hour\nconditioning period.\nYou are correct that testing of packages under§ l 78.609(f) requires a period of24 hours for\nconditioning a test sample at -18 °C or lower. You are also correct that the conditioning period\nunder§ l 78.609(f) would continue past 24 hours if the test sample has not been fully reduced to\n-18 °C or lower. However, such a time is not specified in§§ 178.603(c)(l), 178.810(b)(4), and\n178. 965( c ). Packages tested under these sections of the HMR must have the test samples fully\nreduced to -18 °C or lower, but there is no specified minimum time frame for doing so.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n~~/4vn:>>\n\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTuesday, February 05, 2019 2:25 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Interpretation for Drop Testing Containers with Contaminated Human Remains\n(UNCLASSIFIED)\nInterpretation for Drop Testing Containers with Contaminated Human Remains\nRequest.pdf; 178-609(f) interpretation request.docx\nAlice and lkeya,\nAttached is a request for letter of interpretation. See both documents.\nThanks,\nJonathon, HMIC\n-----Original Message-----\nFrom: Leitschuh, Jeffrey M CIV USARMY SDDC (US) [mailto:jeffrey.m.leitschuh.civ@mail.mil]\nSent: Wednesday, January 02, 2019 2:19 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nCc: Leitschuh, Jeffrey M CIV USARMY SDDC (US) ; Cantu, Elias V CIV USARMY SDDC\n(US) ; Maham, Daniel A CIV USARMY SDDC (US) ; Kudasz,\nThomas M CIV USARMY SDDC (US) \nSubject: Interpretation for Drop Testing Containers with Contaminated Human Remains (UNCLASSIFIED)\nCLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED\nTo Whom it May Concern,\nPlease see attached Interpretation for Drop Testing Containers with Contaminated Human Remains request. Please let\nme know if you require further clarification.\nv/r\nJeff\nJeffrey M . Leitschuh\nHazmat/Transportation Safety Manager\nMilitary Surface Deployment and Distribution Command\n1 Soldier Way, Bldg 1900W\nScott AFB, IL 62225\nComm: (618) 220-5040\nDSN : 770-5040\nEmail: jeffrey.m.leitschuh.civ@mail.mil\nCLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED\n\n<<>>\n\nDEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE\nHEADQUARTERS AIR FORC E LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER\nWRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OHIO\nAFLCMC/EZP AA\n5215 Thurlow St., Ste. 5\nWright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-5540\n11 Dec 2018\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\n1. We request PHMSA' s confirmation that our understanding of the test sample conditioning\nrequirements for plastic packagings prior to performing a drop test, is correct, specifically the\nrequirement of 178.609(f) as it applies to Category A packagings in which either the outer or\ninner packagings are made of plastic.\n2. We interpret the conditioning requirements of 178.609(£) to be the same as those specified in\n178.603(c)(l), 178.810(b)(4), and 178.965(c), i.e., the conditioning period must be sufficient to\nensure that the test sample (the packaging and its contents) has been reduced to -18°C or lower\nprior to performing the drop test. We interpret the phrase \"a period of at least 24 hours\" to be the\nminimum required amount of time for conditioning the test sample; and that the conditioning\nperiod must continue past 24 hours if the test sample has not been fully reduced to -18°C or\nlower at the end of an initial 24 hour conditioning period. [Please note, this is for test samples\nthat do not contain dry ice.]\n3. We hope we have understood the above requirement correctly. Thank you for your assistance\nin this matter. Our point of contact is Ms Susan Evans, 937-257-7445.\n\n<<>>\n\nDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY\nMILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND\n1 SOLDIER WAY\nSCOTT AFB, IL 62225-5006\nDirector, Command Safety Office 26 December, 2018\nMEMORANDUM FOR STANDARDS AND RULEMAKING DIVISION, PIPELINE AND\nHAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nATTENTION: PHH-IO\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nEAST BUILDING\n1200 NEW JERSEY A VENUE, SE\nWASHINGTON, DC 20590-0001\ninfocntr(r v,dot.gov\nSUBJECT: Interpretation of 49 CFR Part 178, Subpait M Testing of Non-Bulk Packagings and Packages,\nSubpa1t O Testing of IBCs and Subpart P Large Packagings Standards\nIn accordance with the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), section 105.20,\napplication is hereby made for interpretation of the Hazardous Materials Regulations on behalf of the\nDepartment of Defense.\nThe interpretation request is in regards to testing plastic inner and outer containers and their contents\nas applicable to the packaging of contaminated human remains. In order to properly condition items\nfor testing, the container and its contents must both be at-18 °C (0 °F) or lower for a minimum of24\nhours before the testing can be conducted. Please refer to attached memorandum from the Air Force\nLife Cycle Management Center. The Air Force POC is Ms. Susan Evans, (937) 257-7445 or Mr. Bill\nHeineman, (937) 257-4503.\nReferences include 49 CFR 178.603 (c)(l), 178.609(f), 178.810(b)(4) and 178.965(c).\nThis request is submitted by Mr. JeffLeitschuh, (618) 220-5040, e-mail jeffrey.m.leitschuh.civr@mail.mil and\nMr. Elias Cantu, (618) 220-5041, e-mail clias.v .cantu.civcmmail.mil or usarmv.scottsddc.mbx.hazmat-\nteam@mail.mil Safety Team, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.\n~ ·£~,~\nDANiilr, A. MAHAM\nDirector, Command Safety Office","truncated":false,"body_characters":7159}