# Woodard & Curran — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 19-0056
- **title:** Woodard & Curran — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2020-02-20
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 19-0056 response to Woodard & Curran concerning 172.202, 172.204, 172.600, 172.604.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0056.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0056.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0056
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/73496/190056.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Plpellne and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
February 20, 2020
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Kelly Camp, CHMM, CPEA
Regional Manager
Woodard & Curran
33 Broad Street
One Weybosset Hill, Floor 7
Providence, RI 02903
Reference No. 19-0056
Dear Ms. Camp:
lbis letter is in response to your May 7, 2019, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to shipping papers that describe
"UN3291, Regulated medical waste, n.o.s., 6.2, Packing Group (PG) II." Specifically, you
enclose a partially redacted sample shipping paper and ask for confirmation whether several
entries on the shipping paper are acceptable under the HMR. We have paraphrased your
questions and answered them in the order you provided.
Ql. The sample shipping paper includes Chemtrec's phone number as the emergency contact
but the carrier, not the shipper, is contracted with Chemtrec to provide this emergency
response service. You ask whether the shipper's use of Chemtrec as its emergency
contact on its shipping paper is acceptable under the HMR.
Al. The answer is yes, provided the matter is agreed to and/or arranged for between the two
parties, and the shipper ensures the emergency response information (ERI) provider has
received current information on the shipper' s material and agreed to provide this service
for the shipper before the material or materials are offered for transportation. See
§§ 172.600 and 172.604. If these conditions have not been met, the answer is no.
Q2. The sample shipping paper includes the number and size of containers of regulated
medical waste (RMW). You state that the ''total" quantity of RMW may be calculated
from this information, but does not appear on the shipping paper. You ask whether it is
acceptable to leave the total quantity of RMW off the shipping paper.
A2. The answer is no. Section 172.202(a)(5) prescribes that the total quantity of hazardous
material covered by a description must be indicated by mass or volume, or by activity for
Class 7 materials, and must include an indication of the applicable unit of measurement.

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Q3. A3. Q4. A4. As prescribed in § 1 72.202( c )(1 ), the number and type of packages must also be indicated
on a shipping paper either before or after, or both before and after, the description
required and authorized by the HMR.
Assuming the total quantity of the hazardous material on the sample shipping paper is
placed near the number and type of containers, you ask whether the placement of the
shipping description and total quantity on the sample shipping paper is acceptable.
The answer is :Yes. There are no boundaries-written or otherwise-regarding what is
considered an acceptable "after" location for the quantity of material covered by a
description so long as it is not considered excessive. To that end, the location depicted in
the sample shipping paper you provided is acceptable, provided there is a clear indication
as to which quantity is the total quantity.
The shipper's certification language on the sample shipping paper does not match that
found in§ 172.204(a)(l) or (2). You ask whether the wording in this shipper's
certification is acceptable under the HMR.
The answer is no. As prescribed in§ 172.204(a), each person who offers a hazardous
material for transportation shall certify that the material is offered for transportation
in accordance with the HMR by printing (manually or mechanically) on the shipping
paper containing the required shipping description the certification prescribed in
§ 172.204(a)(l), or the certification (declaration) prescribed in§ 172.204(a)(2). The
certification in paragraph ( a)(l) is intended for domestic purposes, and the certification in
paragraph (a)(2) is intended for use in either domestic or international transportation
(HM-215A; 59 FR 67390). For transportation by rail only, the certification may be
received verbally or with an electronic signature in conformance with§ 172.204(a)(3)(i)
and (ii).
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

COMMITMENT & INTEGRITY
DRIVE RESULTS
33 Broad Street I One Weybosset H:11
Floor 7
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
www.woodardcurran.com
T 800.985.7897
T 401.273.1007
F 401.273.5087
£~/0£:frL
Via Electronic Mail
May 7, 2019
~ ..._""'- WOODARD
Mr. Shane Kelley
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
&CURRAN
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Kelley:
I received the enclosed shipping paper for shipments of regulated medical waste from a facility located
in Louisiana. I have changed the specific names and addresses, but the remaining information is as
received. In this situation, the carrier is preparing the shipping paper, as I find often happens for wastes
shipments around the country. However, the shipper is certifying the shipping paper and is responsible
for compliance with most of the regulations leading up to transportation. As such, I would like to determine
whether the following are acceptable on the shipping paper provided.
1. 49 C.F.R. §172.201 (d) states that "if utilizing an emergency response information telephone
number service provider, identify the person (by name or contract number) who has a
contractual agreement with the service provider, as prescribed in subpart G of this part." In
addition, 49 C.F.R. §172.604(b)(2) states, "The number of an agency or organization capable
of, and accepting responsibility for, providing the detailed information required by paragraph
(a)(2) of this section. The person who is registered with the ERi provider must ensure that the
agency or organization has received current information on the material before it is offered for
transportation. The person who is registered with the ERi provider must be identified by name,
or contract number or other unique identifier assigned by the ERi provider, on the shipping paper
immediately before, after, above, or below the emergency response telephone number in a
prominent, readily identifiable, and clearly visible manner that allows the information to be easily
and quickly found , unless the name or identifier is entered elsewhere in a prominent manner as
provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section." The enclosed shipping paper includes
CHEMTREC's phone number as the emergency response phone number, but the shipper does
not have a contract with CHEMTREC to provide this service. The carrier has the contract. Is the
presentation of the emergency phone number on the enclosed acceptable?
2. 49 C.F.R. §172.202(a)(5) states, "the total quantity of hazardous materials covered by the
description must be indicated (by mass or volume, or by activity for Class 7 materials) and must
include an indication of the applicable unit of measurement, for example, "200 kg" (440 pounds)
or "50 L" (13 gallons)." The enclosed shipping paper includes the number of containers and the
size of the containers. From this, the total quantity can be calculated, but it is not presented on
the shipping paper. Is this acceptable?
3. 49 C.F.R. §172.202(c)(1) states, "The total quantity of the material covered by one description
must appear before or after, or both before and after, the description required and authorized by
this subpart." Assuming the total quantity is placed near the number and type of containers, is
the current placement of the shipping description and the total quantity acceptable?
4. 49 C.F.R. §172.204(a) (1) and (2) state "each person who offers a hazardous material for
transportation shall certify that the material is offered for transportation in accordance with this

<<<PAGE 4>>>

~
..... ~
WOODARD
&CURRAN
subchapter by printing (manually or mechanically) on the shipping paper containing the required
shipping description the certification contained in paragraph (a)(1) of this section or the
certification (declaration) containing the language contained in paragraph (a)(2) of this section."
The certifications are required to be either of the following:
• "This is to certify that the above-named materials are properly classified, described,
packaged, marked and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation according to
the applicable regulations of the Department of Transportation."
• "I hereby declare that the contents of this consignment are fully and accurately described
above by the proper shipping name, and are classified, packaged, marked and
labeled/placarded, and are in all respects in proper condition for transport according to
applicable international and national governmental regulations."
The certification on the shipping paper does not use this language. Is the language on the
enclosed shipping paper acceptable?
Please contact me at 401.427.1322 or kcamp@woodardcurran.com if you need additional information.
We look forward to your prompt reply so that we can ensure compliance with DOT regulations. Thank
you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Camp, CHMM,CPEA
Regional Manager
KVC/dam
Enclosures
Woodard & Curran
2019.05.07 Letter to Shane Kelley- DC DOT
2 Woodard & Curran
May 7, 2019

<<<PAGE 5>>>

Regulated Medical Waste
MANIFE ST# 1465534
CODE AREA
UN3291, Regulated Medical Waste,
n.o.s., 6.2, PGII
TELEPHONE NUMBER
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I certify that the information provided is true and correct, and that the generated materials are properly classified, described,
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NAME OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE (Print) SIGNATURE OF REPRESENTATIVE DATE
NAME(S) OF PERSONS COLLECTING, TRANSPORTING OR UNLOADING WASTE INITIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER
COMPANY NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER
ADDRESS DATE MEDICAL WASTE COLLECTED
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wt. # # cont. wt# #cont wt.# #cont wt.# #cont. wt. #
I certify that the information provided above is true and correct and that only untreated medical wastes are contained in this load. I am aware that
falsification of this manifest may result in forfeiture of my transporter's registration and/or the privilege of utilizing State-authorized facilities.
NAME OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE (Print) SIGNATURE OF REPRESENTATIVE DATE
TRANSFER STATION: NAME REGISTRATION NUMBER
NAME(S) OF PERSONS COLLECTING , TRANSPORTING OR UNLOADING WASTE INITIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER
COMPANY NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER
ADDRESS DATE MEDICAL WASTE COLLECTED
#cont. wt.# #cont. wU #cont. wt.# #cont wt. # #cont. wt . #
I certify that the information provided above is true and correct and that only untreated medical wastes are contained in this load. I am aware that
falsification of this manifest may result in forfeiture of my transporter's registration and/or the privilege of utilizing State-authorized facilities.
NAME OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE (Print) SIGNATURE OF REPRESENTATIVE DATE
COMPANY NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER
ADDRESS
PERMIT NUMBER DATE WASTE WAS DEPOSITED/ UNLOADED TOTAL WEIGHT DEPOSITED/ UNLOADED
DISCREPANCY INDICATION SPACE
I certify that I have been authorized to accept untreated medical wastes and that I have received the above indicated wastes in accordance with the
re uirements outlined in that authorization.
NAME OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE (Print) SIGNATURE OF REPRESENTATIVE DATE
In case of emergency, call(~ __ 8_0_0_),_4_2_4-_9_3_0_0 ________ (24-hr company or other emergency response group telephone)
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