# North American Transportation Consultants — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 19-0081
- **title:** North American Transportation Consultants — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2019-10-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 19-0081 response to North American Transportation Consultants concerning 172.204.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0081.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0081.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0081
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/72561/190081.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
OCT O 8 2019
William Herman
North American Transportation Consultants
P.O. Box 1440
Hightstown, NJ 08520
Reference No. 19-0081
Dear Mr. Herman:
This letter is in response to your June 12, 2019, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to a shipper's certification on a
shipping paper.
In the scenario you describe, a shipment was made in a cargo tank supplied by the carrier and, in
accordance with§ 172.204(b)(l)(i), a shipper's certification was not required. However, a
certification statement was provided on the shipping paper and contained a misspelling;
specifically, "accurately" was spelled "accuratly" in the certification statement.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q 1. You ask whether a shipper's certification that appears on a shipping paper when the
certification is not required must otherwise conform to § 172.204.
A 1. The answer is no. If a shipper's certification is not required due to an exception provided
by§ 172.204(b), the requirements for the certification statement in§ 172.204(a) do not
apply.
Q2. You ask, if the answer to question Q 1 is yes, whether the misspelling of the word
"accurately" constitutes a bona fide modification to the language prescribed in
§ 172.204(a)(2).
A2. See Al.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Sent:
To:
Attachments: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 3:27 PM
Hazmat Interps
Subject: FW: Request for Guidance/Interpretation
Request for Letter of Interpretation - 172.204.pdf
Hi Alice,
Attached is the PDF for LOI 19-0081.
Thanks,
Lynsie, HMIC
From: William Herman [mailto:wherman@natc-inc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 4:32 PM
To: INFOCNTR {PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>
Subject: Request for Guidance/Interpretation
Sir/Madam,
I have attached a request for interpretation regarding shipper certification. I have searched previous guidance documents on your
website and could find none specific to my concern.
Please find attached documents relative to this request.
Thank you for your attention in this concern.
My apologies if this email is duplicative, as I received an error message with my previous to infocntr@dot.gov
Regards,
William Herman
NATC, Inc.
PO Box 1440
Hightstown, NJ
0-609-426-0555
C-732-330-6392
1

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Mr. Shane Kelley
Director, Standards and Rulcmaking Division
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
June 12, 2019
Dear Mr. Kelley,
I am requesting an interpretation regard ing shipper certification. l have attached a copy of a
roadside inspection conducted by the New York State Police and have also attached a copy of the
shipping paper associated with this inspection.
The trooper cited the carrier for a violation of §177.817(6) -·· "Shipper's certification contains a
misspelling, 'accurately' is spelled ·accuratly' within the certification.'·
Since this was a cargo tank supplied by the carrier. and as§ 172.204(6)( 1 ){i ), as well as§ I 77.8 l 7(b)
confer, no shipper certificat ion would be required.
This violation was challenged through the Data Q website on the basis that since no certification
was required, this was essentially optional language and therefore not subject to the strict language
lirnitation as set forth in § 172.204(a)(2).
This request was denied by the agency as they assert that the misspelling is a "modification·· to the
language prescribed in the section. They point to interpretations issued by your agency wherein
PHMSA has stated that no modification to the language in subparagraphs (I) or (2) is permit1ed
or authorized. I have reviewed these interpretations and it appears they all pertain to ··required''
shipper certifications. They further asserted that since the shipping paper contained this
certification statement, it must be in conformance with the regu lation in all regards.
I am formally requesting PHMSA provide guidance on;
1. If a shipper certification appears on a shipping paper when one is not required, must it
otherwise confonn to the section in the same manner as is prescribed in. for example, the
permissive placarding section?
2. If the answer to question l above is yes, does the misspelling of the word .. accurately ..
constitute a bona fide modification to the language prescribed in§ I 72 .204(a)(2)?
Thank you,
William Herman
North American Transportation Consultants
PO Box 1440
Hightstown, NJ 08520
609 426-0555

<<<PAGE 4>>>

NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit
Troop C
DRIVER/VEHICLE EXAMINATION REPORT
Report Number: NYSPC0191377
Inspection Date; 05122/2019
Start Time: 08:21 AM End Time: 09:01 AM
lnsp. Level: 2. WALK-AROUND DRIVER /VEHICLE
1£1411 (1101)
HAZMAT lnsp: BULK
ALL CHEMICAL TRANSPORT CORP
Driver: MONTANEZ
. EDUARDO
POBOX2083
license#: 178.%1680
State: CT
LAKEWOOD ' NJ
USOOT#: 00217745
08701
Date of Birth: 05/23/1970
Phone#:
CoOriver:
MC/MX#: 105997
Fax#:
Liu,nse#:
State#:
Date of Birth:
State:
Location: BEDFORD (SB)
Highway: 1-684
County: W ESTCHESTER
MilePost:
Shipper:
GREENFIELD GLOBAL
Origin: BROOKFIELD
. CT Bill of Lading: 50367378
Destination: ORANGEBURG _ NY Cargo: UN1170ETHYLALCOHOL SOL
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
Unll Type Make Y~Af Slefe Ucenso# EQlll>meollD VIN I GW/R CVSA#
COS#
-·
001 I n I MACK I 2016 I NJ I AS301Y I 6947 I 1N9S74323YA044122 I 52000 l I
002 ST TRtR 2000 NJ TBYB1M 1N9S74323YA044122 66000
I r 1 I I -
I .T I I I
-
BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS NO BRAKE MEASUREMENTS REQUIRED FOR LEVEL 2 INSPECTIONS
VIOLATIONS
VloCooe Std.ion
Uni OOS
Verify Cruh VIOl<Hions Oiscovered
177.8178 177.817(8)
N
N
6H!PPCR CERTIFICATION· SlffPPER'S CERTIFlCATION CONTAINS A
MISSPELLING.
''ACCl/RATEL Y" IS SPEU ED "ACCURA TL Y" WITHIN THE
CERTIFICATION
HazMet 3 FLAMMABLE. ,
Placard YES Cargo Tank. 407
Special a,ecks:
1.) NOTE TO DRIVER: Return this roport to lhe rnotor ca mar vmose name appear.s et the top.
2.) NOTE TO REPAIRER: If entries Mc made in lhe violation section above, please slg11 Uw, report \IA100 ropairs arc completed
Signalura Of Repairer X:
Far;ilily. Dato:
3.) Sign and return this rePOrt ONLY if violations are entered in the violation section
RETURN AODRESS :
New York Slale Department of Trarispo~aMn
Truck Inspections
50 Wol Road POD 53
AflJdny, Now Yo1k 12232
4) TRAFFIC TICKETS. If issued, MUST be returned to the COURl 1M1ose address appears on I.he front of the TICKET.
5.) MOTOR CARRIER CERTIFICATION: I horeby certify Iha! 011 vfolation• entered on this report have been corrected and eclion has boon takfln to essure
compfian<:o w,lh the NYS iranspor1alion law aod Rogulations
6.) ir the vehicle has NOT b<>en repalTed and HI\S been permanently removed from • ~rvice, Initial here
___ ____ and sign !he report
Signature of Motor Car,ior X:
Title:
Date:
RaP. 9.rl.P.t.!!ParedJlJ;
ROBERT A KIDDER
.!!m!.mt.lt.
1855
_,.;o·~ "-..
x _~~::===::=:::===:::::::....---
11111m 1111111rn111 ~11
NYSPC01913n

<<<PAGE 5>>>

ORE~NFIEL') .,O,,c . . STRAIGHT BILL OF L/\OfNG-ORIGINAL-NON NEGOTIAQLE ,
"'f fu~[~~:,:::::~"""~ . .. • oo~cloolliod•• '"" ii1i~1m1r ffl1ili 111~11 f 1111
Date Shipped · /' / t .. 8rookReld, CT 08804 -~
· .-.,.·// .. I BIii of Ladlna No.: S0367169
~arrler: 'Freight Terms: /Freight Code: I Load#: lLlftgate? / Straight Truck? Customer PO#:
ALL CHEM PREPAID No Sure 16NS No No 51665
Sold To: C600010 C of A? I One Lot? ~ontalner No: ~eal No(e): ~~~288: 266289; 26629~ :
Ambrosia Fragrance, LLC Yes )',Jo ~LL CHEM 660R J 266291
Special Instructions:
Req. Del. Da Del. Tim Page 1 of 1
05/16/19 8AM
CofA & BOL must accompany shipment
Ship To:
Ambrosia Fragrance, LLC
.. BULK ADDREss•·:
7 Turner Place
Piscataway, NJ 08854
C600010-01
Pump and hose required .
~ -,.
No. of Places & .
1 ~ · ·
Container Type .::;;, i•Pro<!uct C~e
6,805.6 GAL -~
'12340B11lOBK01
NA
12340B190BK01
SDS-NJ-15092
H Descnpuon & ClasslficaUon
M
X
UN1170, Ethyl Alcohol Solution, 3, PGII,
Flammable Liquid
SDA 408-190 PROOF BULi(
NMFC Item # 42600-01
EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDE #127
C19E1400100SD40BEF-01
Weight (SubJ. 10
Corr.)
46237.2 lbs
Total Pieces: 6,805.6 !Wine Gallons: 6,805.6
I Proof Gallons O !Excise Tax: 0 jTotal Weight:
46,237.2 lbs
Description of the Splrlta, Denatured Splrlta:
Spirits or Denatured Spirits described above are withdrawn rrom Processing Account by:
TIB Serial No.: ·· TTB F,5100.16 Serial No.: Dated;
Under pensltles of perjury, I declare U1at the spin ls or den a lured spirits end their containers are accurately described, In transferrable condition,
and this date consigned lo stated dlsHl!ed spirits plants:
Seal No(s): Dale: By;
Attorney In Fact
Certificate of Receipt: Seats Intact on arrival: __ Yes __ No Notation Regadlng Unusual Loss ______ Qty. Received: __
Under penelUes of perjury, I declare that the aplrils or denatured spirits described were received, except as noted on this fonn or accompanying documents.
By: {Signature & Tllle) Dale Received:
Note: Where the rate Is dependent on value, shippers are required lo stale speclllcally In wriUng the agreed or declared value of the property.
The agreed or declared value of the property Ill hereby speclRcally stated by the shipper lo be not exceeding: $ 2.65per LB
I hereby declare that the contents of this consignment are fully and accurally described above by Iha proper shipping name, and are classified, packaged, marked
and labeled/placarded, and ere In all respects In proper condition for ltansport according to applicable lntemaUonal and national governmental regulations
i_,::-;_ __ ,.. : . . .~ Subject to socUon 7, oil collect shipments end third porty shipments not bllled to
Shippers algnalure: ~ . , • ,· :: . .,, Pharmco are tonderod without recourse to Iha e.onsl9nor.
HAZARDOUS PLACARD.§. TENDERED [](fES D NO I IF NO IS CHECKED BELOW• ERGs HAVE BEEN PROVIDED
.·· _..,,
Signature: (:>1 ... ..-/~ _ DRIVER HAS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK IN HIS VEHICLE 0¥S ONO
FOR CHSMIC~L EMERt'.ENCV, CALL CHEMTREC: CONTINENTAL U.S. 800-424-9300 OR OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL U.S. 703•527-3887 CCN 17213
C200 Rav.1.0 Bulk B/l Revision No.: 0 Date Printed: 05/15/19
□ YES
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 10300