{"operation":"document","citation":"20-0017","title":"New York State Police — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2020-05-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"20-0017 response to New York State Police concerning 172.202.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0017.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0017.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0017","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/73996/200017.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMay 22, 2020\nRobert A. Kidder\nTechnical Sergeant\nNew York State Police\nState Route 7, Box 300\nSidney, NY 13838\nReference No. 20-0017\nDear Sergeant Kidder:\nThis letter is in response to your February 20, 2020, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the requirements\nfor hazardous materials (hazmat) shipping papers. Specifically, you ask whether certain\nabbreviations indicated on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Form 8700-22 would\ncomply with the requirements of the HMR to include the type of packaging and unit of\nmeasurement on the hazmat shipping paper.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1. You ask whether “DF” as indicated on EPA Form 8700-22 is an acceptable abbreviation\nfor a “plastic drum” when describing the packaging type on a hazmat shipping paper.\nA1. Section 172.202(a)(7) of the HMR requires that the number and type of packages be\nentered as part of the shipping description on a hazmat shipping paper. This section\nallows for the use of abbreviations to indicate the type of packaging provided the\nabbreviations are commonly accepted and recognizable. Although the abbreviation “DF”\nis commonly used on EPA hazardous waste manifests to indicate the presence of plastic\nand/or fiberboard drums, it may not be easily recognizable without the use of a legend or\nlist of abbreviations. Therefore, to avoid confusion in the enforcement or emergency\nresponse community that may result in the issuance of a ticket or frustration of the\nshipment, it is recommended that a legend of EPA’s abbreviations be included on the\nhazmat shipping paper.\nQ2. You ask whether “P” as indicated on EPA Form 8700-22 is an acceptable abbreviation\nfor “pounds” when describing the total quantity of liquid hazardous material on a hazmat\nshipping paper.\nA2. Section 172.202(a)(5) of the HMR requires that the total quantity, including the unit of\nmeasurement of the hazardous materials covered by the description, be included on a\nhazmat shipping paper (except for bulk packages, cylinders, and packages containing\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nonly hazardous material residue). Abbreviations may also be used to express units of\nmeasurement. Similar to Answer A1, although the abbreviation “P” is commonly used\non EPA hazardous waste manifests to indicate total weight in pounds, it may not be easily\nrecognizable without the use of a legend or list of abbreviations. Therefore, to avoid\nconfusion in the enforcement or emergency response community that may result in the\nissuance of a ticket or frustration of the shipment, it is recommended that a legend of\nEPA’s abbreviations be included on the hazmat shipping paper.\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\nBallengee\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nThursday, February 20, 2020 11 :41 AM\nHazmat lnterps\nFW: PHMSA Written Request for Interpretation\nShipping document subject of Roadside stop (NYSPC0213647).pdf; Kidder_LOI_\n2-20-20.docx\nHello Alice and lkeya,\nPlease see below for letter of interpretation request.\nThank you,\nKathryn, HMIC\nFrom: KIDDER, ROBERT (TROOPERS) [mailto:ROBERT.KIDDER@troopers.ny.gov]\nSent: Thursday, February 20, 2020 10:59 AM\nTo: PHMSA HM lnfoCenter <PHMSAHMlnfoCenter@dot.gov>\nSubject: PHMSA Written Request for Interpretation\nPlease allow this email to serve as a request for formal written interpretation from PHMSA concerning the use of\nabbreviations for packaging types and applicable units of measurement on a Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper.\n1.) In the following case, is it acceptable for the shipper to use the letter designation as \"DF\" as an abbreviation for\nthe packaging type of a plastic drum, while being shipped on a Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper?\n2.) In the following case, is it acceptable for the shipper use the letter \"P\" as an abbreviation for \"pounds\" on a\nshipment of liquid hazardous material, while being shipped on a Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper?\nIn this case (reference the attached Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper) the material being shipped was listed on a\ngeneric Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper and was not presented on a Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA form 8700-22).\nThe HMSP in box 12 lists the Container Type in rows 2 and 3 as \"DF\". During the HM inspection, the packaging type was\ndetermined to be a plastic drum with a removable head (1H2). 172.202(a)(7) specifies that the number and type of\npackages must be indicated. The type of packages must be indicated by description of the package (for example, \"12\ndrums\"). Indication of the packaging specification number (\"lHl\") may be included in the description of the package (for\nexample, \"12 lHl drums\" or \"12 drums (UN lAl)\"). Abbreviations may be used for indicating packaging types (for\nexample, \"cyl.\" for \"cylinder\") provided the abbreviations are commonly accepted and recognizable.\nThe HMSP in Box 14 lists the header as \"Unit Wt./Vol.\" with the designation of \"P\" in the 3 rows below. While\n172.202(c)(l) specifies that 'Abbreviations may be used to express units of measurement and types of packagings', the\nposition of the inspector of this shipment is that the letter \"P\" as a unit of weight or volume is not commonly accepted\nand recognizable and that he had no way of determining if the designation was in fact an abbreviation for \"P\" for\nPounds or was in fact an abbreviation for \"P\" for Pints (as the shipment was a liquid).\nWhile the EPA Hazardous Waste Manifest (form 8700-22) requires the use of specific abbreviations for units of measure\nsuch as P=Pounds, N=Cubic Meters and M=Metric Tons, and requires separate abbreviations for packaging types such as\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nDF=Fiberboard or plastic drums, barrels, kegs or CF=Fiber or plastic boxes, cartons, or cases, an abbreviation guide is\nincluded on the back of the form for reference.\nIt is our position that the use of these letters from EPA Form 8700-22 as abbreviations for packaging types and\napplicable units of measurement on generic Hazardous Materials Shipping Papers are not commonly accepted and\nrecognizable, can be easily misinterpreted without the inclusion of a reference table, and should not be used on the\nHMSP.\nThank you.\nRobert A. Kidder\nTechnical Sergeant, Troop C Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit\nNew York State Police\nState Route 7, Box 300 Sidney New York 13838\n607-561-7488 (Office) I 607-563-9770 (Fax) I robert.kidder@troopers.ny.gov\n4w\nRK\n'ATE\nState\nPolice\nCONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail, including any attachments, may contain highly sensitive and confidential\ninformation. It is intended only for the individual(s) named. If you received this e-mail in error or from someone who was\nnot authorized to send it to you, do not disseminate, copy or otherwise use this e-mail or its attachments. Please notify the\nsender immediately by reply e-mail and delete the e-mail from your system.\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nC>\nz\nC\n:5\nu..\n0\n.J\n.J\nca\nG\nE\nN\nE\nR\nA\nT\n0\nR\n.....\n.....\nT\nR\nA\nN\ns\np\n0\nR\nT\nE\nR\nF\nA\nC\nI\nL\nI\nT\ny\nOF V ER M ONT, INC.\n24-Hour Emergency Phone Number\n1-800-843-8265\nBILL OF LADI Generator EPA ID #\nCESQG\n1. Document No.\n2. Page 1\n3. Generator's Name and Malling Address\nSYR19622\nSite Address\nof\nTOPS#517\n14072\n1\n13045\n5, Transporter 1 Company Name 6. EPAID #\nA. Slate Transporter's ID\nEN\\ARONMENTAL PROD & SVCS oFvr INC. 1\nB. Transporter 1 Phone\n7. Transporter 2 Company Name 6. EPAID #\nC. State Transporter's ID\nD. Transporter 2 Phone\n9. Designated Facility Name and Site Address 10.EPAID If\nE. State Facility's ID\nSOFVf,INC. NYR000115733\nF. Faclllty's Phone\n11 . Shipping Name\n12. Containers\nNo. Type\n13.\nTota\nQuanlly\n14\nUni\nWtNo\na.\nNON-RCRA, NON-DOT, LIQUIDS, N.o.s. (LAB PACK)\nOM\np\nb.\nX\nUN1719, Caustic alkall liquids, n.o.s. (SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE solutlon) ()/\n8,11 OF /0 p\nC.\nX\nUN1993, Flammable liquids, n.o.s.(ACETONE), 3, II t>I DF p\nd.\nG. Addltlonal Descriptions for Materials Listed Above\nDocument# 012820 Job#: N19720 PO#\n1) 3306-LP _LX55GAL#LP 1,4,5-;8,7,8,9'\"2) 3308-CE ERC3#154 _j_X5GPJ.. OF LP#2 3) 11021-CE ERC3#128 _L_X5 GAL OF\nLP#3 / X\"Oa1U .... tP Doe,.2..._ t;oo / u\n15. Special Handling instructions and AddlUonal Information\n16. GENERATOR'S CERTIFICATION: hereby oertlfy that the above named materials are properly classified, described,\naccording to the applicable regulation of the Department of Transportation. The materials described on this document\nDale\nName\nMonth\nJ.._\nDay Year\nI ;)..()\n17. Transporter 1 Acknowledgement of Receipt of Materials\nDale\nMonth\nDay Year\n18. Transporter 2\nof Receipt of Materials\nDate\nPrinted/Typed Name\nSlgn;,ture\nMonth\nDay Year\n19 Discrepancy Indication Space\n20. Facllity Owner or Operator; Certification of raoelpl of the matertals covered by this blll·of lad Ing except as noted In Item 19.\nPrinted/Typed Name Signature\nJ\nMonth\n'2\nDale\nDay Yea,\nI ......., ''r' I","truncated":false,"body_characters":9169}