{"operation":"document","citation":"20-0019","title":"National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2020-04-07","effective_on":null,"summary":"20-0019 response to National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. concerning 171.8, 172.504.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0019.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0019.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0019","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/73601/200019.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nApril 7, 2020\nLisa O’Donnell\nNational Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc\n1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 600\nAlexandria, VA 22314\nReference No. 20-0019\nDear Ms. O’Donnell:\nThis letter is in response to your March 3, 2020, email and phone conversation requesting\nclarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable\nto the non-bulk package aggregate gross weight placarding exception. Specifically, you describe\na scenario in which non-bulk packages, such as drums, containing a hazardous material listed on\nTable 2 of § 172.504(e) are strapped to a pallet. You state that the gross weight of the hazardous\nmaterial and non-bulk packages is under 1,001 lbs.; however, when the pallet and straps are\nconsidered in the shipment, the weight exceeds 1,001 lbs. You ask whether the weight of the\npallet must be considered when determining the applicability of the 454 kg (1,001 lbs.) aggregate\ngross weight placarding exception in § 172.504(c) for non-bulk packages.\nThe answer is no. The § 172.504(c) exception is based on the gross weight of the packaging and\nthe hazardous materials being transported. Section 171.8 defines gross weight as “the weight of\na packaging plus the weight of its contents.” Packaging means a receptacle and any other\ncomponents or materials necessary for the receptacle to perform its containment function. In the\nscenario you described, the packaging is the non-bulk packaging. Thus, the pallet and straps are\npart of an overpack used for convenience in handling the packages or consolidating the packages\ntogether, they are not part of the packaging. Therefore, the weight of the overpack should not be\nconsidered when calculating the gross weight to determine whether it equals or exceeds the\nthreshold amount of 454 kg (1,001 lbs.).\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nShane C. Kelley\nShane Kelley\nDirector,\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\nOffice of Hazardous Material Standard\n\n<<>>\n\nP c ~~\n20-00 19\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTuesday, March 3, 2020 4:05 PM\nHazmat lnterps\nFW: Formal Letter of Interpretation Request\nInterpretation Request on 49 CFR 172.504.pdf; ODonnel_LOl-3-3-20.docx\nHello Alice and lkeya,\nPlease see attached for letter of interpretation request.\nThank you,\nKathryn (HMIC)\nFrom: Lisa O'Donnell [mailto:Lisa.ODonnell@nmfta.org]\nSent: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 3:05 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nSubject: Formal Letter of Interpretation Request\nTo Whom it May Concern:\nPlease forward the attached request to PHH-10 so that we may receive a formal letter of interpretation.\nThank you!\nLisa\nLisa O'Donnell\nNational Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.\n1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 600\nAlexandria, VA 22314\n703-838-1838\nMFTA\nNational Motor Freight\nTraffic Association, Inc.\n1\n\n<<>>\n\nNational Motor Freight\nTr affic Association, Inc.\nMarch 3, 2020\nMr. Shane Kelley\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nRE: Application of 49 CFR §172.504{c) to Palletized Shipments of Hazardous Materials\nDear Mr. Kelley:\nA National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc (NMFTA) carrier member received a pallet load\nof drums containing a hazardous material in a Hazard class or Division listed in §172.504(e), Placarding\nTable 2. While the aggregate gross weight of the hazardous material contained in drums plus the pallet\nwas 1,001 pounds or greater, which precludes the use of the placarding exception specified in 49 CFR\n§172.504{c), the aggregate gross weight of the hazardous material contained in drums minus the pallet\nwas under 1,001 pounds.\nMunicipalities throughout the United States often impose more stringent requirements on\ntransport vehicles containing hazardous materials that are placarded than on transport vehicles that are\nnot placarded. These requirements, which include route restrictions, added fees and limited delivery\nhours, often cause delays or otherwise frustrate the transportation of hazardous materials.\nIn this scenario, is there guidance PHMSA can provide to the carrier or the offerer to enable\nthem to comply with the Hazardous Materials Regulations and, at the same time, permit the use of the\nplacarding exception specified in 49 CFR §172.504{c)?\nAny help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.\nSincerely,\n~ /