{"operation":"document","citation":"21-0016","title":"Amanda Davis — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2021-04-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"21-0016 concerning 171.8, 172.101, 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0016.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0016.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0016","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/74961/210016.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nApril 27, 2021\nAmanda Davis\n57475 CA-HWY 371 #1013\nAnza, CA 92539\nReference No. 21-0016\nDear Ms. Davis:\nThis letter is in response to your February 17, 2021, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the classification\nof hemp flower and biomass. Specifically, you ask whether hemp is considered a hazardous\nmaterial or hazardous substance in accordance with the HMR.\nSection 173.22 states that it is the shipper’s responsibility to classify a hazardous material\nproperly. This Office does not generally perform this function. As provided in § 171.8, the term\n“hazardous material” includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants,\nelevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials\nTable (HMT; § 172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and\ndivisions as specified in Part 173 of Subchapter C of the HMR. The hazard class is determined\nbased on the chemical composition and hazard properties of the material as it is being offered for\ntransportation. If a material does not meet the hazard class criteria in Part 173 and is not a\nhazardous substance, hazardous waste, or marine pollutant, then it is not subject to the HMR.\nHemp is not specifically defined in the HMR or listed in the HMT. Additionally, your incoming\nletter has not provided enough information about the properties of the hemp for this Office to\nconfirm whether it constitutes a hazardous material. A determination as to whether hemp is\nsubject to the HMR must be based on whether it meets the criteria in Part 173 to be considered a\nhazardous material. Dependent on the properties of the material as it is being offered for\ntransportation, hemp may meet the criteria to be considered a hazardous material. For example,\nas a plant matter, hemp may pose self-heating hazards in accordance with Division 4.2,\nspontaneously combustible materials.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nTherefore, it is recommended that you test the materials in accordance with the UN Manual of\nTests and Criteria for appropriate classification. This determination should not be limited to\nconsideration of Class 4.2, and all hazard classes should be considered in your determination of\nclassification for your material.\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\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Requesting Letter of Interpretation For Hemp\nDate: Friday, February 19, 2021 11:39:10 AM\n21-0016\nHello Alice,\nBelow is a request for letter of interpretation. As stated below, the preferred contact information is\nfor the driver, not the requestor.\nThanks,\nJonathon, HMIC\nFrom: humfie@mlgreenworld.com [mailto:humfie@mlgreenworld.com]\nSent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 12:30 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: RE: Requesting Letter of Interpretation For Hemp\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or\nopen attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.\nHi Jonathon,\nIs the contact information for the driver or general? If the letter of interpretation is to\nbe mailed out, please mail it to the driver's contact information.\nDriver's Contact Information\nAmanda Davis\nPhysical mailing address:\n57475 CA-HWY 371 #1013\nAnza, CA, USA\n92539\nPhone: (951) 357-7889\nMy Contact Information\nFrank Hum\nPhysical mailing address:\nSuite 500, 1716 - 16th Ave NW\nCalgary, AB, Canada\nT2M 0L7\nPhone: (403) 452-4552\nHave a great day,\nFrank\n-----Original Message-----\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nFrom: \"INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\" <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSent: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 1:26pm\nTo: \"humfie@mlgreenworld.com\" <humfie@mlgreenworld.com>\nSubject: RE: Requesting Letter of Interpretation For Hemp\nDear Frank,\nWe have received your request for a written letter of interpretation regarding the\nhazardous materials regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). The hazardous materials\nregulations are available at the following URL:\nhttps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/phmsa-regulations\nHowever, before we can submit your request for processing, please respond to this\nemail with:\nFull Name\nPhysical Mailing Address\nTelephone Number\nSincerely,\nJonathon, Hazardous Materials Specialist\nAn e-mail response from this office is considered informal guidance. Formal guidance\nmay be requested in accordance with 49 CFR\n105.20. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/hazardous-\nmaterials-information-center\nFrom: humfie@mlgreenworld.com [mailto:humfie@mlgreenworld.com]\nSent: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 3:57 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: Requesting Letter of Interpretation For Hemp\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or\nopen attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.\nHello,\nGolden State Green World is a licensed Hemp cultivator in Southern California and\nwe want to transport our hemp flower and biomass from our cultivation site to a lab,\nwithin California, in order to have it tested and processed. Additionally, we would also\nlike to transport our finished products to dispensaries.\nThe gross weight of the vehicle used for transport, along with the flower, biomass\nand/or finished products will be under 10,000lbs. According to the DOT website, we\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\ndo not require a USDOT number because the gross vehicle weight is under 10,000lbs\nand we are not transporting hazardous materials.\nI spoke with a DOT hazmat representative and he does not believe that hemp is\nclassified as a hazardous material and recommended that I request a letter of\ninterpretation to state that hemp is not a hazardous substance.\nTo ensure that we have the proper paper work to transport our hemp successfully,\nGolden State Green World is requesting a letter of interpretation to state that hemp is\nnot classified as a hazardous material.\nPlease contact me for additional information or questions.\nThank you for your time\nFrank","truncated":false,"body_characters":6376}