{"operation":"document","citation":"21-0071","title":"Air General, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2022-01-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"21-0071 response to Air General, Inc. concerning 172.101, 172.202.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0071.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0071.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0071","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/76166/210071.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJanuary 18, 2022\nCharles A. White\nAir General, Inc.\n403 The Hill\nPortsmouth, NH 03801\nReference No. 21-0071\nDear Mr. White:\nThis letter is in response to your July 2, 2021, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to UN specification markings\nfor non-bulk packagings when transported by air. In your letter, you provide a photograph of a\nUN 4G fiberboard box with three UN specification markings—differing only in the marked\nmaximum gross mass (in kilograms). You ask how an air carrier is supposed to determine which\nmaximum gross mass is applicable when evaluating whether a shipment is offered within its\nspecified gross weight limits.\nA UN specification marking indicates that a packaging is manufactured to a UN specification\nstandard as prescribed in part 178 of the HMR and should not be solely used to determine the\nspecified gross weight limits of a material; instead, information provided on the shipping paper\nshould aid in the determination. For transportation by aircraft, § 172.202(a)(6) requires the total\nnet mass of the hazardous material per package to be indicated on the shipping paper—unless a\ngross mass is indicated in Columns (9A) or (9B) of the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table, in\nwhich case the total gross mass per package must be indicated.\nMultiple specification markings are not prohibited on a packaging, such as a UN 4G box tested\nand rated for multiple gross masses (See §178.3(c)). This Office recommends that non-\napplicable standard markings be covered, removed, or obliterated when practical, in order to\navoid the potential frustration of a shipment by carrier or enforcement personnel.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nCardez\n21-0071\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Interpretation Ruling request letter\nDate: Tuesday, July 6, 2021 3:41:37 PM\nAttachments: PHMSA Ruling request letter 02072021.pdf\nRE Interpretation Letters.msg\nHello Alice,\nPlease see the attached LOI request as well as the e-mail from Donald Burger for additional\ninformation.\nDo not hesitate to reach out should you need anything from us.\nRegards,\n-Breanna\nFrom: Charles White \nSent: Friday, July 2, 2021 2:55 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nCc: Jeff Lyter ; Thomas Clark \nSubject: Interpretation Ruling request letter\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.\nGood Afternoon Sir(s)/Madam(s),\nI have attached my formal letter of request for ruling in the matter of the use of multi-spec package\nmarks. Thank You in advance for your consideration in the matter.\nBest regards,\nCharles A White\nCharles White\n403 The Hill\nManager DG and Environmental Compliance\nPortsmouth, NH 03801\nMobile: 704-226-2570\nEmail: Charles.White@airgeneral.com\nAir General, Inc.\nwww.airgeneral.com\n\"Delivering Cargo Peace of Mind\"\n\n<<>>\n\nDate 2 July 2021\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\n1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE\nWASHINGTON, DC 20590\nDear Sir(s)/Madam(s),\nI am writing this letter to gain further guidance and clarification, with the use of multi-spec UN\nspec packaging, for shipping of hazardous materials via aircraft, to, from, and through the\nUnited States of America. See the photo below of the multi-spec package marking, which when\ntendered to the airline, neither shipper nor freight forwarder indicated which applicable\nspecification gross weight limit was applicable to this shipment. Upon acceptance on behalf of\nthe operator, when we use our acceptance checklist and are evaluating the question as to\nwhether the shipment is within the specified gross weight limits, we are now questioning which\nweight is applicable when all specifications have the same packing group assignment.\nAddress | City, St Zip Code\n\n<<>>\n\n\"I THEE CONTAINER SHOWS SIONS OF LOSE OR DAMAGE OPEN AT ONCE.\nNOTICE TO CONDONIE*\nINSPECT CONTENES AND HAVE CARSIER NOTE SATEUX ON DAMAGE ON\nALL DELIVERY NICEITEN\"\n\"CONSIGREE MIST REPORT AND REGGEST POPECTION FROM THE\n\"VOC ARE RESPONUBLE FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION*\nONETALAD LOSS OR DAMNCE CONSICKEE MIST FILE CLAIM FOR LOS\nDELIYERINO CARRIER WITNES IN DAYS AFTER DELIVERT, ALL\nOR SAMACE WITH CELIFSING CARRIE •\nAV-C-16813-DG\n1SAV305536\n1SX25536\n4S/X/15536\n2\n\n<<>>\n\nAfter consulting with one of your agents, Don Burger provided an opinion that the shipper\nshould provide the operator with the indication of which spec marking was applicable. After\nrequesting this from the shipper, this has sparked a spirited debate that only regulators can offer\nofficial ruling.\n(Pictured below)\nThank you for the opportunity to share a perspective aimed at ensuring the safe transport of\nhazardous goods via aircraft.\n3\n\n<<>>\n\nSINCERELY,\nCHARLES A. WHITE\nCharles White\n403 The Hill\nMobile: 704-226-2570\nManager DG and Environmental Compliance\nPortsmouth, NH 03801\nEmail: Charles.White@airgeneral.com\nAir General, Inc.\nwww.airgeneral.com\n\"Delivering Cargo Peace of Mind\"\n4\n\n<<>>\n\nFrom: Burger, Donald (PHMSA)\nTo: Cc: Date: Raynor, T\"Mia (PHMSA); INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nKelley, Shane (PHMSA); Nickels, Matthew (PHMSA); DerKinderen, Dirk (PHMSA); Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nSubject: RE: Interpretation Letters\nTuesday, July 6, 2021 8:42:12 AM\nAttachments: RE Multi-Spec packaging.msg\nimage.png\nThis has now gone in a full circle and come back to us (see the attached email). If Mr. White, would\nlike a written interpretation beyond what was provided he will need to write in and request it from\nus.\nDon Burger (he/him/his)\nChief, General Approvals and Permits Branch\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\nUS Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave., Washington D.C., 20590\nOffice: 202-366-4535 ◊ Mobile: 202-280-9908\nFrom: Raynor, T'Mia (PHMSA) \nSent: Friday, July 2, 2021 1:04 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) ; Burger, Donald (PHMSA)\n\nSubject: Fwd: Interpretation Letters\nT’Mia Raynor\nWebmaster, Office of the PHMSA CIO\nUS Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., 20590\nOffice: 202.366.9818 ◊ Mobile: 202.580.9447\nFrom: Charles White \nSent: Friday, July 2, 2021 11:59:27 AM\nTo: PHMSA Website Manager \nSubject: Interpretation Letters\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.\nGood morning,\nI recently received an opinion from a PHMSA agent and would like to get a determination in a formal\ninterpretation. See a snippet of the conversation attached. Can you advise who I should address my\n\n<<>>\n\nletter to and whether this is the correct email address to use for the formal interpretation letter?\nBest Regards,\nCharles A White\nCharles White\n403 The Hill\nManager DG and Environmental Compliance\nPortsmouth, NH 03801\nMobile: 704-226-2570\nEmail: Charles.White@airgeneral.com\nAir General, Inc.\nwww.airgeneral.com\n\"Delivering Cargo Peace of Mind\"\n\n<<>>\n\nFrom: Burger, Donald (PHMSA)\nTo: Hallmark, Brad (TSI)\nCc: Nicks, Michael (PHMSA); Kelley, Shane (PHMSA)\nSubject: RE: Multi-Spec packaging\nDate: Thursday, June 17, 2021 7:46:00 AM\nAttachments: image005.jpg\nimage006.jpg\nBrad,\nSorry to take a while to you on this question. If there are multiple marks on the packaging, then\nwhen the package is placed into transportation, there should be an indication from the shipper to\nthe carrier which marking is applicable for the particular shipment.\nI hope this is helpful.\nDon Burger (he/him/his)\nChief, General Approvals and Permits Branch\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\nUS Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave., Washington D.C., 20590\nOffice: 202-366-4535 ◊ Mobile: 202-280-9908\nFrom: Hallmark, Brad (TSI) \nSent: Wednesday, June 16, 2021 4:28 PM\nTo: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA) ; Burger, Donald (PHMSA)\n\nSubject: RE: Multi-Spec packaging\nThanks Shane, Don. I appreciate any information you can share.\nBrad\nBradley H. Hallmark /CHMM\nProgram Manager\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nTransportation Safety Institute\nhttps://www.transportation.gov/transportation-safety-institute\nOffice: 405-954-4554\nCell: 405-795-6495\nbrad.hallmark@dot.gov\n\n<<>>\n\nFrom: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA)\nSent: Sunday, June 13, 2021 5:46 AM\nTo: Burger, Donald (PHMSA) \nCc: Hallmark, Brad (TSI) \nSubject: Fwd: Multi-Spec packaging\nDon -\nCan someone on your team help?\nShane\nFrom: Hallmark, Brad (TSI) \nSent: Saturday, June 12, 2021 11:58:42 AM\nTo: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA) \nSubject: Fwd: Multi-Spec packaging\nHi Shane,\nWould you have any information on the UN packaging codes in the pictures?\nThanks,\nBrad Hallmark\nGet Outlook for iOS\nFrom: Gibbs, Wallace \nSent: Friday, June 11, 2021 1:47 PM\nTo: Hallmark, Brad (TSI); White, Charles\nSubject: FW: Multi-Spec packaging\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.\nBrad,\n\n<<>>\n\nHave you ever seen a package like this? Charles White (copied in) asked me about\nthis and I didn’t know how to answer it.\nHow do you know which Spec Code to use to validate the shipment?\nWallace Gibbs, Jr.\nWallace Gibbs\nSafety Training Specialist\n1 Skyview Drive\nMD 8B101\nCube: 8B.1W.132D\nFort Worth, TX 76155\n817-705-9004-Cell\n682-278-4422-Office\n682-275-9136 Fax\nFrom: Charles White \nSent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 11:05 AM\nTo: Gibbs, Wallace \nSubject: Multi-Spec packaging\nHi Wallace,\nin TX.\nHere are a couple of different packages that I have recently encountered in a couple of our stations\nI have also provided test data for one of these packages.\nAlso, Question 9 of pg 54 in the participant manual, UN2246 cannot be shipped in single packaging\nunder packaging instruction 353.\nRegards,\nCharles A White\nCharles White\n403 The Hill\nManager DG and Environmental Compliance\nPortsmouth, NH 03801\nMobile: 704-226-2570\nEmail: Charles.White@airgeneral.com\nAir General, Inc.\nwww.airgeneral.com\n\"Delivering Cargo Peace of Mind\"","truncated":false,"body_characters":11069}