{"operation":"document","citation":"21-0077","title":"Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2021-11-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"21-0077 response to Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc. concerning 172.516, 172.550.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0077.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0077.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-21-0077","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/76076/210077.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nNovember 15, 2021\nMr. Jeff McLaughlin\nPacific Northwest Safety Supervisor\nOak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.\nPO Box 1469\nAuburn, WA 98071\nReference No. 21-0077\nDear Mr. McLaughlin:\nThis letter is in response to your July 19, 2021, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the visibility and display of\nplacards on highway motor vehicles. Specifically, you attach three photographs and ask whether\nthe placards—as displayed in the photographs—meet the requirements of § 172.516.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions with respect to the specific photographs\nprovided as follows:\nQ1. You ask whether the photograph of the oxidizer placard shows the placard as meeting the\nrequirements of § 172.516(c)(6) for format, legibility, color, and visibility of the placard.\nA1. The answer is yes. It is the opinion of this Office that the placard displayed in the\nphotograph has not been “substantially reduced” with respect to its format, legibility,\ncolor, and visibility.\nQ2. You further ask whether the oxidizer placard meets the requirements of §§ 172.550 and\n172.516(c)(5).\nA2. The answer is yes. The pictured oxidizer placard appears to meet the placard design\nrequirements of § 172.550 and the formatting requirements of § 172.516(c)(5). The minor\noffset present in the hinged placard pictured neither adversely impacts the legibility of the\nword “OXIDIZER” nor the format and color of the placard. Please note that other\nrelevant factors for determining placard compliance, including placard size, cannot be\ndetermined from this photograph.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3. You ask whether the photograph of the flammable placards shows the placards as\nmeeting the requirements of § 172.516(c)(6) for format, legibility, color, and visibility of\nthe placards.\nA3. The answer is yes. It is the opinion of this Office that the placards displayed in the\nphotograph have not been “substantially reduced” with respect to their format,\nlegibility, color, and visibility.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nPatrick\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Date: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Interpretation request\nTuesday, July 20, 2021 11:46:36 AM\nAttachments: Interpretation request.doc\n21-0077\nGood morning Alice,\nPlease see the request for a letter of interpretation attached. The corresponding images are also\nattached. The address is listed on the letter head for the interpretation request. Please contact our\noffice with any questions.\nThank you,\nSarah (HMIC)\nFrom: Jeff McLaughlin <Jeff.McLaughlin@oakh.com>\nSent: Monday, July 19, 2021 6:14 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nCc: Jeff McLaughlin <Jeff.McLaughlin@oakh.com>; Tom Mueller <Tom.Mueller@oakh.com>\nSubject: Interpretation request\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,\nPlease see the attached interpretation request and examples.\nThank you,\nJeff\nJeff McLaughlin\nPacific Northwest Safety Supervisor\nJeff.McLaughlin@oakh.com\nPhone 509-228-8397/Fax 509-535-0435/Cell 406-899-3085\nOak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.\n\"Bringing Peace of Mind Since 1916\"","truncated":false,"body_characters":3580}