{"operation":"document","citation":"23-0063","title":"Hazmat Safety Consulting, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2023-10-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"23-0063 response to Hazmat Safety Consulting, LLC concerning 173.181.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0063.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0063.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0063","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/78041/230063.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nOctober 30, 2023\nMr. Robert Richard\nPresident\nHazmat Safety Consulting, LLC\n10036 Lake Occoquan Drive\nManassas, VA 20111\nReference No. 23-0063\nDear Mr. Richard:\nThis letter is in response to your July 11, 2023, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the packaging requirements\nfor pyrophoric liquid materials as found in § 173.181(c). You state that the term “metal cans” is\nnot clearly defined in paragraph (c), and that your client uses “tight metal receptacles”—which\nyou describe as non-specification cylinders—to meet this packaging requirement. Specifically,\nyou ask whether such packagings satisfy the requirements of this packaging instruction for\npyrophoric liquid materials.\nIt is the opinion of this Office that a non-specification metal cylinder could be a type of metal\ncan or receptacle. In accordance with § 173.181(c), each inner metal receptacle must be strong,\ntight, closed by positive means rather than friction, and not over 4.0 L (1 gallon) capacity.\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 2>>>\n\nLarson\n23-0063\nFrom: Bob Richard\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA); Pfund, Duane (PHMSA); Andrews, Steven (PHMSA)\nSubject: Please accept the attached request for Interpretation, Petition for Rulemaking and Request for PHMSA to Propose\nto Amend the UN Model Regulations\nDate: Attachments: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 1:57:03 PM\nInterp, Petition for Rulemaking and UN proposal request.docx\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do\nnot click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content\nis safe.\nPlease accept the attached request for Interpretation, Petition for Rulemaking and Request for\nPHMSA to Propose to Amend the UN Model Regulations. This relates to the use of the wording\n“metal cans” in §173.181(c) and P400.\nBest Regards,\nBob Richard\nHazmat Safety Consulting, LLC.\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nJuly 11, 2023\nShane Kelly\nDirector Standards and Rulemaking Division\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: Standards and Rulemaking Division, PHH-10\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.\nEast Building, Floor 2\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubject: Request for Interpretation, Petition for Rulemaking and Request for PHMSA to Propose to Amend the\nUN Model Regulations – Use of the wording “metal cans” in §173.181(c)\nDear Mr. Kelley,\nI am writing to confirm my understanding of the packaging requirements for Pyrophoric liquids in §173.181(c).\n§173.181(c) states:\nSteel drums (1A1 or 1A2), aluminum drums (1B1 or 1B2), metal drums, other than steel or aluminum (1N1 or\n1N2) or fiber drums (1G); steel jerricans (3A1 or 3A2) or aluminum jerricans (3B1 or 3B2); or steel boxes (4A),\naluminum boxes (4B) or metal boxes, other than steel or aluminum (4N) not exceeding 220 L (58 gallons)\ncapacity each with strong, tight inner metal cans not over 4.0 L (1 gallon) capacity each. The strong, tight metal\ncans must be closed by positive means, not friction.\n(1) Inner packagings must have no opening exceeding 25 mm (1 inch) diameter and must be surrounded with\n(3) Each layer of inner containers must be separated by a metal plate separator in addition to cushioning\nnoncombustible cushioning material.\n(2) Net quantity of pyrophoric liquids may not exceed two-thirds of the rated capacity of the outer drum. For\nexample, a 220 L (58 gallons) outer drum may contain no more than 147 L (39 gallons) of pyrophoric liquids.\nmaterial.\nOur client uses tight metal receptacles which are basically non-specification cylinders. The term “cans” is not\ndefined in the HMR. I don’t believe that the intent of §173.181(c) is to not allow a metal receptacle as an inner\npackaging. Further confusion exists with §173.181(c) because §173.181(c)(1) refers to “inner packagings” and\n§173.181(c)(3) refers to “inner containers”. There is an obvious lack of consistency in the terminology. We\nhave advised our client that the use of the strong tight metal receptacles that they are using meet the intent and\nrequirements of §173.181(c). We request confirmation of our interpretation and guidance provided to our client.\nIn addition, we are requesting that PHMSA amend §173.181(c) to change the words “strong, tight inner metal\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\ncans” to “strong, tight metal receptacles”. §173.181(c)(1) uses the words “Inner packagings”. §173.181(c)(3)\nuses the words “inner containers” this should be changed to “inner packagings”.\n§173.181(c) is based on Packing Instruction P400 in the UN Model Regulations.\nP400 also refers to metal cans. Specifically, P400 refers to “hermetically sealed inner metal cans”. P400 then\ngoes on to use the term “inner packagings”. We request that PHMSA submit a proposal to the UN Transport of\nDangerous Goods Sub-Committee to change the words “hermetically sealed inner metal cans” to “strong, tight\nmetal receptacles”.\nThank you for your consideration of this matter.\nRespectfully submitted,\nRobert Richard\nPresident Hazmat Safety Consulting, LLC\n10036 Lake Occoquan Drive\nManassas, VA 20111","truncated":false,"body_characters":5443}