# W.R. Grace & Co - Conn. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 23-0066
- **title:** W.R. Grace & Co - Conn. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2024-05-23
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 23-0066 response to W.R. Grace & Co - Conn. concerning 171.12, 171.23, 171.25, 171.8, 172.313, 172.430, 172.554, 172.555, 172.558.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0066.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0066
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-05/230066.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
May 23, 2024
\Mr. Paul Errichetti
Senior Manager, Fleet and Dangerous Goods
W.R. Grace & Co - Conn.
7500 Grace Drive
Columbia, MD 21044
Reference No. 23-0066
Dear Mr. Errichetti:
This is in response to your July 11, 2023, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to portable tanks. In your letter,
you state your company packages and transports “UN1838, Titanium tetrachloride, 6.1, (8),
PG I” and “UN3390, Toxic by inhalation liquid, corrosive, n.o.s., 6.1, (8), PG I” in 250-gallon
portable tanks in full compliance with the HMR. The portable tanks are then transported in
closed transport vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for their eventual transport
via vessel to international destinations. For domestic shipments, the portable tanks are marked
with the United Nations (UN) identification number, proper shipping name, owner’s name,
poison inhalation hazard labels, and corrosive labels. The closed transport vehicles are provided
with the poison inhalation placards (see § 172.555), corrosive placards (see § 172.558), and UN
identification number markings.
You ask about shipments of your portable tanks by highway to Mexico under § 171.12. The
portable tanks are marked with the proper UN identification number, proper shipping name,
owner’s name, poison labels (see § 172.430) minus the word “poison”, and corrosive labels (see
§ 172.442). The closed transport vehicle is provided with poison placards (see § 172.554) minus
the word “poison”, corrosive placards (see § 172.558), and the associated UN identification
number markings. Your questions are paraphrased and answered below:
Q1. You ask whether the “Inhalation Hazard” marking in § 172.313(a) is required on the
portable tanks described in your letter for shipments from the United States to Mexico.
A1. The answer is yes. As specified in § 171.12(b), unless otherwise excepted, hazardous
materials shipments from Mexico to the United States or from the United States to
Mexico must conform to all applicable requirements of the HMR. Additionally, the
requirements in § 171.12(b)(1)-(4) apply to a hazardous material that is a material
poisonous by inhalation—see § 171.8—when transported by highway or rail from
Mexico to the United States or from the United States to Mexico. Specifically,
§ 171.12(b)(3) states that packages must be marked in accordance with § 172.313, which
requires materials poisonous by inhalation—see § 171.8—be marked with the words
“Inhalation Hazard” in association with the required labels, placards, and shipping name
when applicable.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Q2. You ask whether the “Inhalation Hazard” marking in § 172.313(a) is required on a closed
transport vehicle containing the portable tanks described in your letter when transported
from the United States to Mexico.
A2. The answer is no. As specified in § 171.12(b)(5), a label or placard that conforms to the
UN Recommendations (IBR, see § 171.7) specifications for a “Division 2.3” or “Division
6.1” label or placard may be substituted for the POISON GAS or POISON
INHALATION HAZARD label or placard required by §§ 172.400(a) and 172.504(e) on
a package transported in a closed transport vehicle or freight container. The transport
vehicle or freight container must be marked with UN identification numbers for the
material, regardless of the total quantity contained in the transport vehicle or freight
container, in the manner specified in § 172.313(c) and placarded as required by subpart F.
There is no specific requirement for a transport vehicle shipped under § 171.12(b) to have
the “Inhalation hazard” marking required in § 172.313(a). Please note that for this
scenario described in this letter where closed transport vehicles are referenced, the
appropriate placard is the poison inhalation hazard placard shown in § 172.555, as
required by § 171.12(b)(5).
You ask about shipments of your portable tanks by highway to Canada shipped in accordance
with §§ 171.12 and 171.23 that are marked with the UN identification number, proper shipping
name, owner’s name, poison labels (see § 172.430) minus the word “poison”, and corrosive
labels (see § 172.442). The closed transport vehicle containing the portable tanks is provided
with poison placards (see § 172.554) minus the word “poison”, corrosive placards (see
§ 172.558), and the associated UN identification markings. Your questions are paraphrased and
answered below:
Q3. You ask whether shipments of the portable tanks described in your letter from the United
States to Canada require the “Inhalation Hazard” marking in § 172.313(a)?
A3. The answer is yes. As specified in § 171.23(b)(10)(iii), a material poisonous by
inhalation—see § 171.8—must be packaged in conformance with § 172.313, which
requires that a material poisonous by inhalation—see § 171.8—be marked with
“Inhalation Hazard” in association with the required labels or placards, as appropriate,
and shipping name when required.
Q4. You ask whether the “Inhalation Hazard” marking in § 172.313(a) is required on the
closed transport vehicle containing the portable tanks described in your letter when
transported from the United States to Canada.
A4. The answer is no. As specified in § 171.23(b)(10)(iv)(B), the transport vehicle or freight
container must be marked with the UN identification numbers for the hazardous material
in the manner specified in § 172.313(c). However, there is no requirement to mark the
transport vehicle with the words “Inhalation Hazard” as required in § 172.313(a). Please
note that for this scenario described in this letter where closed transport vehicles are
referenced, the appropriate placard is the poison inhalation hazard placard shown in
§ 172.555, as required by § 171.12(b)(5).

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Your ask about shipments of your portable tanks by highway to ports for continued
transportation via vessel to international destinations under §§ 171.23 and 171.25. You note that
the portable tanks are marked with the proper UN identification number, proper shipping name,
owner’s name, poison labels (see § 172.430) minus the word “poison”, and corrosive labels (see
§ 172.442). The closed transport vehicle containing the portable tanks is provided with poison
placards (see § 172.554) minus the word “poison”, corrosive placards (see § 172.558), and the
associated UN identification number markings. Your questions are paraphrased and answered
below:
Q5. You ask whether shipments of the portable tanks described in your letter, from the United
States to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations, require
the “Inhalation Hazard” marking in § 172.313(a).
A5. See answer A3.
Q6. You ask whether shipments of the portable tanks described in your letter from the United
States to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations, require
the closed transport vehicle to display the Inhalation Hazard markings § 172.313(a).
A6. The answer is no. As specified in § 171.23(b)(10)(iv)(A), the transport vehicle or freight
container must be marked with the UN identification numbers for the hazardous material
in the manner specified in § 172.313(c). However, there is no requirement to mark the
transport vehicle with the words “Inhalation Hazard” as required in § 172.313(a). Please
note that for this scenario described in this letter where closed transport vehicles are
referenced, the appropriate placard is the poison inhalation hazard placard shown in
§ 172.555, as required by § 171.12(b)(5).
I hope this information helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Steven Andrews
Acting Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Vore
23-0066
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
Cc: Hazmat Interps
Subject: FW: LOI for Poison Inhalation Hazard shipments
Date: Friday, July 14, 2023 12:32:26 PM
Attachments: DOT-PHSMA LoI Poisonous-Inhalation Harzard Liquids-11Jul2023.pdf
Hi Alice,
Please see the attached interpretation request.
Let us know if you need anything.
Regards,
-Breanna
From: Errichetti, Paul <Paul.Errichetti@grace.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:30 AM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>
Subject: LOI for Poison Inhalation Hazard shipments
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do
not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content
is safe.
Hi,
Please find attached a request for a formal letter of interpretation.
If you have questions with regards to this request please contact me via email or my mobile number
listed below in my signature.
Thanks,
Paul Errichetti | Senior Manager, Fleet & Dangerous Goods
W. R. Grace & Co – Conn. | 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA | T +1 410.531.8215 | M +1
732.306.0683 | paul.errichetti@grace.com
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<<<PAGE 5>>>

Paul Errichetti
Sr. Mgr., Fleet and Dangerous Goods
T +1 410.531.8215
M +1 732.306.0683
Paul.Errichetti@grace.com
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
7500 Grace Drive
Columbia, MD, USA, 21044
July 11, 2023
Mr. Shane Kelley
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Kelley:
I am contacting the agency on behalf of WR Grace with this formal request for a letter of interpretation regarding the Hazardous
Materials Regulations 49 CFR 171.12, 171.23, 171.25 and 172.313.
In the United States, we package UN1838 and UN3390 in 250-gallon portable tanks in full compliance with the HMR. These packages
are then offered for transportation in closed transport vehicles by road in the contiguous 48 states, by road to Canada, by road to
Mexico, and by road to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations.
For shipments made via road in the contiguous 48 states, the packages are marked with the proper UN ID#, proper shipping name,
owner’s name, poison inhalation hazard labels (49 CFR 172.429), and corrosive labels (49 CFR 172.442). The closed transport vehicle
is provided with poison inhalation placards (49 CFR 172.555), corrosive placards (49 CFR 172.558), and the associated UN ID#
markings.
Per 49 CFR 171.12, for shipments made via road to Mexico, the packages are marked with the proper UN ID#, proper shipping name,
owner’s name, poison labels (49 CFR 172.430) minus the word “poison”, and corrosive labels (49 CFR 172.442). The closed transport
vehicle is provided with poison placards (49 CFR 172.554) minus the word “poison”, corrosive placards (49 CFR 172.558), and the
associated UN ID# markings.
Question 1: For shipments from the USA into Mexico, does the package require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR 172.313)?
Question 2: For shipments from the USA into Mexico, does the closed transport vehicle require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR
172.313)?
Per 49 CFR 171.12 and 171.23, for shipments made via road to Canada, the packages are marked with the proper UN ID#, proper
shipping name, owner’s name, poison labels (49 CFR 172.430) minus the word “poison”, and corrosive labels (49 CFR 172.442). The
closed transport vehicle is provided with poison placards (49 CFR 172.554) minus the word “poison”, corrosive placards (49 CFR
172.558), and the associated UN ID# markings.
Question 3: For shipments from the USA into Canada, does the package require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR 172.313)?
Question 4: For shipments from the USA into Canada, does the closed transport vehicle require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR
172.313)?
Per 49 CFR 171.23 and 171.25, for shipments via road to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations, the
packages are marked with the proper UN ID#, proper shipping name, owner’s name, poison labels (49 CFR 172.430) minus the word
1 grace.com

<<<PAGE 6>>>

“poison”
, and corrosive labels (49 CFR 172.442). The closed transport vehicle is provided with poison placards (49 CFR 172.554)
minus the word “poison”, corrosive placards (49 CFR 172.558), and the associated UN ID# markings.
Question 5: For shipments from the USA to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations, does the package
require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR 172.313)?
Question 6: For shipments from the USA to ports for continued transportation via vessel to international destinations, does the closed
transport vehicle require Inhalation Hazard markings (49 CFR 172.313)?
If you have any questions or need clarification to my questions, please feel free to contact me by cell phone at (732) 306-0683 or via
email at Paul.Errichetti@grace.com.
Sincerely,
Paul Errichetti
Paul Errichetti
Sr. Mgr., Fleet and Dangerous Goods
2 grace.com
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