{"operation":"document","citation":"24-0015","title":"Veolia North America — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-11-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"24-0015 response to Veolia North America concerning 173.12, 173.25.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0015.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0015.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0015","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-11/240015.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nNovember 18, 2024\nJennifer Fletcher\nDirector, Transportation Compliance\nVeolia North America\n1 Eden Lane\nFlanders, NJ 07836\nReference No. 24-0015\nDear Ms. Fletcher:\nThis letter is in response to your March 4, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to overpack marking and\nlabeling requirements. Specifically, you state your understanding that for lab packs prepared in\naccordance with § 173.12(b), the outside of the overpack—when packages are secured to a pallet\nwith clear shrink-wrap—are provided an exception from the overpack marking and labeling\nrequirements in § 173.25(a)(2), except that labels representative of each hazard class or division\nin the overpack must be visibly displayed on two opposing sides. Furthermore, you seek\nclarification of previously-issued letter of interpretation (LOI) Reference No. 94-0135, which\nalso covers the topic of overpack marking and labeling.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1. You ask whether Veolia’s understanding of lab pack overpack marking and labeling\nrequirements is correct.\nA1. The answer is yes. As prescribed in § 173.12(f), lab packs conforming to the\nrequirements of § 173.12(b) are not subject to the overpack marking and labeling\nrequirements in § 173.25(a)(2) of the HMR when secured to a pallet with shrink-wrap or\nstretch-wrap except that labels representative of each hazard class or division in the\noverpack must be visibly displayed on two opposing sides. Please note that the lab packs\nare still subject to all other requirements in § 173.25(a)(1)-(7).\n\n<<>>\n\nQ2. You ask whether LOI Reference No. 94-0135 remains valid.\nA2. The answer is yes. LOI Reference No. 94-0135 remains accurate based on the scenario\npresented in the incoming request. However, we caution its use with regard to your\nunderstanding of the § 173.12 lab pack provisions because it is not entirely clear that the\npackages—as presented in the request—are managed as lab packs.\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<<>>\n\nCardez\n24-0015\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Request for Written Letter of Interpretation (Overpacks)\nDate: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 2:54:37 PM\nAttachments: Overpack Marking and Labeling Requirements - VNA Request 3-3-24.pdf\nHi Alice,\nPlease see the attached interpretation request.\nLet me know if you need anything.\nRegards,\n-Breanna\nFrom: Fletcher, Jennifer \nSent: Monday, March 4, 2024 6:03 PM\nTo: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA) ; INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\n\nSubject: Request for Written Letter of Interpretation (Overpacks)\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.\nGood evening, please accept Veolia's request for a written letter of interpretation\nfrom PHMSA regarding the marking and labeling requirements of overpacks.\nThank you,\nJennifer Fletcher\nDirector, Transportation Compliance\nTechnical and Performance\nVEOLIA NORTH AMERICA\ncell\n+1 862 432 9778\n1 Eden Lane, Flanders NJ 07836\njennifer.fletcher@veolia.com\nwww.veolianorthamerica.com\nCheck out the Veolia Transportation Compliance Page on One to One!\n\n<<>>\n\nMarch 3, 2024\nMr . Shane Kelley\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nRE: Request For Interpretation Regarding The Marking and Labeling of Overpacks Containing Hazardous Waste\nTo Whom It May Concern:\nPlease accept this letter as a request for a formal written interpretation from your office. Veolia requests guidance on the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) requirements applicable to marking and labeling the outside of an overpack containing\nhazardous waste (ie, specification containers secured to a pallet with clear shrinkwrap).\nNon-Bulk UN Specification Packages Containing Hazardous Material or Hazardous Waste\nIt is Veolia’s understanding that an overpack used for the convenience of handling multiple specification packages containing\nhazardous waste or hazardous materials must be marked and labeled in accordance with 49 CFR §173.25 as follows:\n1) The shipping name and UN identification number and hazard class label for each hazardous material contained\ntherein, unless marking and labels representative of each hazardous material in the overpack are visible;\n2) Package orientation marking arrows on two opposite vertical sides of the overpack with the arrows pointing in the\ncorrect direction of orientation when packagings that require orientation marking arrows are present in the overpack;\n3) Marked with the word “OVERPACK” when specification packagings are required. The “OVERPACK” marking is not\nrequired when the required markings representative of each package type contained in the overpack are visible from\noutside of the overpack. The lettering on the “OVERPACK” marking must be at least 12 mm (0.5 inches) high.\nLab Packs Containing Hazardous Waste\nFor lab packs prepared in accordance with 49 CFR §173.12(b), the outside of the overpack (packages secured to a pallet with\nclear shrinkwrap) is provided an exception from the overpack marking and labeling requirements in §173.25(a)(2) except that\nlabels representative of each Hazard Class or Division in the overpack must be visibly displayed on two opposing sides.\nTherefore each overpack containing lab packs must be marked and labeled with the following:\n1) 2) 3) The hazard class label for each hazardous waste contained therein, unless the labels representative of each hazardous\nwaste in the overpack are visible;\nPackage orientation marking arrows on two opposite vertical sides of the overpack with the arrows pointing in the\ncorrect direction of orientation when packagings that require orientation marking arrows are present in the overpack;\nMarked with the word “OVERPACK” when specification packagings are required. The “OVERPACK” marking is not\nrequired when the required markings representative of each package type contained in the overpack are visible from\noutside of the overpack. The lettering on the “OVERPACK” marking must be at least 12 mm (0.5 inches) high.\nUSDOT Interpretation Letter, Reference Number 94-0135, is currently posted on the PHMSA website and flagged as “Use\nCaution”. In this letter, PHMSA indicates that each overpack must have markings and labels representative of each hazardous\nmaterial contained therein unless the markings and labels on the packages are visible (see §173.25).\nVeolia North America\n1 Eden Lane, Flanders, NJ 07836\ntel 862-432-9778\nwww.veolianorthamerica.com\n1\n\n<<>>\n\nVia this request, Veolia asks PHMSA to confirm that:\n1) Veolia’s understanding of the marking and labeling requirements for overpacks containing non-bulk specification\npackages of hazardous material or hazard waste and lab pack packages containing hazardous waste is correct; and\n2) The guidance originally provided in USDOT Interpretation Letter Reference Number 94-0135 is still correct and\naccurate in accordance with the current Hazardous Materials Regulations.\nIf you have any questions regarding this request please contact me at: jennifer.fletcher@veolia.com or 862-432-9778.\nSincerely,\nJennifer Fletcher\nDirector, Transportation Compliance\nVEOLIA NORTH AMERICA\nVeolia North America\n1 Eden Lane, Flanders, NJ 07836\ntel 862-432-9778\nwww.veolianorthamerica.com\n2\n\n<<>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington. D.C\n400 Seventh Street. SW\n20590\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nAdministration\n. 201994\nMs. Beth Hagstad\nCarter-Wallace, Inc.\nEnvironmental Affairs Specialist\nP.O. Box 1001\nCranbury, NJ\n08512-0181\nDear Ms. Hagstad:\nlhis is in response to your letter concerning labeling requirements Ior\nlazardous materials which are now being disposed of as hazardous wastes.\nstate that packages will be palletized and shrinkwrapped and ask if you may\nplace the required DOT labeling on the shrinkwrap and not on the individual\ncartons. I apologize for the delay in responding and hope it has not caused\nany inconvenience.\nThe answer is no. The labeling requirements found in 49 CFR 172.400 require\neach non-bulk package to be labeled with the label specified for the material\nin the § 112.101 Table. In addition, each overpack (e.g., shrinkwrap) must\nbear markings and labels representative of each hazardous\ntherein, unless the markings and labels on the packages are visible (see\nmaterial contained\n§ 173.25).\nI hope this information is helpful.\nSincerely,\nWhen Pollip\nDelmer F. Billings\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nChief, Regulations Development\n1459\n\n<<>>\n\nF. 11.172.400c\n50:259,399\nCARTER-WALLACE, INC.\nHALF ACRE ROAD\nPO. BOX 1001\n•\nCRANBURY, NEW JERSEY 08512 0181\nTEL: 1609,655.6000\nFAX. :609 655•6660\nAugust 4, 1993\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, DHM-10\nUS Department of Transportation\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nAUG 1 3 1993\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, DC. 20590-0001\nDear Mr. Mazzullo,\nCarter-Wallace, Inc. a manufacturer of consumer products, toiletries, pet care and\npharmaceuticals, is requesting clarification on the placement of markings and labels on\noverpacks containing hazardous materials under the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49CFR Parts 171-180). Our question is as follows:\nCarter-Wallace, Inc. is a manufacturer of consumer products that when transported\nDissusse\nfor sale are classified as ORM-D. Several consumer products, once expired and\nno longer saleable, meet the definition of hazardous waste for disposal purposes.\nThe expired products, now hazardous materials, in their original shipping cartons\n(ORM-D) are sorted by hazard class, which in our case includes flammable\n(aerosols), flammable liquid and corrosive. These are placed on pallets according\nto hazard class and shrinkwrapped for consolidation. The original consumer\nshipping cartons are not relabeled but the shrinkwrap is labeled for transportation\nin accordance with DOT labeling requirements.\nin it ter\nI agh?\nCarter-Wallace, Inc. has obtained a copy of a letter (July 22, 1992; USDOT to Akzo\nSuestio\nCoatings, Inc.) stating that shrinkwrap is considered an overpack when\nconsolidating packages on a pallet. When the hazardous materials, in our case\nhazardous waste, contained on the pallet are the same hazard class is it\nacceptable to place the required labeling (hazardous waste and DOT diamond) on\nthe shrinkwrap and not the individual cartons?\nShould you require further information pertaining to our question please contact me at\n(609) 655-6876.\nw/Bethi\nthe overpack\nSincerely,\nspoke\nNeeds\n716/94.\nlabeling\n1451\nBith sagstad\nri\non't\nLot.\nBeth Hagstad\nEnvironmental Affairs Specialist","truncated":false,"body_characters":11189}