# Seattle Children’s Hospital — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 24-0059
- **title:** Seattle Children’s Hospital — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2024-10-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 24-0059 response to Seattle Children’s Hospital concerning 172.205.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-24-0059
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-12/240059.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
October 17, 2024
Randy Turnell
Hazardous Materials Program Manager
Seattle Children’s Hospital
6901 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Reference No. 24-0059
Dear Mr. Turnell:
This letter is in response to your June 25, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) hazardous waste manifest requirements. Specifically, you explain that Seattle
Children’s Hospital (e.g., the hospital) had a vendor (e.g., contractor) package waste and sign off
on a hazardous waste manifest on its behalf. You further explain that the hospital was audited by
a third-party healthcare accreditation agency, which informed you that it was not permissible for
a contractor to package waste and sign a hazardous waste manifest on the hospital’s behalf based
on their understanding that it violates the requirements of the HMR. You do not agree with the
third-party healthcare accreditation agency as it is your understanding that if a person has been
contracted or otherwise provided written authorization to package waste and sign a hazardous
waste manifest on the hospital’s behalf, then this would be permissible. Therefore, you request
confirmation that a contracted vendor who is permitted to package and sign a hazardous waste
manifest on the hospital’s behalf is allowed.
For purposes of using the hazardous waste manifest as a shipping paper in accordance with the
HMR, your understanding is correct. In accordance with § 172.205(a), no person may offer,
transport, transfer, or deliver a hazardous waste unless an EPA hazardous waste manifest is
prepared in accordance with 40 CFR 262.20 and is signed, carried, and given as required of that
person. Furthermore, the shipper (i.e., generator) shall prepare the manifest in accordance with

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40 CFR part 262. A manifest prepared by a person other than the generator can be signed by the
generator, by the agent (e.g., a contractor) of the generator, or by an offeror (i.e., when the carrier
is serving as that shipper and carrier).
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Dirk Der Kinderen
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Baker
24-0059
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
Cc: Hazmat Interps
Subject: FW: Letter of Request
Date: Monday, July 8, 2024 3:17:43 PM
Hi Alice,
Please see the below interpretation request.
Let us know if you need anything,
Janaye
From: Turnell, Randy <Randy.Turnell@seattlechildrens.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 10:17 AM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>
Subject: Letter of Request
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.
Hello,
I am writing to request a letter of request regarding a third party signing a hazardous waste manifest
on a company/persons behalf. My hospital was having our vendor come and package and sign the
manifest on our behalf. We had an audit from DNV, a healthcare accreditation agency and they
stated it was not legal. I have always been told it was if that person was properly trained and we
either had contract or a written letter giving them permission. I called your hotline and spoke to
someone and they confirmed I was correct. I would like to have something in writing from your
agency to show it is in fact legal to do. We have since changed that process but, we received a non
conformity from the DNV and I also want to show that we were incorrectly cited. If you need
additional information from me please let me know. I appreciate you assistance with this matter.
Thank you
Randy Turnell
Hazardous Materials Program Manager
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Randy.Turnell @seattlechildrens.org
Emergency Management
6901 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
206-987-5385 Office

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713-818-6105 Cell
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