{"operation":"document","citation":"25-0015","title":"Currie Associates — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2025-04-23","effective_on":null,"summary":"25-0015 response to Currie Associates concerning 172.302, 172.332.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0015.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0015.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0015","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-04/250015.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nApril 23, 2025\nAna Diaz\nRegulatory Compliance Specialist\nCurrie Associates\n101 Ridge Street\nSuite I\nGlenn Falls, NY 12801\nReference No. 25-0015\nDear Ms. Diaz:\nThis letter is in response to your February 7, 2025 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to United Nations (UN)\nidentification number marking in accordance with Special Provision (SP) 389 for a shipment of\n“UN3536, Lithium Batteries installed in cargo transport unit lithium ion batteries or lithium\nmetal batteries, 9.” Specifically, you seek confirmation of your understanding that the UN\nidentification number displayed on an orange panel must be affixed on only two (opposing) sides\nof the cargo transport unit (CTU) associated with the Class 9 placard. You also seek\nconfirmation that § 172.302(a) UN identification number marking requirements for bulk\npackagings do not apply.\nYour understanding of both is correct. SP 389 excepts the lithium batteries installed in a CTU\nfrom the marking requirements of Part 172, Subpart D. Therefore, § 172.302(a) identification\nnumber marking requirements do not apply. However, SP 389 does still require the CTU to\ndisplay the UN identification number in a manner in accordance with § 172.332 of the HMR and\nbe placarded on two opposing sides. The requirement “on two opposing sides” applies to both\npreceding requirements, i.e., the CTU shall display the UN identification number in a manner in\naccordance with § 172.332 of the HMR on two opposing sides, and the CTU shall be placarded\non two opposing sides. Thus, whether displayed on an orange panel, a placard, or a white\nsquare-on-point in accordance with § 172.332, the condition of “on two opposing sides” applies.\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\nBaker\n25-0015\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Letter of Interpretation Request - UN number marking on UN3536\nDate: Friday, February 7, 2025 3:19:16 PM\nAttachments: image001.png\n01.06.2025 Currie LOI UN marking on UN3536.pdf\nHello Alice,\nPlease see the attached interpretation request. Let us know if you need anything.\nSincerely,\nJanaye\nFrom: Tom Ferguson \nSent: Friday, February 7, 2025 9:26 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nCc: Kelley, Shane (PHMSA) ; Leary, Kevin (PHMSA) ;\nChris Yakush ; Ana Diaz \nSubject: Letter of Interpretation Request - UN number marking on UN3536\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.\nDear PHMSA,\nPlease find attached a request for a formal letter of interpretation regarding the marking\nrequirements for UN3536, LITHIUM BATTERIES INSTALLED IN CARGO TRANSPORT UNIT.\nWe believe, as described in the international regulations, that the UN marking\nrequirement for such units requires 2 sides be marked with the UN number in\nassociation with the associated placards noted in SP389. We would like you to confirm\nour understanding of this requirement.\nPlease let us know if you have any questions about our request.\nBest Regards,\nTom Ferguson, PG, CHMM, DGSA\nPresident and Chief Technical Officer\nCurrie Associates, Inc.\nwww.currieassociates.com\ntom@currieassociates.com\n\n<<>>\n\nO: 518-761-0668\nF: 518-792-7781\nOnline Training – www.dgcomplianceonline.com\nYour Compliance Solution to Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Transportation Services & Support\nCONFIDENTIAL: UNAUTHORIZED USE OR DISCLOSURE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.\nThis information is intended to provide interpretative and authoritative information in regard to the subject\nmatter covered as a service to our clients and has been answered to the best of our ability based on the\ninformation provided to us. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such interpretation\nor information, however, nor do we warrant that compliance with any advice we provide will guarantee\ncompliance with any legal or regulatory requirements. Our statements or opinions do not convey legal\ninterpretation and government authorities or legal counsel should be contacted for such a response.\n\n<<>>\n\nFebruary 7, 2025\nMr. Shane Kelley\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nAttn: PHH-10\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nEast Building, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590-0001\nSubmitted: Via Email\ncc: infocntr@dot.gov\nDear Mr. Kelley,\nCurrie Associates requests a formal letter of interpretation regarding Special Provision 389\n(SP389) when shipping under UN3536 LITHIUM BATTERIES INSTALLED IN CARGO\nTRANSPORT UNIT. Specifically, we want to confirm that the UN number (in an orange panel) is\nrequired to be affixed on only TWO sides of the cargo transport unit (ideally in association with\nthe Class 9 placard).\nSpecial Provision 389 states:\n“…The cargo transport unit shall display the UN number in a manner in accordance with\n§172.332 of this subchapter and be placarded on two opposing sides.”\nFurther, we understand the marking and placarding requirements of SP389 are a deviation from\nthe marking requirements under §172.302. SP389 points to the display provisions of the\nidentification number markings in §173.332. However, the provision does not specify the\nnumber of sides the UN number must be marked on the cargo transport unit (CTU); it only\ndetails the number of placards to be used. Additionally, SP389 does not reference the marking\nrequirements for bulk packagings outlined in §172.302, where additional factors for identification\nnumbers include the packaging capacity as indicated in §172.302(a), specifically §172.302(a)(1)\nwhere it states, “One each side and each end, if the packaging has a capacity of 3,785 L (1,000\ngallons) or more.”\nThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) Special Provision 389 gives\nsimilar guidance, but references on the dimensions on the UN number and implies the UN mark\nis only required to be on or near the required placard. Given there are only two placards\nrequired per this special provision, this provision suggests only two UN marks are required.\nBased on the similar approach in the IMDG Code, Currie Associates would like to confirm our\nunderstanding that SP389 requires two placards to appear in association with the UN mark on\n101 Ridge Street Suite I, Glens Falls, NY 12801 | Phone: 1-518-761-0668 | mail@currieassociates.com\n\n<<>>\n\ntwo opposing sides of the CTU, and that the provisions of § 172.302(a) are not applicable.\nAdditional sides of the CTU may display the UN mark but it is not required.\nCurrie Associates appreciates your timely review of this interpretation request and we look\nforward to hearing from you soon.\nSincerely,\nAna Diaz\nRegulatory Compliance Specialist\nCurrie Associates\nwww.currieassociates.com\nana@currieassociates.com\nO: 518-761-0668","truncated":false,"body_characters":7352}