{"operation":"document","citation":"98-0127","title":"Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1998-06-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"98-0127 response to Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. concerning 173.171.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0127.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0127.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0127","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980127.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nLaim\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nSpecial Programs\nResearch and\nAdministration\nJUN | 8 1998\nMr. Ben Barrett, P. E.\nManager, Engr. & Safety\nHodgdon Powder Co.., Inc.\n6231 Robinson\nShawnee Mission, KS 66201\nRef. No. 98-0127\nDear Mr. Barrett:\n• This is in response to your létter dated May 22, 1998 requesting clarification of the requirements\nin § 173.171 (c), under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180).\nSpecifically, you ask whether \"Smokeless powder for small arms, 4.1, NA 3178, PG I\" may be\nshipped in combination packagings with inner packagings not exceeding 8 pounds net mass.\nThe answer is yes. In § 173.171 (c), RSPA's intent is that smokeless powder be authorized in\ncombination packagings with inner packagings not exceeding 8 pounds although it states\n\"3.6 kg\" which is actually 7.93 pounds. This will be clarified in a future rulemaking action.\nIf we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.\nSincerely,\nHitti 2 Michelo\nHattie L. Mitchell, Chief\nRegulatory Review and Reinvention\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n18:10\n8913 362 1307\nHODGDON POWDER\n@001/001\nHODGDON POWDER CO., INC.\nFACSIMILE TRANSMISSION\nBen Barrett, P.E.\nTelephone: 913-362-9455\nManager, Engr, & Safety\nFax: 913-362-1307\n6231 Robinson\nShawnee Mission, KS 66202\nEmail: ben@98.net\nWeb: www.hodgdon.com\nTO: Charles Betts\nCOMPANY: DOT RSPA, Regulatory Review\nFAX: 202-366-3753 PHONE: 202-366-8553\nDATE: May 22,1998 TIME:\n# OF PAGES: 1\nDear Charles:\nPer our conversation on Wednesday, I request that DOT consider a small change to 49\nCIR 173.171(C). Ihe regulation states that no inner packaging is allowed over 3.6 kg (8\nIbs.) net. I'he original intent of this regulation was an 8 Ib. net limit, which converts to\nmetric as 3.6288 kg. The last 3 digits were apparently truncated for ease of reading. This\nis causing a problem for the smokeless powder manufacturers (who all sell 8 lb.\nindicates the 8 Ib. containers are above the limit. Add to this the fact that where SI and\ncontainers), as shippers are converting the 3.6 kg back into pounds as 7.93 Ibs., which\nEnglish weights both appear, the metric weight is the official weight enforced by DOT\nper 49 CFR 171.10(a).\nThis may seem minor, but one of my customers just had UPS return a shipment based on\nthe above scenario, as UPS only lists the 3.6 kilogram weight and not the 8 pounds.\nPlease consider changing the 3.6 kg value to 3.7 or 3.63 kg. This is a negligible increase,\nand in most cases will result in no increase at all. The change would however eliminate\nmisunderstandings with shippers who aren't familiar with 173.171. In the mean time, I\nwould appreciate a letter of interpretation to show shippers that 8 pounds is okay.\nThanks for your help!\nBest Regards,\nBen Barrett\nHODGDON@ POWDER\nTHE BRAND THAT'S TRUE","truncated":false,"body_characters":2888}