# Sea-Land Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 98-0223 - **title:** Sea-Land Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 1998-08-31 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 98-0223 response to Sea-Land Services concerning 172.201. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0223.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0223.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0223 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980223.pdf **body:** <<>> 1 U.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Research and Washington, D.C. 20590 Special Programs Administration AUG 3 | 1998 Mr. Prabhu Natarajan Manager, Hazardous Materials Ref. No. 98-0223 Sea-Land Services, Inc. 6000 Carnegie Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28209-4637 Dear Mr. Natarajan: This is in response to your July 13, 1998 letter regarding the use of specific languages in preparing dangerous goods Specifically, you ask whether it is permissible to accept non- English shipping documents for hazardous material shipments in the USA when such shipments are prepared under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The answer is no. Under the HMR, with certain exceptions, if all or part of the transportation is by vessel, a hazardous placarded and described in accordance with the requirements of the IMDG Code may be offered and accepted and transported in the United States (see 49 CER 171.12(b)). In § 171.7 (a) (3), "Table of material incorporated by reference" of the HMR, the English edition of the IMDG Code is incorporated by reference. Therefore, if hazardous materials shipments are made in accordance with the IMDG Code (as authorized in S 171.12 (b)), the hazardous material shipping description, the shipper's ... certification (declaration) and the container packing certification must be in English. I hope this satisfies your request. Sincerely, Dulm 75 lo Delmer F. Billings Chief, Standards Development Office of Hazardous Materials Standards <<>> - • • Betts SealiLand §172.201 Sea-Land Servico, Inc. Charlotte, NC 28209-4637 6000 Caregie Boulevard (704) 571-2000 10-031 598-205 115859789 Ó3NE31 July 13, 1998 гіїбі Mr. Bryan Robinson Commandant (G-MOS-3) U.S. Coast Guard 2100 Second Street SW Washington, DC 20593-0001 Dear Mr. Robinson: It was a pleasure to talk to you on the phone about clarification to the use of 49CFR/IMDG with respect to interational transportation of hazardous materials. We look forward to working with you and your office in the future. Our question is in reference to the use of IMDG in the USA and its territories, as allowed by section 171.12 of the 49CFR. The IMIDG does not recommend or prohibit the usage of specific languages in preparing dangerous goods declarations or container packing certificates. The 49CFR authorizes shipments of hazardous materials prepared under the IMDG code to be shipped in the USA subject to the requirements and limitations imposed by 49CFR section 171.12. These requirements do not mandate the use of English language in the preparation of the shipper's declaration or the container packing certificate. Based on this information, we conclude that it is legally possible to accept non-English shipping documents for hazardous shipments in the USA when such shipments are prepared under the IMDG code. We request the opinion/ruling of your office in light of the above. We do realize that section 172.201(a)(2) requires the use of English language in preparing shipping papers for shipments prepared under the 49CFR regulations. We look forward to receiving your earliest response. Sincerely, Manager, Hazarous Materials PN/rgm 500/200d 8TS ON 6S: IT 86/01/80 <<>> + :+ U.S. Department Commandam of Transportation Jnited States Coast Guard Washington, DC 20593-000 2100 Second Street, SW Staff Symbol: G-MSO-3 AX: 8202274207 DRAFT 16703/49-171 August 10, 1998 Sea-Land Services, Inc. ATTN: Mr. Prabhu Natarajan 6000 Carnegie Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28209-4637 Subj: DOCUMENTATION Dear Mr. Natarajan: In response to your letter of July 13, 1998, concerning the use of specific languages in preparing dangerous goods declarations or container packing certificates, the following guidance is provided. The provisions contained in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 171.12(b) authorize the use of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code within the United States subject to certain conditions and limitations. The IMDG Code is published in several languages and accordingly does not limit the preparation of documentation to a single language. While use of the English language is obviously preferred, when the IMDG Code is being utilized in the United States in conformance with 49 CFR 171.12(b), the shipper's declaration and the container packing certification may be in a language other than English. If you have any further questions regarding this matter, please contact Mr. Brian Robinson of my staff at (202) 267-0018. Sincerely, R. F. CORBIN Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Hazardous Materials Standards Division By direction of the Commandant Brobinson 28 Jul 98 Itr.SeaLandl LOG #98-205 {00/200d 8IS ON 6S:IT 86/0T/80 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 4713