{"operation":"document","citation":"98-0346","title":"Thompson, Hine & Flory, LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1999-01-19","effective_on":null,"summary":"98-0346 response to Thompson, Hine & Flory, LLP concerning 172.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0346.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0346.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0346","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980346.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C.\n20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nJAN 1 9 1999\nMr. Norman J. Philion\nRef. No. 98-0346\nThompson, Hine & Flory,\nLLP\n1920 N Street, N.W.\nWashington, D.C.\n20036\nDear Mr. Philion:\nThis responds to your letter of November 16, 1998, and\nsubsequent telephone conversations with Ms. Diane LaValle of\nmy staff concerning labels used on shipments by Toyota Motor\nSales, U.S.A., Inc., from Japan to the United States.\nYou ask\nwhether an olive-green Class 2 label conforms to the\nInternational Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and is\ntherefore acceptable for use in the United States under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nYou are correct that § 171.12 (b) of the HMR permits\ntransportation in the United States of a material that is\npackaged, marked, classed, labeled, placarded, described,\nstowed and segregated, and certified in accordance with the\nIMDG Code, provided that all or part of the transportation is\nby vessel. Colors authorized by the IMDG Code for labels,\nmarks, and signs are in section 8 of the General Introduction.\nUnlike the HMR, the IMDG Code does not provide specific color\ntolerances for labels. Instead, as your letter notes, the\nIMDG Code includes color pictures for each label authorized\nfor international transportation by vessel.\nThe colors are\nintended to be consistent with those specified in the UN\nRecommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN\nRecommendations).\nIt is the opinion of this office that the olive-green label is\nnot consistent with the color specification for a Class 2\nlabel in the IMDG Code.\nIn the IMDG Code, the color shown for\na Class 2 label is dark green with no olive or yellow tones.\n172.407\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n=\nBecause of the olive-green label's obvious inconsistency with\nboth the IMDG Code and the UN Recommendations, it is not suitable\nfor shipments into the United States.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further\nquestions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.\nSincerely,\nThoms\nD. Allan\nThomas G. Allan\nOffice\nSenior Iransportation Regulations Specialist\nof Hazardous Materials\nStandards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n:.\nNOw 17 '98 09:57 FR THOMPSON HINE-FLORY 202 785 ØØ12 TO ØØ119#048882*Ø00 P.Ø2/ØS\nTHOMPSON\n98-0346\nHINE & FLORY LLP\nGorsky,\nAttorneys at Law\n§ 172.407\n:\nFacsimile:\n• November 16, 1998\nDirect Dial:\n202/331-8330\n202/973-2705\nVIA FACSIMILE\n-\nMr. Delmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, SW\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe:\nYour Ref. No. 98-0235\nDear Mr. Billings:\nThis firm represents Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. By letter dated September 1, 1998,\nyou informed Mr. Anthony P. Wilson of Toyota that with regard to the Class 2 labels he sent for\nreview it was your Office's opinion \"that the olive-green label is not consistent with the color\nspecification in the UN Recommendations.... \" A copy of your letter is attached for convenient\nreference.\nThe shipments that utilize the olive green label arrive from Japan by ocean vessel. In\naccordance with the terms of 49 C.F.R. § 171.12(b) such shipments may be \"offered and\naccepted for transportation and transported within the United States\" if \"packaged, marked,\nclassed, labeled, placarded, described, stowed, and segregated.. in accordance with the IMDG\nCode....\" The label chart included in the IMDG Code shows what appears to be an olive-green\nClass 2 label. Although it is not a color reproduction, I am transmitting to you a photocopy of\nthat chart for reference purposes. I have learned from my client that Toyota Motor Corporation\nin Japan is utilizing the olive-green Class 2 label in order to conform to the IMDG color\nstandards. The Japanese Ministry of Transport has confirmed the acceptability of this color,\napparently based upon the requirements of the IMDG Code.\nFor the foregoing reasons, I am requcsting confinnation from your Office that the olive-\ngreen Class 2 label conforms to the IMDG Code and is therefore acceptable for use in the United\nStates. In the alternative, I am requesting the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter\n1920 N Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-1601 202-331-8800 jax 331-8330\nBRUSSELS. RELGIUM CINCINNATI CLEVELAND COLUMBUS DAYTON FALM BEACH WASHINGTON. D.C.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n* Nol 17 198 09:58 FRTHOMPSON HINE-FLORY 202 785 0012 TO 00119H048882*888 P.3/86\nTHOMPSON\nHINE & FLORY LLP\n\" Mr. Delmer F. Billings\nAttorneys at Law\nNovember 16, 1998\nPage 2\nat the earliest opportunity, and to share with you my color copy of the label chart from the IMDG\nCode. Because of its potential impact on international commerce, I look forward to prompt\nresolution of this matter.\nKery truly yours,\nNorman J. Philion\nAttachment\nCC:\nRalph Perez, Esq.,\nToyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.\ns: luscrsinOphilioltoyots-uss\\trs\\billings re oliveg label. wad","truncated":false,"body_characters":5008}