{"operation":"document","citation":"98-0511","title":"Environmental, Health & Safety — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1998-02-23","effective_on":null,"summary":"98-0511 response to Environmental, Health & Safety concerning 173.26.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0511.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0511.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0511","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980511.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n• 5=\nU.S.Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C\n20590\nResearch and\nAdministration\nSpecial Programs\nFEB 23 1998\nMr. Joseph W. Gentile\nDirector - Environmental, Health & Safety\nCASCHEM, Inc.\n40 Avenue A\nBayonne, NJ 07002\nDear Mr. Gentile:\nThis is in response to your letter dated October 13, 1997, regarding a discrepancy in the\nclassification and quantity limitations for \"Sulfur\" or \"Sulphur\" shipped domestically in\naccordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations and the International Air Transport\nAssociation's (IATA) standards. You asked for confirmation that packages of less than 400\nkg are exempt from regulation, and that there are no quantity limitations of 25 kg for\npassenger-carrying aircraft, or 100 kg for cargo-only aircraft.\nThe IATA regulations do not have official standing under the U.S. Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). The regulations recognized by the HMR and\nauthorized in 49 CFR 171.11 as an alternative to compliance with 49 CFR requirements are\nthe International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport\nof Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions). In accordance with the ICAO\nTechnical Instructions, a material described as \"Sulphur, 4.1, UN 1350, III\" is regulated for\ninternational transportation by aircraft as a \"Division 4.1 (flammable solid)\" material;\nhowever, there are no quantity limitations per package aboard passenger-carrying or cargo-\ncarrying aircratt. The ICAO Technical Instructions special provision \"A105\" excepts Sulphur\ntrom regulation when it 1s transported in quantities of less than 400 kg per package, or when\nit has been formed to a specific shape (e.g., prills, granules, pellets, pastilles or flakes).\nIn accordance with the HMR, a material described as \"Sulfur, 9, NA 1350, III\" is regulated as\na \"Class 9\" material when shipped in domestic transportation. Special provision \"30\" in 49\nCFR 172.102 excepts \"Sulfur\"\" from regulation if transported domestically in a non-bulk\npackaging or is formed to a specific shape (e.g., prills, granules, pellets, pastilles, or flakes).\nIn the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table, in Columns \"9A\" and \"9B\", quantity\naircraft.\nlimitations are specified of 25 kg on passenger-carrying aircraft and 100 kg for cargo-only\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nThank you for bringing this issue to our attention; you are correct that there is a discrepancy\nin that the HMR specifies quantity limitations on passenger-carrying and cargo-only aircraft,\nwhereas the ICAO Technical Instructions specifies \"No Limit\" on both passenger and cargo-\ncarrying aircraft. On May 06, 1997, a final rule under Docket HM-215B [62 FR 24690] was\npublished which made changes to the \"Sulfur\" or \"Sulphur\" entries, although this issue was\nnot addressed. However, this issue will be addressed in future rulemaking.\nI hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nOshnu ABillis\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Regulations Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n•.\n•\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nCASCHEM, INC.\nA CAMBREX Company\n70 Avenue A\nEnt\n17?36\n114\nBayonne. NJ 07002\nTel: (201) 858-7900 Fax: (201) 437-2728\n→ i\nCertified Mail - Return Receipt # P 088 370 949\nOctober 13, 1997\nEdward Mazzullo, DHM-10\nDOT/RSPA/OHMS\n400 7th Street, SW\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Mr. Mazzullo;\nWe recently discussed the classification and quantity limitations for sulfur\n(NA/UN1350) with the DOT Hotline, and we believe there is a discrepancy. For\ndomestic shipments, there is a special provision (see note 30) that bulk packages (less\nthan 400 kg) are exempt from the regulations. However, there are quantity limitations\nfor passenger aircraft and railcar of 25 kg and for cargo aircraft only of 100 kg. By\ncomparison, IATA also exempts packages less than 400 kg and specifies \"no limit\"\nunder their quantity limitations.\nCan you please confirm for us that packages of less than 400 kg are, in fact, exempt\nfrom regulation, and there are no 25 kg and 100 kg limitations as described above?\nIf you have any questions, please call me at 201-858-7862. I look forward to your\nreply.\nSincerely;\nCasChem, Inc.\nJoseph W. Gentile, C.I.H.\n•Director - Environmental, Health & Safety\nCC:\nMike Lafond - Cambrex\nHarry Dixon\nDan Matarazzo","truncated":false,"body_characters":4330}