{"operation":"document","citation":"98-0560","title":"Spectra Gases, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1998-03-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"98-0560 response to Spectra Gases, Inc. concerning 173.306.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0560.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0560.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0560","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980560.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n•\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W\nResearch and\nWashington, D.C.\n20590\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nMAR I O 1998\nMr. William Miller\nManager-Environmental Gases\ni\nSpectra Gases, Inc.\n80 Industrial Drive\nAlpha, NJ 08865\nDear Mr. Miller:\n4\nThis is in response to your letter dated February 10, 1998, regarding packaging dilute\nmixtures of hydrogen chloride (HCI), anhydrous, chlorine (Clz), anhydrous, and hydrogen\nflouride (HF), anhydrous with nitrogen, in a DOT-39 aluminum cylinder under the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether it is\npermissible to fill mixtures of Cl, HCI and HF at concentrations of 300 pm or less and at\npressures of 500 to 1,000 p.s.i.g., with balance nitrogen, in DOT-39 aluminum cylinders.\nBased on your statement that you have evidence that your dilute concentrations are not\ncorrosive to aluminum, you may use a DOT-39 cylinder up to 500 p.s.i.g. Section\n178.65(b)(2) states that an aluminum DOT-39 cylinder is not authorized for service pressures\nfor use of a DOT-39 cylinder above 500 p.s.i.g.\nin excess of 500 p.s.i.g. However, you may apply for an exemption as provided in § 107.105\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nSilentlling,\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n02/10/1998\n14:40\n9084545009\nSPECTRA ENV\nPAGE 01\n.. ...\nAlpha, NJ 08865\n80 Industrial Drive\nJesse\n173306\nFax: (808)454-7784\nPhone: (908)454-7455 ext. 227\nSpectra Gases, Inc.\n;\nFax\nTo:\nUSDOT - Office of Hazardous Materiais From: Bill Miller\nStandard. Attn: Jodie George\nFax:\n202-366-8700\nPages: 1\nPhone: 202-366-8553\nDater 02/10/98\nRo:\nPhone Conversation of 2/9/98\nCC:\n• Urgent\nX For Reviow\n• Ploaso Comment XPlease Rapty\n• Plaase Rocycle\nDear Ms. George,\nThis is to clarfy my request for determination which we discussed by phone yesterday, It relates to the\nruling in 48CFR that halogen gases are not compatible with aluminum cylinders.\nThe section of 49CFR which you cited in our phone conversation last week (173.308) does not seem to\ncontain up to 104 liters of gas at pressures of 500 to 1,000psig. The containers are DOT Specification\napply. It cites quantities of less than 4 Fluid ounces at less than 170psig. The containers we wish to use\n39NRC, of aluminum alloy construction.\nAnhydrous in balance of Nitrogen. Concentrations are normally 300ppm or less. The proper shipping\nThe products we wish to ship are dilute mixtures of HI, anhydrous, CI2, Anhydrous, and HF,\nname for these products is Compressed Gas NOS, Non-Flammable Gas.\nWe have evidence that these products do not react with or corrode the aluminum cylinder surface, as\nwe have standards made for internal use, one to three years old, in which the concentration of the\n:\nthe container.\nminor component has been almost constant over time, indicating that there has been no reaction with\nFurther, we have purchased these products, specifically HCL in Nitrogen, 10ppm, and CL2 in Nitrogen\n100ppm from two other companies that claim they are not violating DOT regulations, however, would\nnot offer proof that this complies with 49CFR. Since the passage in question does not seem to indicate\nif it applies to only pure halogen gases in aluminum cylinders, or at what dilution it no longer applies, we\nare requesting clarification from you.\nThank you very much for your assistance.","truncated":false,"body_characters":3471}