{"operation":"document","citation":"99-0033","title":"Fine Metals — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1999-03-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"99-0033 response to Fine Metals concerning 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0033.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0033.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0033","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990033.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C.\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nResearch and\n20590\nspecial Programs\nAdministration\nMAR 4 1999\nMs. Christy Schwartz\nRef. No.\n99-0033\nShipping and Receiving\nFine Metals\n15117 Washington Highway\nAshland, Virginia 23005\nDear Ms.\nSchwartz:\nThis responds to your letter of January 29, 1999, concerning\ntransportation requirements for magnesium and magnesium alloys\nunder the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts\n171-180). Specifically, you ask for a definition of the term\n\"pellets\" as it is used\nin the Hazardous Materials Table entry\n\"Magnesium or Magnesium alloys with more than 50 percent\nmagnesium in pellets, turnings or ribbons.\"\nThe term \"pellets\" is not specifically defined in the HMR.\nThe phrase \"pellets, turnings or ribbons\" is used in the\nHazardous Materials Table to distinguish those forms of\nmagnesium that are hazardous from magnesium in ingots and\nother structural forms that are not hazardous. The absence of\na plus (t) sign in column 1 of the Hazardous Materials Table\nindicates that the listed material may not be subject to the\nHMR in all instances. In the case of magnesium, the\ndetermining factor is not the size of the pellets, turnings,\nor ribbons that are being shipped. Rather, a determination\nas\nto whether magnesium is subject to the HMR as\na Division 4.1\nmaterial must be based on an evaluation of its performance\nwhen tested in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and\nCriteria. Thus, if the magnesium pellets you ship show a\nburning rate faster than 2.2 mm per second when tested in\n1B22\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\naccordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, then they\nmeet the definition for a Division\n. 4.1 material no matter how\nlarge or\nsmall the pellets are\nHMR) .\n• (see $ 173.124 (a) (3) (ii) of the\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further\nquestions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.\nSincerely,\nThan\nomas\nmas I. Allan\nThomas G. Allan\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice\nof Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n-\n:.:\nEFINE METALS!\nGorsky\n3173.22\nJanuary 29, 1999\n99-0033\nDr. Edward T Muzzullo\nDirector of The Office of Hazardous Material Standards\nUSDOT/ RESPA DHM-10\n400 7* Str SW\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nSubject: Request for Clarification\nWe are a small metals manufacturing company that as part of our business sell magnesium and other\nmetals. According to DOT regulations when shipping magnesium if it has more than 50 percent\nmagnesium in pellets, turnings or ribbon it should be marked as a hazardous material. In our industry the\nword pellet is used interchangeably with rod, slug, shot or evaporation pellet. However, each individual\ncompany uses their own wording to distinguish what it is that they are buying and/or selling. The size of\nthe metal determines (in our company) whether or not it is a rod or pellet. Normally the smallest size we\nsell is 8mm dia. x 8mm long (0.314\" dia x 0.314\"long) we traditionally refer to this as a pellet. We only\ndeal in small quantities of material and usually ship 5 kilograms or less. My question to you is, can you\ngive me a specific size on what is considered a pellet since this affects how it ships. Thank you for all of\nyour help.\nRespectfully yours,\nChristy schwants\nFine Metals\nChristy Schwartz / Shipping and Receiving\nCS\n(804) 227-3381 15117 Washington Hwy. * PO. Box 1055 - Ashland, Va 23005\nFAX (804) 227-3404","truncated":false,"body_characters":3432}