# DGI Training Center — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 99-0142
- **title:** DGI Training Center — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1999-07-15
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 99-0142 response to DGI Training Center concerning 172.704.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0142.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0142.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0142
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990142.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
JUL 15 1999
Mr. Sean Kelly
Ref. No. 99-0142
Manager, Tech Control
DGI Training Center
P.O. Box 1283
Amelia Island, FL 32035
Dear Mr. Kelly:
This is in response to your letter dated May 26, 1999, requesting clarification on the training
requirements under § 172.702(b) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-
180). Specifically, you are requesting clarification on required remedial training in new or revised
regulatory requirements regardless of the minimum three year required training frequency. Your
questions are answered as follows:
Q1. Do final rules carry enforcement authority? Do published training requirements in a final rule
mandate a "shipper" of hazardous materials to comply with those rules?
A1. The answer is yes.
Q2. Was this requirement (remedial training when job function or regulations change) intentionally
omitted from changes to 49 CFR 172.702(b)?
A2. The answer is no. RSPA provided clarification in the preamble of the final rule which served as
official interpretation by RSPA of the intent of the regulatory language. RSPA clarified the intent of the
regulatory language by stating that if RSPA adopts a new regulation, or changes an existing regulation,
that relates to a function performed by a hazmat employee, that hazmat employee must be instructed in
those new or revised function-specific requirements without regard to the three year training cycle.
RSPA further stated that it is not necessary to completely retrain the employee sooner than the required
three year cycle. The only instruction required is that necessary to assure knowledge of the new or
revised regulatory requirement. It not necessary to test the employee or retain records of the remedial
instruction provided in the new or revised requirements until the next scheduled retraining at or within
the three year cycle. RSPA revised the training rules to make it clear that RSPA does not intend that
millions of detailed records be created and retained and associated testing be conducted each time a
hazmat employee is instructed in regard to a change in the regulations within the three year cycle.
990142
172.204

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Q3. If the requirement was intentionally omitted, is there another regulation which mandates training
pursuant to changes in the regulations or job functions?
A3. See A2 above.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Lich 76illg
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

DGi
Training
Boothe
Lenter
Dongerous Goods Intarnational
17270€
99-0142
DI Training Center
Sean Kelly, Manager, Tech Control
P.O. Box 1283
Aimelia Island, FL 32035
May 26,1999
Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
Attention: Mr Edward Mazzullo:
Copy: Delmer Billings
400 Seventh Street, S.W., DHM-51
Washington DC 20590-0001
Reference: Remedial Training Requirements in Relation to Regulatory Updates or Changes. -
(NPRM HM 222-B, Final Rule HM 222-B, Final Rule; Responses to Petitions for
Reconsideration and Advisory Guidance Notice 96-10)
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
Under the NPRM, Docket HM 222B, February 20, 1996, Section II Proposed Changes, Pages
6479 and.6480, your office recommended and suggested that remedial training be provided to a
hazinat employee whenever their functions change or the requirements are revised.
Under the Final Rüle, Docket HM-222B, May 30, 1996, Section II Summary of Amendments,
Page 27169 your office quoted the aforementioned NPRM ('Except as provided in Sec.
+172.704(c), hazmat employees must be trained whenever their hazmat functions change or the
requirements are revised, iegardless of the minimally required traming frequency.")
The Final Rule continued with a reference to 172.702 (Subpart H) saying, "If a new regulation is
adopted, or an existing regulation is changed, that relates to a function performed by a hazmat
employee, that hazmat employee must be instructed in those new or revised function specific
requirements without regard to the timing of the three year training cycle."
Alsa, in this same Final. Rule, (same section) your affice went an to say, In order to clarily the
training requirements of the HMR, RSPA is revising Sec. 172.702(b) to state that an employee
must be instructed it the requirements of the HMR that apply to each function performed by the
employee without a reference to the requirements of subpart H (e.g., the training, testing and
tecordkeeping requirements of Sec 172.704)."
Corporate Office
1060 El Çamino Real, Ste B. • Redwood City, CA 94063 • tel. (650) 306-8450 • fox (650) 306-8459
dgitc@ix.netcom.com • www.dgitraining.com
IATA Dangerous Goods Accredited School

<<<PAGE 4>>>

DG tang
Dangerous Goods latariationale
Contrary to the NPRM and Section II of the Final Rule, Section III Regulatory Analysis &
Notices, List of Subjects; Page 27173, Amendments made no mention of the proposed or revised
training requirement.
In addition, your office published the same statement ("IRSPA adopts a new regulation, Or
changes an existing regulation, that relates to a function performed by a hazmat employee, that
hazmat employee must be instructed in those new or revised fimction-specific requirements
without regard to the three year training cycle.") in two other documents;
a) Docket HM-222B; Amendment Number 172-149 / RIN 2137-AC76 / Responses to Petitions
for Reconsidetation (October 1, 1996) and;
b) Advisory Guidance 96-10; Offering, Accepting and Transporting Hazardous Materials; Final'
Rulé (June 14, 1996): -
With regard to the above mentioned documents, would you please provide me a Letter of
Interpretation answering the following questions;
a) Do, Enal Rules carry enforcement authority? Do published training requirements in a Final;
Rule mandate a "Shipper" of Hazardous Materials to comply with those rules?
ib) Was this requirement (remedial training when job function or régulations change) intentionally
omitted from changes to 49 CFR, 172.702 (b)?
(c) If the requirement was intentionally omitted, is there another regulation which mandates
training pursuant to changes in the regulations or job functions?
Your time, effort and consideration are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Sec Kelly
Sean Kelly
Manager, Tech Control
1060 El Camin Real, Ste • Redwood Gily, C. 94063. te. (650) 306-8450 • fox 650) 306-8459
Corporate Office
dgitc@ix.netcom.com • www.dgitroining.com
IATA Dangerous Goods Actredited School
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