# Premedica Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 99-0158
- **title:** Premedica Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1999-07-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 99-0158 response to Premedica Corporation concerning 171.1.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990158.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
JUL 2 8 1999
Mr. Joseph K. Arsenault
Ref. No. 99-0158
Primedica Corporation
57 Union Street
Worcester, MA
01608
Dear Mr. Arsenault:
This is in response to your letter dated June 9, 1999, concerning
the definition of commerce as specified in § 171.1 of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) as it
pertains to transporting infectious substances.
As specified in § 171.1, the HMR govern the safe transportation
of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate and foreign
commerce.
The term "in commerce" means the furtherance of a
commercial enterprise. A state agency or local jurisdiction that
transports hazardous materials for governmental purposes using
its own personnel is not engaged in transportation in commerce,
commerce" excludes from
and therefore, not subject to the HMR.
In addition, "in
regulation the transportation of
hazardous materials in a
private vehicle where the material is
for personal use.
Based upon the scenario that you provided, if Beth Israel
Hospital is a non-governmental hospital, the physician is
transporting infectious
substances in commerce, and therefore, is
subject to the HMR.
This includes, but is not limited to, the
training requirements under Part 172, Subpart H.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Iransportation Regulations Specialis1
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
990158
171/

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JUN-09-1999
10:10
P.02/02
BAH
:
PRIMEDICA
57 Union Street | Worcester, MA 01609
8 11 1
June 9,1999
99-6158
Michael Johnson
DOT
Joseph K. Arsenault
Hazardous Materials Hotline
Primedica
57 Union Street
horcester, MA 01608
(508) 890-0127
(508) 795-7752 (FAX)
SIR:
As per our conversation of 6/8/99 I still have questions as to the situation I
described. Once again We have a Dr. who is acting as an agent of Beth Israel Hospital
in Boston, MA. He is not certifled tó transport Infectious materials as he has never
been trained perguant to 49 CFR 172 Subpart H. There 1s dissagteement in my company
as to whether he needs to be certified, and although you provided me with letter:
11e cere subpar
on goverment agencies being exempt It still does not answer my specifíc question.
My questions to be precise are as follows:
The argument is that he is not in commerce because he 1s not a commercial carrier.
(1) What constitutes "IN COMMERCE" ?
(2) Does a physician If he is deemed to be "IN COMMERCE" need to be certified Persuant to
che above stated regulations: It he is carrying infectious materials on public roadways ?
(3) Specifically, who is exempt from 49 CFR regularions ?
I would appreciate if you could answer these specifle questions as they apply to our
situation, so we can come to a factually supported position on this issue.
Thank you very much for all your help in this very confusing matter.
Joseph K. Arsenault
Shipping coordinator for PRIMEDICA
Primedica Corporation | Tel 508.890.0100 | Fax 508.753.1834! www.primedica.com
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