{"operation":"document","citation":"99-0180","title":"EdgeCo — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1999-08-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"99-0180 response to EdgeCo concerning 171.8.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0180.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0180.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0180","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990180.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nUS. Department\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C.\n20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministratior\nAUG\n4 1999\nMr. Nels Samuelson\nRef. No. 99-0180\nEdgeCo\n47 Therin Drive\nHamburg, NY\n14075\nDear Mr. Samuelson:\nThis is in response to your letter dated June 29, 1999, regarding\nreclassification of a material\nas a Consumer commodity under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) •\nSpecifically you ask if a material that is suitable for retail\nsale meets the definition for Consumer commodity even though it\nis not intended for retail sale.\nThe answer is yes. The definition of a Consumer commodity in\n§ 171.8 includes materials that are both packaged and distributed\nform intended or suitable for sale through retail sales\nagencies or instrumentalities for consumption by individuals for\npurposes of personal care or household use.: This definition\nincludes materials that are suitable for retail sale even if not\nspecifically so intended and which may, in fact, be used in some\nother fashion.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nJohn A. Gale\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nTransportation Regulations Specialist\n990180\n11.8\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nBUK\nJune 29, 1999\n8171.8\nConsumer\nMr. Edward Mazzullo\nCornmedit y\nDirector Office of Hazardous Material\nHazmat Standard\n99-0180\nUS DOT RSPA\n400 7% Street S.W.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRE: Definition of \"Consumer Commodity\" per 49CFR Section 171.8.\nDear Mr. Mazzullo,\nWe are contemplating Internet sales of our products, many of which are considered\nhazardous materials. Our ground shippers insist that even though our packaging\nvolumes, packing group and various classes meet 49CFR and 173.15X\nrequirements, it is their contention that our products could not be found under a\nkitchen sink. Therefore, they charge a \"HAZMAT\" surcharge.\nAccording to the US DOT person I spoke to the other day, the test to determine\n\"consumer commodity\" is; can the product be purchased at a retail store? If the\nanswer is yes then it is a consumer commodity and if the product meets all the\nrequirements set out in 49CFR for an exception under ORM-D, our shippers should\nnot charge a HAZMAT surchage.\nMr Mazzullo, please confirm in writing that the \"retail store\" test is the criteria for\nconsumer commodity and the ORM-D exception. I believe that we will need this\ndocument to change the shippers practices.\nSincerely.\nNels Samuelson\nManager\nEdgeCo\n47 Therin Drive\nHamburg, New York 14075","truncated":false,"body_characters":2492}