# Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 99-0261
- **title:** Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1999-12-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 99-0261 response to Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC concerning 171.1.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990261.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street. S.W.
Washington: D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
DEC 2 8 1099
Carolyn M. Brown, Esq.
Ref. No: 99-0261
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC
1400 Vine Center Tower
333 West Vine Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507-1665
Dear Ms. Brown:
This is in response to your letter of September 27, 1999 requesting clarification on the applicability of
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). Specifically you ask whether
the HMR are applicable to a company that transports hazardous materials throughout its multi-acre site
if the roads are owned by the company and there are "No Trespassing" signs located at each entrance.
The answer is no. As specified in § 171.1, the HMR govern the safe transportation of hazardous
materials in intrastate, interstate and foreign commerce. "In commerce" excludes from regulation the
transportation of hazardous materials on private property. The use of signs, gates, or guard stations at
each entrance of a facility to deny public access make the property private, and therefore, not subject
to the HMR. This is true whether deliveries are made by company employees or contractors; the
HMR do not apply to transportation on private property.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
cesa
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
990261

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' •
GREENEBAUM DOLL & MCDONALD PLiC
Lalalle
1400 VINE CENTER TOWER
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY 40507-1665.
333 WEST VINE STREET
8111
606/231-8500
99-0261
CAROLYN M. BROWN
FAX 606/255-2742
606/288-4614
E-MAIL cmb@gdm.com
September 27, 1999
VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS
Edward T. Mazzullo
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Director
U.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
400 7th Street S. W.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0000
RE:
Request for Guidance on Applicability of Hazardous Materials Regulations to
Movement of Hazardous Materials over Intra-Plant Roadways
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
My firm represents a manufacturer that receives hazardous materials for use in its
manufacturing operations at its multi-acre plant site. Some of the operations also generate hazardous
waste that is moved to a central storage area on the site before being shipped off-site for treatment
or disposal. The purpose of this letter is to request guidance on applicability of the Department of
Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations ("HMR") (49 CFR Parts 171-180) to the movement
of hazardous materials within the plant site on roads that are privately owned with certain access
controls. The facts are set out in detail below.
FACTS
The manufacturing site covers several acres and has multiple buildings. Hazardous materials
(e.g., solvents, cylinders of compressed gases, laboratory chemicals, water treatment chemicals) that
are used in manufacturing operations are often received at one central building on the property and
then delivered by motor vehicle to any number of different buildings where they will be used. (A
simplified flow diagram is attached.) Deliveries typically occur during the first shift (i.e., after 7
a.m.). The materials may be transported within the site by the manufacturer's employees or by a
company it contracts with to provide intra-plant delivery services. The contractor will use its own
trucks or subcontract with individual haulers with their own trucks.
-
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY COVINGTON, KENTUCKY CINCINNATI, OHIO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY

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GREENEBAUM DOLL & MCDONALD PLLC
Edward T. Mazzullo
September 27, 1999
Page 2
The roads are owned and maintained by the manufacturer. Gates are present at all the
entrances and are closed each evening from approximately 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, with the
exception of one entry and exit point that remains open 24 hours a day. Although guardhouses are
not present and card keys are not required to enter at the access points, guards patrol the site on a 24-
hour basis. Badges are required to enter buildings on the site. Although a guard is not present, video
cameras are located at each access point and are monitored by security personnel at a central
location. "No Trespassing" signs are located at each entrance.
On occasion, deliveries of hazardous materials are also made from the central location to two
other buildings owned by the company that are located on company property directly across a public
road from the main site. These buildings are accessed by driving across a public road maintained
by either the state or the city. In one of those cases, the truck actually travels above the state road
on a company-owned and maintained bridge.
Hazardous wastes are generated from some of the operations on the main site. These wastes
are collected and transported to a centrall location where they are stored pending shipment off-site
to third parties for treatment or disposal. The company has one generator identification number for
its entire site and does not execute hazardous waste manifests for shipments between its buildings.
QUESTIONS
1.
Are the deliveries of hazardous materials, as discussed in the Facts section above, over the
company owned and maintained roads inside the company property subject to the HIMR?
The HMR apply generally to transport of hazardous materials "in commerce" and the
guidance materials found appear to draw a distinction between public and private roadways.
However, the terms are not defined in the regulations. The company described above has
always considered its site private property.
2.
Does it make any difference if the delivery is made by company employees or contractors?
Many employers today use a combined work force consisting of employees and contractors.
If the HMR apply, who should prepare and sign the shipping papers for the intra-plant
shipments? If the contractor delivers the hazardous materials around the site must the
contractor register with DOT like any other carrier? Do all the HMR requirements apply
(e.g., training, shipping papers, placarding) or are there any exemptions for intra-plant
transfers?
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
COVINGTON, KENTUCKY CINCINNATI, OHIO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY

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GREENEBAUM DOLL & MCDONALD PLLC
Edward T. Mazzullo
September 27, 1999
Page 3
4.
If the answer to Question 1 above was that the HMR apply generally to shipments of
materials within the site, will the HMR apply to transportation of hazardous waste from
various buildings to the central storage area before it is shipped off-site for treatment or
disposal? (If the HMR do apply to transport of the hazardous wastes, the company needs
guidance on the proper shipping name to utilize.)
Since 49 CFR 171.8 defines "hazardous waste" for purposes of the HMR as any material
subject to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"') manifest requirements in 40
CFR Part 262, the EPA requirements were reviewed. The provisions of 40 CFR 262.20(f)
state that the hazardous waste manifest requirements do not apply to transport of hazardous
wastes along a public or private right-of-way within contiguous property under common
ownership or control. Therefore, the company does not believe that the waste materials
would be subject to the HMR on the basis that they are hazardous waste.
Your assistance by providing answers to these questions and any relevant guidance
documents is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Carolyn M. Brown
CMB/pje
Enclosure
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
COVINGTON, KENTUCKY
CINCINNATI, OHIO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY
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