# Department of Energy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 99-0317
- **title:** Department of Energy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2000-02-11
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 99-0317 response to Department of Energy concerning 173.3.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0317.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-99-0317
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990317.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
FEB I / 2000
Ref. No. 99-0317
Mr. Steven H. Wisness
Richland Operations Office
Department of Energy
P.о. Box 550
Richland, WA 99352
Dear Mr. Wisness:
salvage drums under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
This is in response to your letter regarding the use of
49 CFR Parts 171-180). Your questions are paraphrased and
answered below.
01. May a salvage drum be offered into transportation in
accordance with § 173.3 (c)?
Al. Yes.
02. An authorized package of a hazardous material is being
stored in a warehouse awaiting transportation.
ackade be placed into a salvage drum in accordance wit
ackage 1s discovered to be leaking. May the leakir
$ 173.3 (c) to transport it for repackaging?
A2. Ye used accordance mited or 13king pa salyage drum may
disposal or repackaging.
03.
An authorized package of a hazardous waste is moved from
disposal
Iacility. May the leaking package be placed into a
salvage drum in accordance with § 173.3 (c) and then
transported for disposal?
A3. Yes.
(See A2.)
990317
1133

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Q4. An authorized package of a hazardous waste is moved from
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (UHWM) is generated at
a 90-day accumulation area to a storage facility. A
the 90-day accumulation area and the drum is transported
to a storage facility where the drum develops a leak.
The leaking drum is placed into a salvage drum and
transported for disposal in accordance with § 173.3.
Does a new UHWM need to be generated?
For guidance on whether a new UHWM must be generated,
you should contact Mr. Tom Cusack, EPA, Washington State
Office at (360) 407-6755. A UHWM is an Environmental
in accordance with 40 CER part 262. A UHWM containing
Protection Agency (EPA) requirement and must be prepared
all of the information required by 49 CFR part 172,
requirement in the HMR (see 49 CFR 172.205).
subpart C, may be used to satisfy the shipping paper
25. Regarding the above scenario, may the salvage drum be
transported several years later?
A5. Yes.
rulemaking
Also, for your information, we have initiated a
under Docket HM-223 to clarify the
applicability of the HMR to the loading, unloading, and
storage of hazardous materials at fixed facilities. A
supplemental advance notice of proposed rulemaking (64 FR
22718) was published under Docket No. RSPA-98-4952 (HM-
223) on April 27, 1999.
if you need additional assistance.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office
Sincerely,
Hotte z. Mither
Hattie I. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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:
Department of Energy
montere
Richland Operations Office
ES DEAT
P.O. Box 550
81733
Richland, Washington 99352
99-0317
00-OSS-038
NOV 2 2 1999
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Research and Special Program Administration, (DHM-10)
400 7" Street S.W.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF COMPLIANT USE OF SALVAGE DRUMS
Recently, several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractors have raised issues concerning the use
clarification and guidance.
of salvage drums. Based on these issues we have two questions and several scenarios that need
1. Can a salvage drum, used in accordance with 49 CFR 173.3 (c), be offered into
transportation?
2. If a salvage drum can not be offered into transportation, and assuming that a salvage drum
can only be used during transportation, at what point does transportation begin?
Scenario 1: Can a salvage drum be used for hazardous material before it is actually placed into
commerce?
A hazardous material has been packaged for transport and is being stored in a warehouse. Before
loading on the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), it is discovered that the drum is leaking. The
¡EMV and placed into commerce for repackaging.
leaking drum is placed in a salvage drum in accordance with 49 CFR 173.3(c), loaded on the
Scenario 2: Can a salvage drum be used for hazardous waste before it is actually placed into
commerce?
A drum of hazardous waste was moved from a 90 day accumulation area to a treatment and/or
disposal facility (TSD) onsite. At the storage facility the drum developed a leak and was placed
in commerce, to a TSD.
in a salvage drum in accordance with 49 CFR 173.3(c). The drum was then transported offsite,
-

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:
...
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
00-OSS-038
-2-
NOV 2 2 1999
/ Scenario 3: Can a salvage drum be used for hazardous waste, once the drum has been placed in
commerce, using the same UHWM?
A drum of hazardous waste was moved from a 90 day accumulation area to a storage facility
accumulation area; the drum was placed in commerce, and transported to the TSD for storage.
(TSD). A Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (UHWM) was generated at the 90 day
with 49 CFR 173.3(c). The next business day, the drum was then transported, in commerce, to a
At the storage facility the drum developed a leak and was placed in a salvage drum in accordance
TSD for disposal, using the same UHWM.
/ Scenario 4: If a material has been placed into a salvage drum while in storage, is it acceptable to
transport the salvage drum, in commerce, several years later, using a newly generated UHWM?
A drum of hazardous waste, which contained a limited quantity of radioactive material, was moved
from a satellite accumulation area to a storage facility TSD. A UHWM was generated at the satellite
accumulation area for the drum placed in commerce. At the storage facility the drum developed a leak
and was placed in a salvage drum in accordance with 49 CFR 173.3(c). Several years later, is it
acceptable to transport the mixed waste drum (in a salvage drum) in commerce to a TSD for disposal
using a newly generated UHWM?
I would appreciate a written reply. I recognize that you have a large number of demands on your
time and attention and I would greatly appreciate any guidance you may offer.
If you have any questions, please contact Dennis Claussen, of my staff, (509) 372-0938.
Sincerely,
MAM
OSS:DWC
even H. Wisness, Direct
Office of Site Services
CC:
J. H. Portsmouth, WMNW
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