{"operation":"document","citation":"CHI-93-001","title":"Horton, Knox, Carter, & Foote — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1993-06-03","effective_on":null,"summary":"CHI-93-001 response to Horton, Knox, Carter, & Foote concerning 171.8.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-chi-93-001.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-chi-93-001.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-chi-93-001","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Hazmat/ChiefCounsel/CHI-93-001.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nUS. Department\nOffice of the\nof transpontation\nChiet Counsel\n400 Sevenin Si Sw\nWasningion DC 20590\nResearch and\nSpeciai Progromis\nAdministration\nJUN\n3 1993\nMs. Jo Ann Willans\nOffice of Chief Counsel (GC-12)\nU.s. Departuent of Energy\nwashington, D.C. 20585\nDear Ma. Willians:\nOn April 15, 1993, at a nesting attended by ropresentatives of\nthis office, the Federal Highway Adninistration, the Departuent\nof Energy (DOI) and the University of California, ve discussed\nthe application of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act\n(HMTA), 49 App. U.S.C. SS 1801 It Ilde, to hazardous saterials\ntransportation at the Los Mlanos National Laboratory (LANL) •\nThis seating followed an inquiry to the Research and Special\nPrograns Administration (RSPA) from the University's LANI\nCounsel, Ellen M. Castille.\nInquired whether the HHTA and its Implesenting regulations,\nSpecifically, Ma. Castille\n49 C.I.R. Parta 171-180 (the Hazardous Materiala Regulations\nOI HMR), apply to the transportation of hazardous saterials\nby the University in ita capacity as operator, under contract\nto the DOI, of the LANk.\nThis letter sets out the jurisdictional frasevork of the HITA\nas it applies to hazardous materials transportation by Federal\nagencies and their contractors. Although RSPA exercises\nrulenaking authority under the HITA with respect to all\nbazardous materials transportation in comerce, enforcement\nauthority over land-based transportation is shared with the\nFederal Highway Administration and the faderal Railroad\nAdministration.\nUnifora Safety Act, Pub. L. No. 101-615, 104 Stat, 3244 (1990),\nThe INTA, as axended by the Hazardous Materiale Iransportation\napplies to Many person\" vho transports hazardous materials in\ncomerce. 49 App. U.S.C. S 1804(a) (3). The tern \"person\"\nincludes any:\ngovernment or Indian tribe when it offers\nhasardous saterials for transportation in\nin furtherance of' a comercial\ncommerce or transports hazardous materials\nantarprise....\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n2\nIde at S 1820(11). Hazardous naterials transportation by a\nFederal, State or\n• local government agency or an Indian tribe,\ntransportation is \"in furtherance of a comercial enterprise.\"\nthen, is subject to regulation under the HMTA when that\nRSPA defines this tera by its converse: governmental\ntransportation is not in furtherance of a comercial enterprise\nwhen it is carried out (1) by government personnel and (2) IoI\na governmental purpose.\nThe sphere of \"governmental purpose\" cannot be delineated in\nthe abstract.\nWhen the activity in conjunction with which\nauthorized, when it is a traditional \"sovereign\" activity or\nthe transportation occurs is constitutionally mandated or\none falling within the police power, or when its benefite\naccrue to the public as a whole, it 1s likely to fall within\nthe realm of the governnental purpose.\nThe purpose is nore apt\nto be deened non-governmental if there is a conscious purpose\nto generate a profit, if the activity is undertaken by a public\nwith, or displaces, the private sector. Each case must be\ncorporation with linited liability, or il the activity corpetes\nconsidered on its :\nfacts.\nWhen the transporter is not the Federal Government itsell, but\na Federal contractor, the IMTA provides:\nAny person who, under contract with any\ndepartuent... of the federal government,\ntransports, or causes to be transported or\nshipped, a\nhazardous material ... shall\nbe subject to and couply vith all\nprovisions of (the HMTA], all orders and\nregulations issued under (the INTA], and\nall other substantive and procedural\nrequiresents of Federal, State and local\ngovernaents and Indian tribes (except such\nrequirenents that have been preempted by\nthis chapter or any other federal law), in\nthe sane manner and to the sare extent as\nany person engaged in such activities that\nare in or affect cornerce is subject to\nsuch provisions, orders, regulations, and\nrequirements.\n49 App. U.S.C. S 1818. This provision, added to the statute by\nthe 1990 anendment, nerely clarified existing law.\nSAR H. Rep.\nNo. 101-144 (Part 2), 101 Cong., 20 Sess. 43 (1990) (It is the\nConnittee's fira position that [section 1818) simply restates\nexisting law.\").\nThe provision neans that a Federal contractor\ncannot clain sovereign immunity and does not share in the\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n3\nexception from HMTA jurisdiction conferred on the governmental\nagency itself.\nTherefore, the contractor's transportation\nactivity is subject to HMTA regulation if that activity is \"in\ncommerce.\"\nRSPA accords the \"in comnerce\" requirement its accepted\nmeaning. See 49 App. U.S.C. S 1802(2) (defining transportation\nin \"commerce\"\nas transportation that is or affects interstate\ntrade or traffic). Thus, the HMIA does not apply to trans-\nportation that is entirely on private property and neither\nby a faderal contractor 1s not in connerce if it takes place\nrollowe not crosses a public way. analogously, transportatior\nentirely on federal property to which there is no general\npublic right ol access, or Il public access lagally is deniad\nduring the period of transportation.\nWere the University of California not itsell a government\nperformance of its contractual duties vould be subject to the\nagency, its transportation of hazardous materials in the\nHMTA, to the extent transportation occurred on public roads.\nHowever, because the University 18 a governmental body, its\nhazardous naterials transportation as the operator of the Los\nsubject to the HMTA, provided that transportation is by\nAlamos National Laboratory, on public roads ox not, is not\ngovernaent personnel and for a governnental purpose.\nGovernnental bodies, as well, are exempt from the registration\nand fee requirements of 49 C.F.R. Subpart 107.600, even where\nthey transport hazardous materials in cornerco. 49 C.F.R.\nS 107.606. And where transportation othervise vould be subject\nto the HMTA, it may be excepted from regulation by a specific\nexcepting certain national security shipments of Class 7\ncode provision (leGe, 19 C.I.R. SS 173.7(b) and 177.806 (b),\nradioactive materials).\nWhere the University'\" hazardous naterials transportation, or\nsone part of it, is exempted from HMIA Jurisdiction, the\nUniversity and DOE Still may find it desirable to agree, or\nDOE may choose to require, that transportation shall be in\nparticularly given that it may not always be clear where the\naccordance with IMR standards. Such a course may be sensible,\nline between governaental and non-governmental purpose líes.\nThis decision, however, would be one not of the application\nof the HMIA, but rather of contractual obligations owed to\nthe DOE by the University apart from BMIA Or U.S. Departaent\nof Transportation Juriadiction.\nIf the HMR did not otherwise\napply, the University's agreement, voluntary or through\ncontract, to comply with the MR would not invoke U.S. DOT\nenforcenent jurisdiction.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nI trust this guidance is of assistance to you.\nfree to call ne at 202-366-4400 if you have any further\nPlease feel\nquestions on this matter.\nSincerely,\nENt. Bana\nAssistant Chief Counsel\nEdwara i. Bonekemper, III\nHazardous Materials Safety &\nResearch and Technology\nLaw\nCC:\nEllen M. Castille\nPaul Brennan\nLarry G. Blalock","truncated":false,"body_characters":7174}