Interpretation Response #04-0032 ([Currie Associates, Inc] [Mr. John V. Currie])

Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date: 04/05/2004

Company Name: Currie Associates, Inc

Individual Name: Mr. John V. Currie

Location State: NY Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

Apr 5, 2004

Mr. John V. Currie               Reference No. 04-0032
Currie Associates, Inc.
1118 Bay Road
Lake George, New York 12845-4618

Dear Mr. Currie:

This is in response to your February 18, 2004 letter regarding the emergency response telephone number requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).  Specifically, you ask whether the emergency response telephone number may be in the form of “alpha characters” representing a telephone number on the telephone dial or keypad of a telephone.

The answer is yes.  As specified in § 172,604, a person offering a hazardous material for transportation must provide an emergency response telephone number, including the area code or international access code, for use in the event of an emergency involving the hazardous material.  The HMR do not prohibit the use of “alpha characters” as a method of complying with this requirement.  However, based on the concerns you raised, we may consider publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking to address this issue in the future.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

Sincerely,

Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

172.604

Regulation Sections