Interpretation Response #16-0178 ([ICL Americans] [Mr. Gregory Phillips])
Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.
Interpretation Response Details
Response Publish Date:
Company Name: ICL Americans
Individual Name: Mr. Gregory Phillips
Location State: MO Country: US
View the Interpretation Document
Response text:
May 25, 2017
Mr. Gregory Phillips
Regulatory Affairs Manager
ICL Americas
622 Emerson Road, Suite 500
St. Louis, MO 63141
Reference No. 16-0178
Dear Mr. Phillips:
This letter is in response to your October 18, 2016, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to special provision 132 as it applies to vessel transportation of "UN 2071, Ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers." Specifically, you seek confirmation of your understanding that text was inadvertently omitted from special provision 132 as a result of numerous rulemaking changes, and you ask the status of special provision 132 as it applies to vessel transport of UN 2071 material.
As of October 1, 2002, special provision 132 stated:
"Ammonium nitrate fertilizers of this composition are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter if shown by a trough test (see United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual Tests and Criteria. Part III, sub-section 38.2) (see § 171.7 of this subchapter) not to be liable to self-sustaining decomposition and provided that they do not contain an excess of nitrate greater than 10% by mass (calculated as potassium nitrate)."
See the following chronology of changes made to special provision 132:
- On July 31, 2003, the HM-215E final rule (68 FR 44991) revised special provision 132 to add the criteria for use of this special provision, stating:
"This entry may only be used for uniform, ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer mixtures, containing nitrogen, phosphate or potash, meeting the following criteria: (1) Contains not more than 70% ammonium nitrate; and (2) Contains not more than 0.4% total combustible, organic material calculated as carbon or with not more than 45% ammonium nitrate and unrestricted combustible material. Fertilizers within these composition limits are only subject to the requirements of this subchapter when transported by aircraft or vessel, and are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter if shown by a trough test, as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.2 (incorporated by reference; see § 171.7 of this subchapter), not to be liable to self-sustaining decomposition."
- On December 31, 2003, the HM-189U final rule (68 FR 75733) standardized the format used to cross-reference consensus standards published by nationally and internationally recognized standard setting organizations that are incorporated by reference into the HMR, including in special provision 132. The revised entry for special provision 132 stated:
"Ammonium nitrate fertilizers of this composition are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter if shown by a trough test (see UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.2) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter) not to be liable to self-sustaining decomposition and provided that they do not contain an excess of nitrate greater than 10% by mass (calculated as potassium nitrate)."
- On September 23, 2005, the HM-189Y final rule (70 FR 56083) revised special provision 132 for editorial clarity, stating:
"This entry may only be used for uniform, ammonium nitrate based fertilizer mixtures, containing nitrogen, phosphate or potash, meeting the following criteria: (1) Contains not more than 70% ammonium nitrate and not more than 0.4% total combustible, organic material calculated as carbon or (2) Contains not more than 45% ammonium nitrate and unrestricted combustible material."
The editorial changes made in HM-189Y represent the current language displayed in the HMR. Through the iteration of changes to special provision 132 and without specific preamble explanations, the regulatory language introduced by HM-215E and refined in HM-189U stating, "...when transported by aircraft or vessel, and are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter if shown by a trough test, as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.2 (incorporated by reference; see § 171.7 of this subchapter), not to be liable to self-sustaining decomposition," is missing.
Based on the chronology of rulemaking changes and because rulemakings HM-189U and HM- 189Y made non-substantive formatting and editorial changes only, special provision 132 should read as published under rulemaking HM-215E. The conditions for applicability and exceptions are supported by the assignment of symbols "A", which denotes a material transported by aircraft and "W", which denotes a material transported by vessel in Column (1) of the Hazardous Materials Table’s entry for "UN 2071, Ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers." We plan to correct this inadvertent omission in a future rulemaking.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Dirk Der Kinderen
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
171.7
Regulation Sections
| Section | Subject |
|---|---|
| 171.7 | Reference material |