Interpretation Response #07-0035 ([Cornerstone Systems. Inc.] [Mr. Jonathan Ward])

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

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date: 03/16/2007

Company Name: Cornerstone Systems. Inc.

Individual Name: Mr. Jonathan Ward

Location State: DC Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

Mar 16, 2007

Mr. Jonathan Ward                                
         
Reference No. 07-0035
Risk Manager
Cornerstone Systems. Inc.
5101 Wheelis Drive, Suite 300
Memphis, TN 38117

Dear Mr. Ward:

This responds to your February 7, 2007 e-mail, requesting clarification of the security plan requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). In your e-mail, you state your company arranges for the transportation of hazardous materials with qualified motor carriers at the request of your customers. Your customers consist of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics companies. You state that you require your customers to sign a document verifying they are in compliance with the registration, security plan, and training requirements of the HMR. You state that many of your customers refuse to sign this document because they are not required to have a security plan. You ask whether custom brokers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics companies are required to have a security plan in accordance with 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart I.

As required by § 172.800, each person who offers for transportation or transports in commerce one or more of the hazardous materials specified in § 172.800(b) of the HMR must develop and adhere to a security plan addressing personnel, unauthorized access, and en route security. If a broker, freight forwarder, or agent meets the definition of a "person who offers or offeror" in § 171.8 for one or more of the hazardous materials listed in § 172.800(b), then the broker, freight forwarder, or agent must develop and implement a security plan covering the security risks associated with the functions he or she performs.

As defined in § 171.8, a "person who offers or offeror" is any person who does either or both of the following: (1) performs, or is responsible for performing, any pre-transportation function required under the HMR for transportation of a hazardous material in commerce; or (2) tenders or makes the hazardous material available to a carrier for transportation in commerce.

Pre-transportation functions are functions specified in the HMR under § 171.8 that are required to assure the safe transportation of a hazardous material in commerce, and include:

(1) Determining the hazard class of a hazardous material.

(2) Selecting a hazardous materials packaging.

(3) Filling a hazardous material packaging, including a bulk packaging.

(4) Securing a closure on a filled or partially filled hazardous materials package or container or on a package or container containing a residue of a hazardous material.

(5) Marking a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

(6) Labeling a package to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

(7) Preparing a shipping paper.

(8) Providing and maintaining emergency response information.

(9) Reviewing a shipping paper to verify compliance with the NMR or international equivalents.

(10) For each person importing a hazardous material into the United States, providing the shipper with timely and complete information as to the HMR requirements that will apply to the transportation of the material within the United States.

(11) Certifying that a hazardous material is in proper condition for transportation in conformance with the requirements of the HMR.

(12) Loading, blocking, and bracing a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle.

(13) Segregating a hazardous materials package in a freight container or transport vehicle from incompatible cargo.

(14) Selecting, providing, or affixing placards for a freight container or transport vehicle to indicate that it contains a hazardous material.

If a broker, freight forwarder, or agent performs one or more pre-transportation functions
to prepare a hazardous materials shipment for transportation in commerce, then the
broker, freight forwarder, or agent is an offeror under the HMR and is subject to all
applicable regulatory requirements, including the security plan requirements. A third
party logistics company or broker who contracts with a carrier to transport a shipment on
behalf of the original shipper is not considered an offeror for purposes of the HMR unless
it also performs one or more pre-transportation functions to prepare the shipment for
transportation in commerce.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely

John A. Gale
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

171.8, 172.800

Regulation Sections