Interpretation Response #18-0133
Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.
Interpretation Response Details
Response Publish Date:
Company Name: The Sulphur Institute
Individual Name: Mr. Craig Jorgenson
Location State: DC Country: US
View the Interpretation Document
Response text:
March 06, 2019
Mr. Craig Jorgenson
Vice President, Transportation and Regulatory Affairs
The Sulphur Institute
1020 19th Street NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036
Reference No. 18-0133
Dear Mr. Jorgenson:
This letter is in response to your October 22, 2018, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the use of alternative spellings for proper shipping names as outlined in § 172.101(c)(1). You seek to clarify that the alternate spellings apply to Subparts A through I, and are inclusive of Appendices A through D in Part 172 and all parts of Subchapter C. Specifically, you ask if “sulfur” and “sulphur” are equally acceptable spellings for use on shipping papers, labels, and markings for hazardous materials packages.
The answer to your question is yes, so long as whichever alternative spelling is used to identify the hazardous material, is used consistently. Section 172.101(c)(1) states that words may be alternatively spelled in the same manner as they appear in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air or the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, and provides the example that “sulfur” may be spelled “sulphur.” These instructions for the purpose and scope of the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT; § 172.101) serve as the basis for all hazardous materials communication in Part 172, to include shipping papers, marking, labeling, and placarding. Even though the specific example of “sulphur” as an alternative spelling to “sulfur” is not continually used throughout the HMR—including in the bulk packaging marking requirements for elevated temperature materials in § 172.325(b)—these alternative spellings are recognized for all hazardous materials communications.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division
172.101(c)(1), 172.101, 172.325(b)