[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 23]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR165.25]

[Page 193-195]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 165_PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL--Table of Contents
 
   Subpart B_Nonrefillable Container Standards: Container Design and 
 
Sec. 165.25  Nonrefillable container standards.

    (a) What Department of Transportation (DOT) standards do my 
nonrefillable containers have to meet under this part if my pesticide 
product is not a DOT hazardous material? A pesticide product that does 
not meet the definition of a hazardous material in 49 CFR 171.8 must be 
packaged in a nonrefillable container that is designed, constructed, and 
marked to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR 173.24, 173.24a, 
173.24b, 173.28, 173.155, 173.203, 173.213, 173.240(c), 173.240(d), 
173.241(c), 173.241(d), part 178, and part 180 that are applicable to a 
Packing Group III material.
    (b) What DOT standards do my nonrefillable containers have to meet 
under this part if my pesticide product is a DOT hazardous material? (1) 
If your pesticide product meets the definition of a hazardous material 
in 49 CFR 171.8, the DOT requires your pesticide product to be packaged 
according to 49 CFR parts 171-180.
    (2) For the purposes of these regulations, a pesticide product that 
meets the definition of a hazardous material in 49 CFR 171.8 must be 
packaged in a nonrefillable container that is designed, constructed, and 
marked to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR parts 171-180.

[[Page 194]]

    (c) What will EPA do if DOT proposes to change any of the cross-
referenced regulations? If the DOT proposes to change any of the 
regulations that are incorporated in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 
section, EPA will provide notice of the proposed changes and an 
opportunity to comment in the Federal Register. Following notice and 
comment, EPA will take final action regarding whether or not to revise 
its rules, and the extent to which any such revision will correspond 
with revised DOT regulations.
    (d) What standards for closures do my nonrefillable containers have 
to meet? If your nonrefillable container is a rigid container with a 
capacity equal to or greater than 3.0 liters (0.79 gallons), if the 
container is not an aerosol container or a pressurized container, and if 
the container is used to distribute or sell a liquid agricultural 
pesticide, each nonrefillable container must have at least one of the 
following standard closures:
    (1) Bung, 2 inch pipe size (2.375 inches in diameter), external 
threading, 11.5 threads per inch, National Pipe Straight (NPS) standard.
    (2) Bung, 2 inch pipe size (2.375 inches in diameter), external 
threading, 5 threads per inch, buttress threads.
    (3) Screw cap, 63 millimeters, at least one thread revolution at 6 
threads per inch.
    (4) Screw cap, 38 millimeters, at least one thread revolution at 6 
threads per inch. The cap may fit on a separate rigid spout or on a 
flexible pull-out plastic spout.
    (e) What standards for dispensing do my nonrefillable containers 
have to meet? If your nonrefillable container has a capacity of 5 
gallons (18.9 liters) or less, if the container is not an aerosol 
container, a pressurized container, or a spray bottle, and if the 
container holds a liquid pesticide, your nonrefillable container must do 
both of the following:
    (1) Allow the contents of the nonrefillable container to pour in a 
continuous, coherent stream.
    (2) Allow the contents of the nonrefillable container to be poured 
with a minimum amount of dripping down the outside of the container.
    (f) What standards for residue removal do my nonrefillable 
containers have to meet? Each nonrefillable container and pesticide 
formulation combination must meet the applicable residue removal 
standard of this section.
    (1) If the nonrefillable container is rigid and has a capacity less 
than or equal to 5 gallons (18.9 liters) for liquid formulations or 50 
pounds (22.7 kilograms) for solid formulations and if the pesticide 
product's labeling allows or requires the pesticide product to be mixed 
with a liquid diluent prior to application (that is, if the pesticide is 
dilutable), each container/formulation combination must be capable of 
attaining at least 99.99 percent removal of each active ingredient when 
tested using the EPA test procedure ``Rinsing Procedures for Dilutable 
Pesticide Products in Rigid Containers.''
    (2) The test must be conducted only if the pesticide product is a 
flowable concentrate or if EPA specifically requests the records on a 
case by case basis.
    (3) For the rigid container/dilutable product standard in paragraph 
(f)(1) of this section, percent removal represents the percent of the 
original concentration of the active ingredient in the pesticide product 
when compared to the concentration of that active ingredient in the 
fourth rinse. Percent removal is calculated by the formula:

    percent removal = [1.0 - RR] x 100.0, where

    RR = rinsate ratio = Active ingredient concentration in fourth 
rinsate/Original concentration of active ingredient in the product

    (g) Can I obtain a waiver from or a modification to any of the 
nonrefillable container standards? Yes, it is possible for you to obtain 
a waiver from or a modification to the nonrefillable container 
standards, as follows:
    (1) EPA may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (a) of 
this section regarding the DOT standards for pesticide products that are 
not DOT hazardous materials if EPA determines that an alternative 
(partial or modified) set of standards or pre-existing requirements 
achieves a level of safety that is at least equal to that specified in 
the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

[[Page 195]]

    (2) EPA may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (b) of 
this section regarding the DOT standards for pesticide products that are 
DOT hazardous materials if EPA determines that an alternative (partial 
or modified) set of standards or pre-existing requirements achieves a 
level of safety that is at least equal to that specified in the 
requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. EPA will modify or waive 
the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section only after consulting 
with DOT to ensure consistency with DOT regulations and exemptions.
    (3) EPA may approve a non-standard closure (that is, a closure not 
listed in paragraph (d) of this section) if EPA determines that both of 
the following conditions are satisfied:
    (i) The non-standard closure is necessary for the proper mixing, 
loading, or application of the pesticide product.
    (ii) The non-standard closure offers exposure protection to handlers 
during mixing and loading that is the same or greater than that provided 
by the standard closures.
    (4) EPA may waive or modify the container dispensing capability 
standards in paragraph (e) of this section if EPA determines that at 
least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
    (i) The product is typically removed from the container by a method 
other than pouring.
    (ii) Compliance with the container dispensing capability standards 
would increase exposure to the pesticide container handler.
    (5) EPA may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (f) of 
this section regarding the residue removal standard if EPA determines 
that both of the following conditions are satisfied:
    (i) The residue remaining in the container would not cause an 
unreasonable adverse effect on the environment; and
    (ii) The product offers significant benefits and cannot be 
economically reformulated or repackaged.
    (h) How do I obtain a waiver from or a modification to any of the 
nonrefillable container standards? To obtain a waiver from or a 
modification to any of the nonrefillable container standards, you must 
submit a written request for a waiver or a modification to the EPA to 
the following address: Office of Pesticide Programs (7504P); U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency; Ariel Rios Building; 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460. You cannot distribute or sell the 
pesticide product in a nonrefillable container that does not comply with 
all of the nonrefillable container standards unless and until EPA 
approves the request for the waiver or modification in writing. You must 
include two copies of the following information (which may be part of an 
application for registration or amended registration) with your written 
request:
    (1) The name and address of the registrant; the date; and the name, 
title, signature, and phone number of the company official making the 
request.
    (2) The name and EPA registration number of the pesticide product 
for which the waiver or modification is requested.
    (3) A statement specifying the requirement or requirements from 
which you are requesting a waiver or a modification.
    (4) A description of the nonrefillable container or containers for 
which the waiver or modification is requested.
    (5) Documentation or justification to demonstrate that the 
applicable waiver or modification criteria in paragraph (g) of this 
section are satisfied.