# Aristech Chemical Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 00-0259  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-12-27

00-0259 response to Aristech Chemical Corporation concerning 177.834.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

US. Department
of Transportation
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
DEC 27 2000
Mr. Michael D. Alston
Ref. No. 00-0259
Aristech Chemical Corporation
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2611
Dear Mr. Alston:
This responds to your letter and telephone conversation with
Mr. Michael Stevens of my staff regarding the attendance
requirements during the loading of cargo tank motor vehicles
(CTMV) in $ 177.834 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
erminal operator would be considered "qualified" when in radic
49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you inquire whether a
contact
an emergency situation.
with a CTMV driver who can respond within 2-3 minutes to
satisfy the intent of "authorized to move the cargo tank and has
It is your understanding that this would
the means to do so" under the qualification requirements
specified in § 177.834 (i) (4).
The answer is no.
at all times during a loading operation.
A CTMV must be attended by a qualified person
attendance requirements is to ensure that cargo tanks are safely
The purpose of the
operation can be rapidly halted and the CTMV can
loaded and unloaded and, in the event of an emergency, the
the scene in an immediate and expeditious manner.
be removed from
In the
scenario you describe, the terminal operator would not be
the rack and,
considered "qualified" because he is unable to move the CTMV off
in S 177.834 (i) (4).
therefore, lacks "the means to do so" as specified
considered "qualified" because,
In addition, the CTMV driver is not
is not within
7.62 meters
feet) of the loading operation with
as you informed Mr. Stevens, he
an unobstructed
view of the cargo tank and delivery hose.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can
be of
further assistance.
Sincerely,
Hottie i milkell
Hattie I.. Mitchell
Chief,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
000259
177,834

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000259.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `28b63c89d0b976ca96d4a1fee897d1c2c0e35f1c6d52a5ab318618f52720971b`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T13:53:17.597Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-00-0259`

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