# ABC Coke — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 05-0130  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2005-07-29

05-0130 response to ABC Coke concerning 174.67.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Pipeline and
Administratior
lazardous Materials Safety
JUL 2 9 2005
Mr. William R. Mason
Ref No.: 05-0130
Vice President of Operations
ABC Coke
P.O. Box 10246
Birmingham, Alabarna 35202
Dear Mr. Mason:
This responds to your May 16, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask for relief
from the requirements in § 174.67(i) in effect at the time you submitted your request.
On October 30, 2003, the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA, we)
published a final rule under Docket HM-223 (68 FR 61906) entitled "Applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations to Loading, Unloading, and Storage." The HM-223
final rule clarifies the applicability of the HMR to specific functions and activities,
including hazardous materials loading and unloading operations and storage of hazardous
materials during transportation. The final rule codifies in the HMR long-standing
policies and interpretations concerning the applicability of the regulations to specific
functions and operations. The provisions of the HM-223 final rule became effective on
June 1, 2005.
Under the HM-223 final rule, tank car unloading operations conducted by consignee
personnel after the rail carrier has departed the consignee's premises generally are not
subject to regulation under the HMR (see § 171.1(c)(3)). As adopted in the HM-223 final
rule, however, the requirements in § 173.31(g) apply to all tank car unloading operations
as of June 1, 2005, even when those operations are conducted by consignee personnel.
cars placed for unloading would continue to apply" (68 FR 61918). As well,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards may apply to such
unloading operations.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
174-6100
050130

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Supko
Birmingham, Alabama 35202.
P.O. Box 10246
9174.67(1)
Telephone: 205-849-1300
Fax: 205-849-1322
• Tark Car
Rail/Unloading
BI
NBC
05-0130
COHE
May 16, 2005
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
US Department of Transportation
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
174.67(i).
We are requesting a variance to the DOT standard for unloading tank cars, 49 CFR
At present, one of the raw materials that is received at the Tarrant, AL coke
is located in Appendix A. It is received in a railcar.
manufacturing plant is Sulfuric acid, 8,UN1830, PG II RQ. The Material Safety Data Sheet
The railcar unloading process occurs in a primary and secondary phase. The unloading
nes are attached to the railcar for the unloading process to begin, see standar
perating procedure for the unloading process in Appendix B. The sulfuric acid i:
every 16 hours. As the holding tanks are emptied, additional sulfuric acid is unloaded
transferred to two holding tanks and is used to produce ammonia sulfate approximately
from the railcar until it is emptied. There is continuous monitoring with camera
in the secured interior of the facility and a derailer is in use. See the site plan in Appendix
surveillance, see Appendix C. The rail line where the sulfuric acid is received is locatec
D.
continuously, we are requesting that the requirements of 174.6?(i) be waived and to
since we have the camera and personnel that monitors the location of the railca
allow the tank car to remain attached to the unloading lines to keep employees' potential
exposure to the sulfuric acid to a minimum.
lines attached to the railcar:
In summary, there is no hazardous materials transportation risk of leaving the unloading
• The location for unloading is in the secúred interior of the facility.
The railcar is monitored continuusly by remote carreras and personnel; and
health and safety by minimizing any unnecessary exposure to the corrosive material,
Allowing the unloading lines to remain connected to the railcar will protect employees'
sulfuric acid.
at 205-849-1338.
Please contact Steve Brakefield regarding the status of this request. He may be reached
Sincerely,
with as macon
Vice President of Operations

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050130.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `e4aa47f0b758a531c9d4194feeb776b47bf7c803f614beccc3c2f54dc8c5b113`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T23:36:33.557Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-05-0130`

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