# Practical Engineering Solutions, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 14-0061  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2014-05-28

14-0061 response to Practical Engineering Solutions, LLC concerning 173.24, 173.241, 173.24b, 176.340.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
MAY 2 8 2014
Mr. Clayton George
Practical Engineering Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 51564
Lafayette, LA 70503
Ref. No. 14-0061
Dear Mr. George:
This responds to your initial March 26, 2014 email, and follow up email communications
with a member of my staff requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) regarding the packaging requirements for bulk quantities of
combustible liquids,known as drill cuttings 1
, by vessel and motor vehicle. Your questions
are paraphrased and answered as follows:
Q 1. What are the requirements in the HMR for manufacturing a non-specification
pmiable tank designed to transport drill cuttings that meet the definition of a
combustible liquid by both vessel and motor vehicle?
A1. All bulk packagings (both specification and non-specification) are subject to
the requirements of part 173, subpmis A and B, including the general packaging
requirements in§ 173.24 and the additional general requirements for bulk
packagings in§ 173.24b. Section 173.241 provides the requirements for bulk
packagings for certain low hazard liquid and solid materials including combustible
liquids. Further, § 173.241 (c) authorizes the use of non-specification pmiable tanks
for certain low hazard liquid and solid materials including combustible liquids. The
requirements of§ 173.241 (c) apply to transporting combustible liquids by all modes
and refers to § 176.340 for the transportation of combustible liquids by vessel.
Section 176.340(b) sets forth the conditions under which non-specification portable
tanks are authorized for vessel transport, and requires that each non-specification
portable tank must conform to the specifications of a DOT 57 portable tank, with
certain conditions and exceptions that are detailed in § 176.340(b )(1) through
§ 176.340(b )(1 0).
1 Drill cuttings are fragments of rock created when a well is drilled into the seabed and underlying rock to
reach oil and gas trapped below. These cuttings can vary in size and texture, from fine silt to gravel. The
cuttings are canied back to the surface by the drilling mud, a special fluid used to lubricate and cool the drill
bit, and to balance down hole formation pressures to prevent blowouts of oil and gas. The drill cuttings are
transported in the drilling mud.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Q2. May I design a packaging for transporting drill cuttings that meet the
def!nition of a combustible liquid according to the specif!cations of DOT 57?
A2. The answer is yes. As set forth in§ 176.340(b) a non-specification portable
tank built to the DOT specification 57 portable tank standard that also meets the
conditions and exceptions provided in § 176.340(b)(l) through§ 176.340(b )(1 0) is
authorized for the shipment of combustible liquids by vessel. Further § 173.241 (c)
would authorize this type of packaging for the shipment of combustible liquids by
all modes. The specifications for DOT specification 57 portable tanks were
removed from the HMR in final rule Docket HM-181E (59 FR 38040), effective
July 26, 1994. However, DOT specification 57 portable tanks may be used if either
requalified per § 178.605, provided they are represented as a non-specification
portable tank, or if their specification plates or markings are covered.
Q3. Are the manufacturing requirements for non-specification portable tanks for
transporting drill cuttings provided in § 176.340(b )?
A3. The requirements for non-specif!cation portable tanks for transportation of
combustible liquid by vessel are provided in§ 176.340(b). Section 176.340(b)(l)
states that portable tanks must conform to a DOT specification 57 portable tank,
with conditions and exceptions that are set forth in§ 176.340(b)(2) through
§ 176.340(b)(10). The requirements for DOT Specification 57 portable tanks are
found in the HMR published before October 1, 199 5.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this of11ce.
Sincerely,
Robert Benedict
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Thursday, March 27, 2014 8:44AM
Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Benedict, Robert (PHMSA); Betts, Charles (PHMSA); Foster,
Glenn (PHMSA); Kelley, Shane (PHMSA); Pfund, Duane (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)
Subject:
FW: Cuttings Boxes USCG
Carolyn,
Thanks,
Glenn
Please have the email below checked in as a request for a letter of Interpretation.
From: Clayton George [mailto:cgeorge@eng-pes.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 7:57AM
To: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)
Cc: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA); Freeman, Cheryl (PHMSA)
Subject: Re: Cuttings Boxes USCG
Yes Stan. A formal letter would be very helpful.
Thank you,
Clayton George, PE
Practical Engineering Solutions, LLC
Phone: {337) 408-3242
Mobile: (337} 344-4833
cgeorge@eng-pes.com
www.eng-pes.com
On Mar 27, 2014, at 6:54AM, "stanley.staniszewski@dot.gov" <stanley.staniszewski@dot.gov> wrote:
Clay:
As we discussed last week, sorry that you didin't get your questions answered by the Coast Guard, and I'm
sorry I didn't get back to you sooner too, but my plans are always getting bumped due to other higher
priorities.
Here is what I know.
For the case in point, since we are talking about a "Non-Spec based on DOT 57's" you should be fine with
new construction of "cutting boxes", following what is described in 49CFR176.340{b).
As I suspected Spec. DOT 57's can't be constructed any more since they were dropped from the regs in
Oct '96; however, they can still be used if maintained per 49CFR180.605.
Let me know if you need a formal letter of interpretation on this and I will get that process started.
Regards,
Stan
1

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Stanley (Stan) Staniszewski Jr.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
East Bldg, PHH-22 Engineering
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-0453
Have a complaint or question? Check our Web site at: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/phmsa-
ext/feedback/hazmatComplaintsRegsViolationsForm.jsp or call the Hazardous Materials Information
Center at: 1-800-467-4922
The information contained in this message, and any attachments thereto, is for information purposes only and may contain the personal views
and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of the U. S. Department of Transportation, Pipelines and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
From: Clayton George [mailto:cgeorge@eng-pes.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 4:04 PM
To: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: Cuttings Boxes
Stan,
for Wednesday.
Did you find anything in regard to my cuttings box questions? You had said you would have something
1.) What specifications do I need to follow to design cuttings boxes for the gulf of mexico?
2.) Is DOT 57 still a current guide to follow?
3.) Is 49 CFR 176.340 to proper specification to follow for (b) non-specification portable tank?
Thanks,
Clayton George, PE
Practical Engineering Solutions, LLC
<image001.jpg>
P.O. Box 51564
Lafayette, LA 70503
Phone: (337) 408-3242
Mobile: (337) 344-4833
cgeorge@eng-pes.com
www .eng-pes.com
2

<<<PAGE 5>>>

25 BBl CUTTING BOX
Hot dipped galvanized interior and exterior for an extended service life. 3/8 inch steel sides
and lids and l/2 inch steel plate top and bottom. Bottom and top lift eyes with stacking pads.
Hinged and gasl<eted lid secured with forge flange nuts and swing bolts.
Container constructed to meet DOT/Coast Guard regulation 49 CFR 176.340 for combustible
liquids, with l/2" plate floor and top, 3/8" walls and lids, 2-hinged and gasketed lids secured
with forged flange nuts and swing bolts, bottom lift eyes, top lift eyes with stacking pads, pres-
sure relief vent set at 5 PSI. The Tiger 25 BBL Cutting Box is designed for offshore dynamic lifting in
accordance with the provisions of API RP 2A and SEPco document OPS0055.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Tare weight 5,360 LBS.
Max gross weight 30,000 LBS.
Safe working load weight 24,640 LBS.
Lid opening: 72" wide x 22" deep
Test pressure: 15 PSI
Design pressure: 10 PSI
Product density 23.4 LBS./GAL.
(specific gravity 2.8)
Aluminum vacuum lids available
Outside dimensions:
84" wide x 96" deep x 52-1/2" high
,·· I
',,.,,;:::'I:::;::d;:::::;±;:::::fj'r' ·}
CUTTING BOXES I TIGER OFFSHORE RENTALS.
www. tigeroffshorerentals.com 1-877-844-3791

<<<PAGE 6>>>

25 BBl CUTTING BOX
STRAPPING CHART
INCHES BARRELS GALLONS INCHES BARRELS GALLONS
1 0.67 28 21 14.24 598
2 1.36 57 22 14.93 627
3 2.02 85 23 15.6 655
4 2.71 114 24 16.29 684
5 3.38 142 25 16.95 712
6 4.07 171 26 18.36 741
7 4.74 199 27 18.31 769
8 5.43 228 28 19 798
9 6.1 256 29 19.67 826
10 6.79 285 30 20.36 855
11 7.45 313 31 20.53 883
12 8.14 342 32 21.71 912
13 8.81 370 33 22.38 940
14 9.5 3.99 34 23 966
15 10.71 427 35 22.48 986
16 10.86 456 36 23.95 1006
17 11.52 484 37 24.43 1026
18 12.21 513 38 24.91 1046
19 12.88 541 39 25.38 1066
20 13.57 570
www. tigeroffshorerentals.com 1-877-844-3791

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140061.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `c708847844d9b0640dc6775389dc2dab2cd783989cee5095c7c0dbad2b5e7f95`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T23:07:56.127Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-14-0061`

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