# Petroleum Transport, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 15-0246 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2016-05-10 15-0246 response to Petroleum Transport, Inc. concerning 180.407. ## Document text <<>> of Transportation U.S. Department Washington, D.C. 20590 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration MAY 1 0 2016 Mr. Roger Kirk Petroleum Transport, Inc. 4967 Crooks Rd., Suite 201 Troy, MI 48098 Reference No. 15-0246 Dear Mr. Kirk: This is in response to your December 21, 2015 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask for clarification of the correct test markings for a tank trailer hauling UN 1987, Alcohols, n.o.s., 3, II. You provide a Safety Data Sheet for the mixture, which contains 60-100 percent weight Ethyl Alcohol, 1-5 percent weight Natural Gasoline and 0.1-1 percent weight Benzene. You also state that the trailer is marked with K-EPA-27, but the Ohio Public Utilities Commission cited this as incorrect. In accordance with 49 CFR 180.407(h)(2), cargo tanks used to transport petroleum distillate fuels that are equipped with vapor collection equipment may be leak tested in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency's "Method 27 - Determination of Vapor Tightness of Gasoline Delivery Tank Using Pressure-Vacuum Test" as set forth in Appendix A to 40 CFR part 60. In a final rule under Docket No. RSPA-98-3554 (HM-213; April 18, 2003), the Research and Special Programs Administration, predecessor to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, clarified that the EPA 27 test method may be used only for petroleum fuel service. It is the opinion of this Office that the material you describe may be used in blending with gasoline but is not, on its own, a petroleum distillate fuel. As such, the tank trailer may not be leak tested using the EPA Method 27 and marked with K-EPA-27. I hope this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact this office if you need further assistance. Sincerely, Duane A. Pfund International Standards Coordinator Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Antonielli Shipping Requerernet Dodd, Alice (PHMSA) 15-0246 From: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA) Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 3:10 PM To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Goodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA) Subject: FW: Tank Trailer Test Markings Please include this follow-up with the incoming request from Roger Kirk. From: Petroleumtrans@aol.com [mailto:Petroleumtrans@aol.com] Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 2:19 PM To: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA) Subject: Re: Tank Trailer Test Markings incorrect. One more thing I forgot to mention. My trailer was marked with K-EPA27 and the Ohio PUC told me that marking was Roger Kirk In a message dated 12/21/2015 2:14:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Glenn. Foster@dot.gov writes: Mr. Kirk, Not a problem. I will have your inquiry logged in as a request for a letter of Interpretation. Thanks, Glenn From: Petroleumtrans@aol.com [mailto: Petroleumtrans@aol.com] To: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA) Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 1:46 PM Subject: Tank Trailer Test Markings Mr Foster, for a tank trailer hauling UN1987 Alcohols, N.O.S. 3, II. This is Ethanol that has Natural Gasoline and Benzene I apologize. I gave you some wrong information in my previous e-mail. What would the correct test markings be as a denaturant. The flash point is <0*C (32*F). 1 <<>> Thank you again, Roger Kirk Petroleum Transport, Inc. 0 248-267-8280 F 248-952-0554 petroleumtrans@aol.com 2 <<>> Denatured Fuel Ethanol (Anhydrous) Safety Data Sheet according to Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2012 / Rules and Regulations clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower. P305+P351+P338 - If in eyes: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove P308+P313 - If exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention. contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. P337+P313 - If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention. P403+P235 - Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. P370+P378 - In case of fire: Use appropriate media for extinction. P501 - Dispose of contents/container to local, regional, national, territorial, provincial, and P405 - Store locked up. international regulations. Other Hazards Other Hazards Not Contributing to the Classification: H412 - Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects Hazardous to the aquatic environment - Chronic Hazard Category 3 espiratory conditions. Exposure may aggravate individuals with pre-existing skin, kidney, liver, and pulmonary disorder: lammable vapors can accumulate in head space of closed systems. Exposure may aggravate those with pre existing eye, skin, o Unknown Acute Toxicity (GHS-US) Not available SECTION 3: COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS Name Mixture : Denatured Fuel Ethanol (Anhydrous) Ethyl alcohol Name (CAS No) 64-17-5 Product identifier % (w/w) 60-100 Classification (GHS-US) Flam. Liq. 2, H225 Gasoline, natural (CAS No) 8006-61-9 1-5 Flam. Liq. 1, H224 Eye Irrit. 2A, H319 Skin Irrit. 2, H315 Muta, 1B, H340 Carc. 1B, H350 STOT SE 3, H336 Repr. 2, H361 Asp. Tox. 1, H304 Benzene* (CAS No) 71-43-2 0.1-1 Flam. Liq. 2, H225 Aquatic Chronic 2, H411 Acute Tox. 4 (Oral), H302 Eye Irrit. 2A, H319 Skin Irrit. 2, H315 Carc. 1A, H350 Muta. 1B, H340 Asp. Tox. 1, H304 STOT RE 1, H372 *The percent weight of Benzene is less than 0.06% in versions of this product that are shipped to California. The percent weight of Full text of H-phrases: see section 16 Benzene may be less than 0.1% in other versions of this product. SECTION 4: FIRST AID MEASURES Description of First Aid Measures General: Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If you feel unwell, seek medical advice (show the label where Inhalation: When symptoms occur: go into open air and ventilate suspected area. Obtain medical attention if breathing difficulty possible). Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Drench affected area with water for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention if persists. irritation persists. 07/25/2014 EN (English US) 2/16 <<>> • • Denatured Fuel Ethanol (Anhydrous) Safety Data Sheet according to Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2012 / Rules and Regulations Nunavut Nunavut OEL TWA (mg/m?) OEL STEL (ppm) 25 ppm Nunavut Northwest Territories OEL STEL (mg/m') OEL TWA (ppm) 32 mg/ma 10 ppm Northwest Territories 80 mg/ma OEL STEL (ppm) 25 ppm Northwest Territories OEL TWA (mg/m?) 32 mg/m Ontario Northwest Territories OEL TWA (ppm) OEL STEL (ppm) 10 ppm Prince Edward Island Ontario OEL TWA (ppm) 2.5 ppm (designated substances regulation) Prince Edward Island OEL STEL (ppm) 2.5 ppm 0.5 ppm (designated substance regulation) Québec OEL TWA (ppm) Québec VECD (ppm) VECD (mg/m?) 0.5 ppm 15.5 mg/m? Québec Québec VEMP (mg/m?) 5 ppm 3 mg/ma Yukon VEMP (ppm) 1 ppm Yukon OEL Ceiling (mg/m?) 32 mg/m° Yukon OEL Ceiling (ppm) 10 ppm 32 mg/m° Exposure Controls OEL TWA (mg/m?) Appropriate Engineering Controls: Ensure all national/local regulations are observed. Gas detectors should be used when explosion-proof equipment. Emergency eye wash fountains and safety showers should be available in the immediate vicinity of any flammable gases/vapours may be released. Proper grounding procedures to avoid static electricity should be followed. Use potential exposure. Ensure adequate ventilation, especially in confined areas. Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves. Protective goggles. Insufficient ventilation: wear respiratory protection. Protective clothing. Materials for Protective Clothing: Chemically resistant materials and fabrics. Wear fire/flame resistant/retardant clothing. Hand Protection: Wear chemically resistant protective gloves. Eye Protection: Chemical goggles or safety glasses. Skin and Body Protection: Wear suitable protective clothing. mist are expected to exceed exposure limits. Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved air-purifying or supplied-air respirator where airborne concentrations of vapor or Other Information: When using, do not eat, drink or smoke. Thermal Hazard Protection: Wear suitable protective clothing. SECTION 9: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES Information on Basic Physical and Chemical Properte Liquid Physical State Appearance Clear, colorless liquid Odor Alcohol Odor Threshold Not available pH Not available Relative Evaporation Rate (butylacetate=1) Not available Melting Point Not available Freezing Point Not available Boiling Point 78.5°C (173.3°F) Flash Point <0°C (32°F) 07/25/2014 EN (English-USt- 6/16 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `c5d4a6b05c041a95d84289797f3a9f0a595d7a41e8c7b633d7ea1b061c350ad6` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T12:35:43.199Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-15-0246` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Petroleum Transport, Inc." ], "individuals": [ "Roger Kirk" ], "refIds": [ "15-0246" ], "catalogDates": [ "2016-05-10" ], "catalogParts": [ 180 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/56421" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "180.407", "180.407(h)(2)", "173.3" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/180407" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150246.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150246.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150246.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/15-0246-04d364f352.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "602c252b53e217b9283250b333f8bd35f471bb432a448ee52d3b681f234e67a8", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/15-0246-04d364f352.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "7ca8fc82042e63bd339615a7170dd699f1ab358d8556cc0271d4fb1c39f6cc54", "pageCount": 5, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```