# Keehn Service Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 00-0316
- **title:** Keehn Service Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2001-01-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 00-0316 response to Keehn Service Corporation concerning 180.413.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0316.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0316.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-00-0316
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000316.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
00 Seventh Street, S.V
/ashington, D.C. 2059
JAN 1 7 2001
Mr. Richard C. Willard
Ref. No. 00-0316
President
Keehn Service Corporation
99 North 11" Avenue
Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19320
Dear Mr. Willard:
This responds to your letter, dated November 8, 2000, requesting clarification of the
requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for
tretching MC 331 cargo tanks that are not currently equipped with manhole assemblies
Specifically, you ask about requirements for manhole assemblies on stretched MC 33.
specification cargo tanks.
As your letter notes, § 180.413(d)(3) of the HMR requires all new material, new equipment, and
equipment affected by modification, stretching, or rebarrelling to meet the requirements of the
specification in effect at the time such work is performed. As defined in § 180.403, "stretching"
includes any change in the length, width, or diameter of a cargo tank. Thus, the cargo tank itself
is "equipment" that will be affected by stretching. As such, the stretched cargo tank must meet
Accordingly, a stretched MC 331 cargo tank must be provided with a manhole assembly in
conformance with § 178.337-6. As specified in § 178.337-6, a stretched MC 331 cargo tank
constructed of NOT steel with a capacity of 3,500 gallons or less may be equipped with an
inspection opening instead of a manhole assembly.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact
this office.
Sincerely,
Than
omnt. All.
Thomas G. Allan
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
180.413
000316

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Gorsky
$180.413
KEEHN
SERVICE CORPORATION
Repairs
99 NORTH 11th AVENUE • COATESVILLE, PA 19320
PHONE: (610) 384-6851
FAX: (610) 380-0316
00 - 0316
November 8, 2000
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
Research and Special Programs Administration
United States Department of Transportation
Washington, DC
400 Seventh Street, Southwest
20590
RE: Request for Clarification-Stretching of Propane Bobtail Barrels
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
MC-330 and 331 compressed gas equipment. We hold valid "U" and "R" certification stamps and
Keehn Service Corporation is currently involved with the fabrication, testing, and repair of
are registered with the Department under CT number 0140.
robane bobtail vessels to maximize payloads and save money versus the purchase of new
There has been considerable interest generated in increasing the capacity of existing
essels. In as much as we are registered with the Federal DOT and also have both ASME "U
resized into 3000 gallon tanks. On the other hand, the 80" diameter tanks can be enlarged all the
way to 3500 water gallons, or even beyond if so desired. The estimated cost for extending an
existing 80" ID vessel to 3500 water gallons is about $4900.00, excluding taxes and/or
ransportation charges that may apply. For comparison, the list price of a new 3499 water gallor
ropane bobtail tank, FOB the factory, is around $13,000
work with the exception of one part, that being $180.413 (d) (3), which reads as follows:
Part 180 of the DOT regulations clearly lists the various requirements for performing this
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(3)(v) in this section, all
new material and equipment, and equipment affected by modification,

<<<PAGE 3>>>

and were not equipped with manways, as is currently required in 49 CFR §178.337-6. Is it then
Most, if not all of these smaller capacity vessels were manufactured before April 21, 1994
correct to assume that because "all new material and equipment, and equipment affected by
modification, stretching or rebarrelling must meet the requirements of the specification in
the time of vessel stretching to match the current regulations for MC-331? We contend that
effect at the time such work is performed" that manway assemblies should also be installed at
manway assemblies should be installed.
account for $1350.00 of the $4900.00 total cost. By eliminating this requirement, the vessel:
The installation of a 16" ASA flanged manway assembiy (typical in the industry) woul
using a backing strip which remained in place after completion. This same technique would be
could be stretched for about $3550.00. The closing girth seam in the vessel was originally welded
used for the closing seam on the stretched vessel, eliminating the requirement for vessel entry
manway) to complete the final weldments. Radiographic examination can still be performed t
atisfy the requirements of the National Board Inspection Code and the ASME Code Section VI
Division 1.
reached by telephone at the number shown above or by email at willard@aol.com for
Please advise at your earliest convenience if you find our interpretation valid. I can be
comments or questions. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Sincerely,
dila
Richard C. Willard
President
MswordDOT-letter-request for ruling-stretching-11-00.doc
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