# Grayson Hill Farm — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 01-0025
- **title:** Grayson Hill Farm — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2001-06-26
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 01-0025 response to Grayson Hill Farm concerning 173.22.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0025.md
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010025.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
Research and
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
pecial Program
Administratior
JUN 26 2001
Ref. No.
01-0025
Mr. Chris Schimp
1705 Grayson Rd.
Grayson Hill Farm
El Dorado, IL 62930
Dear Mr. Schimp:
This is in response to your letter and subsequent telephone
are required to apply for an exemption to transport methane
conversations with a member of my staff asking whether you
gas as a Division 2.1 under the Hazardous Materials:
pressure vessel is filled with activated carbon which
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You state that a
absorbs the methane.
carbon has been determined not to meet the definition for
You also state that the activated
"Natural gas, compressed" UN1971.
Division 4.2 and that the material will be described as
Under the Hazardous
185), an exemption is not required to transport methane gas
Materials Regulations (HMR; Parts 100-
material when prepared and packaged in conformance with the
containing activated carbon as a Division 2.1 hazardous
Section 173.22 states that it is the shipper's
responsibility to properly classify a hazardous material.
It is not the function of this Office to confirm findings.
However, based on the information provided in your letter,
it is the opinion of this Office that methane gas absorbed
in activated carbon under
described as Division 2.1.
pressure is appropriately
A hazardous material described as "Natural gas, compressed,"
must be packaged in DOT specification cylinders in full
conformance accordance with § 173.302. Cargo tank motor
010025
113-

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under the terms of an exemption. You may submit an
vehicles and other packagings are not authorized except
application for an exemption in accordance with the
procedures prescribed in § 107.105.
you need further assistance.
I hope this information is helpful.
Please contact us 1f
Sincerely,
Natte z. matthell.
Hattie I. Mitchell, Chief)
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

HYDROPONIC PRODUCE
AQUACULTURE
Me Intyre
Grayson HillFAM METHANE UXTAZATION
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2001
$ 173:33
Exempteon
TO: Director of O.H.M.S. U.S. D.O.I. (Edward Mazzullo)
Applieability
FROM: Chris Schimp (owner of Grayson Hill Farms)
01-0025
RE: Respectfully request a letter verifing that a Federal exemption is not needed to
transport methane gas under 2.1 Division with activated carbon that has been determined
not be classified in Division 42.
Grayson Hill Farms produces electrical power from coal mine methane gas which is sold
on the power grid to local utilities and captures the waste heat from the generators to grow
Hydroponic produce along with fish in speciality designed greenhouses. Chris Schimp a
Mining Engineer has a lot of experience with methane gas and through this experience has
a Patent on a system that can transport methane gas very economically by truck. The State
of Illinois has awarded Grayson Hill Farms with a Grant to put this system in operation.
Grayson Hill Farms contracted the scientist from University of Illinois for the carbon
selection for the transportation system. The carbon selected is from Waterlink/Barnebey
Sutcliffe Corporation and has been determined not to be liable to spontaneous combustion
according to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and according to the 49 CFR Ch.I, +
DOT Research and Special Programs Administration. Please find the enclosed test results.
The transportation system will involve a propane tanker filled with the carbon which will
absorb the methane thus increasing the volume of methane that can he transported in the
tanker. The pressure will not exceed the rated pressure of the vessel which is 250 psi and
meet the necessary safety regulation. The carbon will stay in the tank and will last as long
as the system is in operation. The methane will desabsorb from the carbon when the
pressure is released from the tanker during unloading.
A letter verifing that a Federal exemption is not needed is part of the Grant project in
putting the transportation system together.
2/6/01
Thank You
Chirschip
Thinks
JOAN
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