{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0082R","title":"MN DOT Office of Motor Carriers — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2006-05-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0082R response to MN DOT Office of Motor Carriers concerning 172.336.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0082r.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0082r.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0082r","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2001/010082R.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration\nMAY - 1 2006\nMr. Michael Ritchie\nRef. No. 01-0082R\nMN DOT Office of Motor Carriers\nMail Stop 420\n1110 Centre Pointe Curve\nMendota Heights, MN 55120-4152\nDear Mr. Ritchie:\nOn April 24, 2001, we responded to your request for clarification of requirements in the\nHazardous Matenals Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for marking bulk\npackages containing petroleum distillate fuels (Ref. No. 01-0082). Specifically, we stated a\nfuel containing 80% ethyl alcohol and 20% petroleum was eligible for the marking\nexceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) or (5). Because of concerns about appropriate emergency\nresponse procedures for incidents involving alcohol and alcohol blends, we are retracting\nour April 24, 2001 letter and issuing this correction.\nThe marking exceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) and (5) permit a cargo tank containing different\nliquid petroleum distillate fuels to be marked with the identification number applicable to\nthe distillate fuel having the lowest flash point. However, this marking exception may lead\nto some confusion for emergency responders handling a fire or other incident involving a\nfuel containing more than 10% alcohol. Fires involving ethanol/gasoline mixtures\ncontaining more than 10% ethanol must be treated differently than traditional gasoline fires\nbecause these flammable liquid mixtures tend to be polar/water-miscible (i.e., they mix\nwith water) and will degrade the effectiveness of fire-fighting foam that is not alcohol-\nresistant. The 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG 2004) refers to Guide 127\n(Flammable Liquids Polar/Water-Miscible) for incidents involving Alcohols, n.o.s., 3,\nUN1987, or Denatured alcohol, 3, NA1987. Guide 127 specifies the use of alcohol-\nresistant foam. Similarly, ERG 2004 refers to Guide 128 (Flammable Liquids Non-\nPolar/Water-Immiscible) for incidents involving Flammable liquids, n.o.s., (ethanol,\ngasoline) 3, UN1993, and Gasohol, 3 NA 1203. Guide 128 specifies the use of regular\nfoam, but includes the following warning: \"CAUTION: For mixtures containing a high\npercentage of an alcohol or polar solvent, alcohol-resistant foam may be more effective.\"\nTo ensure emergency responders utilize the most effective emergency response procedures\nfor fuel mixtures containing alcohol, bulk packagings containing fuel blends with more\nhan 10% alcohol must be marked with the identification number applicable to the material\nseing transported. The marking exceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) and (5) do not apply to such\nmaterials.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nemergency response guidance for responding to incidents involving fuel mixtures\nWe have issued a Safety Alert to inform emergency responders of the appropriate\ncontaining ethanol (or \"ethyl alcohol\") and gasoline in various concentrations. In addition,\nwe are currently evaluating the need for changes to shipping descriptions and other hazard\ncommunication requirements for ethanol/gasoline fuel mixtures.\nSincerely,\nEdward T. Mazzullo\ndiana 7. Mazzulle\nDirector, Office of Hazardous\nMaterials Standards\nEnclosure","truncated":false,"body_characters":3171}