{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0187","title":"Albemarle Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2001-08-20","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0187 response to Albemarle Corporation concerning 180.417.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0187.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0187.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0187","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010187.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n-\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C.\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\n20590\nResearch and\nAdministration\nspecial Programs\nAUG 2 0 2001\nDr. Jack E. Helms\nRef. No. 01-0187\nAlbemarle Corporation\n451 Florida Street\nBaton Rouge, LA 70801-1765\nDear Dr. Helms:\nThis is in response to your July 12, 2001 letter and subsequent telephone conversation with\nMr. Michael Johnsen of my staff regarding motor carrier test and inspection record retention\nrequirements for cargo tanks under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-\n180). Specifically, you ask if the test and inspection record retention requirements for cargo tanks\nunder § 180.417(b)(2) apply to a company, Quality Distribution, that supplies only the power unit and\ndriver to haul cargo tanks in your fleet. You note that Quality Distribution does not perform any\nfunction other than those mentioned above and that no cargo tank from your fleet is under the courier's\ncontrol for 30 days or longer.\nSection 180.417(b)(2) requires the owner and operator of a cargo tank to retain copies of test and\ninspection reports until the next test or inspection of the same type is successfully completed. This\nrequirement does not apply to a motor carrier leasing a cargo tank for fewer than 30 days. Although\nthe exception uses the term \"leasing,\" the intent of this provision is to except a motor carrier from the\nrequirement to retain test and inspection reports for any cargo tank it uses for transportation for fewer\nthan 30 days. Based on the information provided, it is the opinion of this Office that Quality Distribution\nis not required to retain copies of test and inspection reports for the subject cargo tanks.\nI hope this satisfies your request.\nSincerely,\nThomas. Allan\nThomas G. Allan\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n... ALBEMARLE®\nJohnsen\nCORPORATION\n$180.417\n451 Florida Street\nBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70801-1765\nTelephone: 225-388-8011\nFacsimile: 225-388-7686\nRecord Retention\nJuly 12, 2001\n01-0187\nMr. Thomas G. Allan\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nRef:\nLetter to Mr. Charles Boudin dated January 11, 2000\nDear Mr. Allan:\nThis is to request clarification of motor carrier test and inspection record retention requirements\ncited in the attached interpretation letter to Mr. Charles Boudin dated January 11, 2000. Quality\nDistribution, a contract\nmotor carrier used by Albemarle Corporation,\nhas\nrequested\nfabrication/test/inspection records for cargo tanks which are owned and operated by Albemarle, based on\nthe attached referenced letter. Albemarle believes that the regulations cited do not apply to our type of\noperation and we request clarification regarding the application of the referenced letter.\nAlbemarle is a shipper of hazardous materials. We own our cargo tank fleet. Quality\nDistribution supplies the power unit and the driver which transports certain cargo tanks within our fleet\nto plant sites where the trailers are filled by Albemarle personnel and unloaded by customer personnel.\nQuality Distribution does not fill, load, or make deliveries with these trailers. They are strictly\n, transported from one location to another. Therefore, the trailers are neither leased, operated or used by\nDifferent Quality Distribution. Therefore, as the owner of the cargo tank, Albemarle believes that, while they must\ndrivers retain copies of the test and inspections reports for their vehicles, they are not obligated to provide such\nreports to a motor carrier who is not leasing or operating their vehicles. Please confirm that our\nfine\nunderstanding of the regulations are correct.\nPlease call me at 225-388-7752 or contact me by E-mail at jack_helms@albemarle.com if you\nrequire further information.\nRespectfully submitted,\nJack E. Helms, Ph.D., P.E\nAdvisor, Transportation\nCT-5464\ncc:\nMr. C. Boudin - Quality Distribution\nMr. W. D. Eby\nMs. P. Quinn - HMT Associates","truncated":false,"body_characters":4124}