# Railroad Commission of Texas Gas Services Division — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 02-0006
- **title:** Railroad Commission of Texas Gas Services Division — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-12-03
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 02-0006 response to Railroad Commission of Texas Gas Services Division concerning 173.315.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-02-0006
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020006.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

:
of Transportation
U.S. Department
DEC
3 2003
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
Washington, D.C. 20590
Administration
Special Programs
Mr. Richard L. Gilbert
Railroad Commission of Texas
File No.: 020006
Gas Services Division
P. O. Box 12967
Austin, TX 78711-2967
Dear Mr. Gilbert:
This responds to your letter regarding clarification of the compliance dates in
§ 173.315(n)(5)(ii) as they apply to appropriate emergency discharge control capability
liquefied compressed gas. I apologize for the delay in responding and hope it has not
applicable to MIC 330, MC 331, or non-specification cargo tanks authorized to transport
caused any inconvenience.
You asked:
Q1. Are cargo tank motor vehicles that have been repaired or modified to the extent that
a pressure test is needed also required, as specified in § 173.315(n)(5)(ii), to meet
the emergency discharge control retrofit requirement before they can be placed back
into service?
A1.
The compliance dates specified in $ 173.315(n) 5)(il) apply to the requalification of
a cargo tank motor vehicie, and not to a cargo tank that has been repaired or
modified and requires a pressure test. However, if the pressure test associated with
a repair or modification is also used as a requalification test and to establish a new
control retrofit.
retest date, such requalification triggers the requirement for emergency discharge
A requalified cargo tank motor vehicle in liquefied compressed gas service must be
equipped with an emergency discharge control capability at the date of its first
scheduled pressure test after July 1, 2001. An MC 330, MC 331, or non-
specification cargo tank motor vehicle may not be operated after July 1, 2006,
unless it has been equipped with emergency discharge control equipment as
2001, must be certified by a Design Certifying Engineer that it meets the
specified in § 173.315(n). Each passive shut-off system installed prior to July 1,
requirements of § 173.315(n)(2).
Q2.
May an operator arbitrarily have a pressure test performed on a vehicle prior to the
next scheduled pressure retest date and thereby delay the retrofit requirement until
July 1, 2006?
•
113. 315(1)
020006

<<<PAGE 2>>>

-
A2.
The answer is no. As specified in 173.315(n)(5)(ii), an MC 330, MC 331, or non-
scheduled pressure retest date has no bearing on this date.
pecification may not be used unless the cargo tank is repaired and retested in
1 specification cargo tank that for any reason no longer meets the applicabl
materials service. Each cargo tank must be tested and inspected as specified in
accordance with §$ 180.407 and 180.413 prior to being returned to hazardous
accordance with the §180.407 by an inspector meeting the qualifications of
§ 180.409.
Q3.
Is it the intent of this rule to require that the emergency discharge control capability
be installed anytime a pressure test is performed after July 1, 2001?
A3.
See answer "A1."
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Susan G. Gorsky
Senior Transportation Specialist
Office of Hazaardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN
TONY GARZA, COMMISSIONER
CHARLES R. MATTHEWS, COMMISSIONER
STEPHEN L. PITNER
DIVISION DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
BYRON CAFFEY
LP-GAS SAFETY
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Engrum
GAS SERVICES DIVISION
§173.315 (k)
November 6, 2001
Cargo Tanks
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
02-0006
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards .
0071 Street SW
J.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
RE: MC330, MC 331 or non-spec cargo units under 173.315(k) authorization
Dear Mr, Mazzullo:
on the above referenced motor vehicles. This equipment is to be installed "no later than the date
173.315 (n) (5) (ii) requires an appropriate emergency discharge control capability to be installed
of its first scheduled pressure retest required after July i, 2001" and all affected vehicles must
have this capability installed by July 1, 2006. I have the following questions concerning this
requirement:
1. Are vehicles that have been repaired or modified to the extent that a pressure test is
needed, also required to meet the emergency discharge control retrofit requirement before
they can be placed back into service?
2. May an operator arbitrarily have a pressure test performed on a vehicle prior to the next
2006?
scheduled pressure retest date and thereby delay the retrofit requirement until July 1,
3. Is it the intent of this rule to require that the emergency discharge control capability be
installed anytime a pressure test is performed after July 1, 2001?
Sincerely,
Richard L. Gilbert
Program Specialist
1201 NORTH ONE A 246- ALI PLOT POSTATE TAX 5121463-6921
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