{"operation":"document","citation":"04-0230","title":"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2004-11-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"04-0230 response to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concerning 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0230.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0230.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-04-0230","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040230.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMemorandum\nU.S. Department\nof Trarisportation\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nDate:\nNOV - 9: 2004\nRéply to Attn. of: 04-0230\nSubject: Request for Interpretation\nFrom:\nJohn A. Gale\"\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nChief, Regulations Development\nTo:\nDanny Shelton\nCargo Tánk Program Manager\nFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\nThis responds to your October 1, 2004 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR. Parts 171-180) applicable to the requirements for test and inspection\nof MC 338 cargo tanks, Specifically, you ask whether a pressure test should be performed as\npart of the anrital visual inspection requirement for insulated MC 338 cargo tanks. You also:\nrequest the specific reference in the HIMR that indicates MC 338 cargo tanks need only be\npressure tested every five years.\nSection 180.407 of the HMR contains the requalification requirements for DOT specification\ncargo tanks. Paragraph (c) of this section includes a table that establishes test and inspection.\nintervats for different types of cargo tanks. Paragraphs (d) through (i) of this section describe\nhow each prescribed test must be performed. Section 180.407 must be read in its entirety in\norder to asceitain which tests and inspections are required for a specific cargo tank.\nParagraph (d) of $ 180:407 sets forth requirements for the performance of an external visual:\ninspection. Paragraph (a)(.) generally requires an internal visual inspection in accordance with\nparagraph (e) of § 180.407 in place of the external visual inspection where insulation precludes\nperformance of the external visual inspection. Paragraph (d)(1) further requires that for cargo\ntanks where a visual internal inspection is not possible, because the cargo tank is lined, coated, or\ndesighed so as to prevent access for an internal visuat inspection, the tank must be pressure\ntested in accordance with § 180.407(g)(1)(iv). The table in § 180.407(c) is consistent with\nparagraph (d)(1); in accordance with the table, insulated cargo tanks must be pressure tested\nevery year. Note, however, that MC 338 cargo tanks are excepted from this requirement.\n'Instead, as indicated in the table under the entry for pressure test requirements for \"all other\ncargo tanks,\" MC 338 cargo tanks are required to have a pressure test every five years..\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact\nthis office.\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMemorandum\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nDate:\nNOV -9 2004\nReply to Attn. of: 04-0230\nSubject: Request for Interpretation\nFrom: John A. Gale\nChief, Regulations Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nTo: Danny Shelton\nCargo Tank Program Manager\nFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\nThis responds to your October 1, 2004 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the requirements for test and inspection\nof MC 338 cargo tanks. Specifically, you ask whether a pressure test should be performed as\npart of the annual visual inspection requirement for insulated MC 338 cargo tanks. You also\nrequest the specific reference in the HMR that indicates MC 338 cargo tanks need only be\npressure-tested every five years.\nSection 180.407 of the HMR contains the requalification requirements for DOT specification\ncargo tanks. Paragraph (c) of this section includes a table that establishes test and inspection\nintervals for different types of cargo tanks. Paragraphs (d) through (i) of this section describe\nhow each prescribed test must be performed. Section 180.407 must be read in its entirety in\norder to ascertain which tests and inspections are required for a specific cargo tank.\nParagraph (d) of § 180.407 sets forth requirements for the performance of an external visual\ninspection. Paragraph (d)(1) generally requires an internal visual inspection in accordance with\nparagraph (e) of § 180.407 in place of the external visual inspection where insulation precludes\nperformance of the external visual inspection. Paragraph (d)(1) further requires that for cargo\ntanks where a visual internal inspection is not possible, because the cargo tank is lined, coated, or\ndesigned so as to prevent access for an internal visual inspection, the tank must be pressure\ntested in accordance with $ 180.407(g) (1)(iv). The table in 8 180.407(c) is consistent with\nparagraph (d)(1); in accordance with the table, insulated cargo tanks must be pressure tested\nevery year. Note, however, that MC 338 cargo tanks are excepted from this requirement.\nInstead, as indicated in the table under the entry for pressure test requirements for \"all other\ncargo tanks,\" MC 338 cargo tanks are required to have a pressure test every five years.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n7\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact\nthis office.\n#\nFoster: DHM-11: 68553: 10/25/04\nFile: 180.407\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nMemorandum\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nDate:\nNOV - 9 2004\nReply to Attn. of: 04-0230\nSubject: Request for Interpretation\nFrom:\nJohn A. Gale\nChief, Regulations Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nTo: Danny Shelton\nCargo Tank Program Manager\nFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\nThis responds to your October 1, 2004 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the requirements for test and inspection\nof MC 338 cargo tanks. Specifically, you ask whether a pressure test should be performed as\npart of the annual visual inspection requirement for insulated MC 338 cargo tanks. You also\nrequest the specific reference in the HMR that indicates MC 338 cargo tanks need only be\npressure-tested every five years.\nSection 180.407 of the HMR contains the requalification requirements for DOT specification\ncargo tanks. Paragraph (c) of this section includes a table that establishes test and inspection\nintervals for different types of cargo tanks. Paragraphs (d) through (i) of this section describe\nhow each prescribed test must be performed. Section 180.407 must be read in its entirety in\norder to ascertain which tests and inspections are required for a specific cargo tank.\nParagraph (d) of § 180:407 sets forth requirements for the performance of an external visual\ninspection. Paragraph (d)(1) generally requires an internal visual inspection in accordance with\nparagraph (e) of § 180.407 in place of the external visual inspection where insulation precludes\nperformance of the external visual inspection. Paragraph (d)(1) further requires that for cargo\ntanks where a visual internal inspection is not possible, because the cargo tank is lined, coated, or\ndesigned so as to prevent access for an internal visual inspection, the tank must be pressure\ntested in accordance with § 180.407(g)(1)(iv). The table in § 180.407(c) is consistent with\nparagraph (d)(1); in accordance with the table, insulated cargo tanks must be pressure tested\nevery year. Note, however, that MC 338 cargo tanks are excepted from this requirement.\nInstead, as indicated in the table under the entry for pressure test requirements for \"all other\ncargo tanks, \" MC 338 cargo tanks are required to have a pressure test every five years.\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nThis pe this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact\n#\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\n=180.40ª\nGorsky, Susan\nCargo Tanks\nFrom:\nSent:\nShelton, Danny [Danny.Shelton@fmcsa.dot.gov]\n04-0230\nTo:\nFriday, October 01, 2004 10:09 AM\nSubiect:\nFW: MC 338 Testing Requirements\nGorsky, Susan <RSPA>\nSusan, here is another e-mail from industry, this time on MC 338 cargo tanks. :-)\nDanny;\nPlease review all info below. I need some guidance for this gentleman.\nRegards...Cliff\n----- Original Message\n-----\nFrom: John Sorota ‹mailto: jsorota@transgaslng.com>\nTo: charvison@tanktruck.org\nSent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 11:34 AM\nSubject: MC 338 Testing Requirements\nCliff,\n(d) (1) states \"Where insulation precludes a complete external visual inspection as\ngiven an internal visual inspection in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.\nrequired by paragraphs (d) (2) through (d) (6) of this section, the cargo tank also must be\nlined, coated, or designed to prevent an external visual inspection, those areas of the\nexternal visual inspection is precluded because any part of the cargo wall is externally\nbecause the cargo tank is lined, coated, or designed so as to prevent access for internal\ncargo tank must be internally inspected. If internal visual inspection is precluded\nparagraph (g) (1) (iv) of this section.\ninspection, the tank must be hydrostatically or pneumatically tested in accordance with\nexternally inspected and noted in the inspection report\".\nReading the section quoted above would lead one to believe that a pressure test would be\nin the NTTC Cargo Tank Maintenance Manual on page 53, Mr. Gale states near the end of the\nnecessary every year.\nHowever, in a letter addressed to you from John Gale and contained\nyears\".\nsecond\nparagraph that \"an MC 338 cargo tank need only be pressure tested every five\nF2222\nstatement that MC 338 cargo tanks only need to be pressure tested every five years.\nIn reading the current regulations I can find no section that backs up Mr. Gale's\nsection of the regulations.\nI would greatly appreciate any information you may be able to gather to clarify this\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\n•\n·180.40°\nGorsky, Susan\nCargo Tanks\nFrom:\nTo:\nSent:\nShelton, Danny [Danny.Shelton@fmcsa.dot.gov]\nFriday, October 01, 2004 10:09 M\n04-0230\nSubject:\nFW: MC 338 Testing Requirements\nGorsky, Susan <RSPA>\nSusan, here is another e-mail from industry, this time on MC 338 cargo tanks. :-)\nent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 1:03 P\nrom: Clifford Harvison [mailto:charvison@tanktzuck.org\nTo: Shelton, Danny\nsubject: Fw: MC 338 Testing Requirements\nDanny;\nPlease review all info below. I need some guidance for this gentleman.\nRegards...Cliff\nOriginal Message\nFrom: John Sorota <majlto:jsoxota@transgaslng.coms\nIo: charvison@tanktruck.org\nSent: Tuesday, September 14,\n2004 11:34 AM\nSubject: MC 338 Testing Requirements\ncliff,\nAre ment re a Viaus inspection on checher a great one more be\nperformed as part of this requirement. In reading the current regulations, section 180.407\nrequired by paragraphs (d) (2) through (d) (6) of this section, the cargo tank also must be\n(d) (1) states \"Where insulation precludes a complete external visual inspection as\nexternal visual inspection is precluded because any part of the cargo wall is externally\ngiven an internal visual inspection in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.\nIf\nlined, coated, or designed to prevent an external visual inspection, those areas of the\nbecause the cargo tank is lined, coated, or designed so as to prevent access for internal\ncargo tank must be internally inspected. If internal visual inspection is precluded\nparagraph (g) (1) (iv) of this section.\ninspection, the tank must be hydrostatically or pneumatically tested in accordance with\nexternally inspected and noted in the inspection report\".\nThose items able to be externally inspected must be\nReading the section quoted above would lead one to believe that a pressure test would be\nnecessary every year.\nin the NTTC Cargo Tank Maintenance Manual on page 53, Mr. Gale states near the end of the\nin a letter addressed to you from John Gale and containeă\nyears\".\nsecond paragraph that \"an MC 338 cargo tank need only be pressure tested every five\nstatement that MC 338 cargo tanks only need to be pressure tested every five years.\nIn reading the current regulations I can find no section that backs up Mr. Gale's\nsection of the regulations.\nI would greatly appreciate any information you may be able to gather to clarify this\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nThank you,\nFleet Manager\nJohn J. Sorota\nTransgas Inc.\nLowell, MA 01852-5193\n87 Industrial Ave.\nEast\nPhone:\nFax: 978 454-7775\n978 454-7831 X618\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nJohn\nThank you,\nFleet Manager\nJ. Sorota\nTransgas Inc.\nLowell, MA\n87 Industrial Ave. East\nPhone:\n978\n454-7831 X618\n01852-5193\nFax: 978 454-7775\n2\n/","truncated":false,"body_characters":12253}