# Safety Division, Railroad Commission of Texas — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0032
- **title:** Safety Division, Railroad Commission of Texas — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-04-23
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0032 response to Safety Division, Railroad Commission of Texas concerning 173.315.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0032.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0032.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0032
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070032.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

f Transportatio
.S. Departmer
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street. S.W.
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
APR 23 3W7
Mr. James. T. Osterhaus
Reference No. 07-0032
Safety Division, Railroad
LPG Program Manager
Commission of Texas
1701 North Congress
P. O. Box 12967
Austin, Texas 78711
Dear Mr. Osterhaus:
This is in response to your recent e-mail and telephone conversation with a member of my staff
concerning a MC 331 bobtail cargo tank owned by Henderson Butane of 401 North Highway
(flammable gas)" and was involved in a rollover accident in Texas on January 17, 2007.
156, P.O. Box 5, Justin, TX 76247, that contained "UN 1075, Petroleum gases, liquified, 2.1
required under § 173.315(n) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR: 49 CFR Parts 171-
You state the cargo tank was not equipped with an emergency discharge control equipment as
inspection report prepared by Ricky Taylor of D.L. Morrison Welding and Construction
180) and asked if it should be in service. You supplied a copy of the cargo tank test and
Company, 217 Morrison Hill Lane, Gainesville, TX 76240-1619. CT Identification No. 2990,
that states the cargo tank was inspected and certified as meeting requirements for service on
July 22, 2004. You also asked if a penalty will be assessed against the inspector.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for ensuring the
compliance of "cargo tank facilities," which includes cargo tank manufacturers, owners, and
inspectors, as well as enforcement matters concerning these devices and individuals under
FMCSA regulations and the HMR. Therefore, we are forwarding your letter for response to
Mr. James O. Simmons. Chief. Hazardous Materials Division. Office of Enforcement and
Room 2328. 400 7" Street, SW., Washington. DC. 20590, (202) 493-0496.
Compliance, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely.
!!
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
113.315(1)
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
070032

<<<PAGE 2>>>

CC:
James O. Simmons
Chief, Hazardous Materials Division
Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation

<<<PAGE 3>>>

01/26/07
11:49 FAX 512 463 7153
RRC SAFETY DIVISION
Edmonson
40002
5180.417 (b)c)
$173.315 (n
Cargo Tanks
Request for Interpretation of 49 CFR § 180.417 (b)(2)(viii)
07-0032
Please see Tanker Test and Inspection Report in this fax, listing the owner & carrier of an
MC331 Cargo tank as Henderson Butane.
This bobtail cargo tank (East Fab, Inc./scrial number - 12135-3) was involved in a
rollover accident on 1-17-07
An inspector of the Railroad Commission of Texas conducted an inspection of the bobtail
equipment required per 49 CFR § 173.315(n). Specifically, the cargo tank was not
and discovered the cargo tank was not provided with the emergency discharge contro
provided with an off-truck remote means to close the internal self-closing stop valve(s)
and shut off all motive and auxiliary power equipment.
04. He indicates on the Tanker Test and Inspection Report that the cargo tank MEETS
The cargo tank was pressure tested (hydrostatic test) by Ricky Taylor, CT2990, on 7-22-
THE REQUIRMENTS OF THE DOT SPECIFICATIONS IDENTIFIED ON THIS
REPORT. That specification is MC 331.
However, without the emergency off-truck remote required to be installed per 49 CFR §
173.315(n)(5)(ii), this cargo tank did NOT meet the requirements of the DOT
specification (MC331) specified on the report.
In Texas, the Railroad Commission regulates the retail/wholesale LPG businesses and
establishes and/or adopts safety rules for LP-Gas. The commission has adopted 49 CFR
Our inspection staff has found numerous bobtail delivery trucks (less than 3,500 gallons)
that are marked with the correct test dates, but are not equipped with emergency
discharge equipment as required by 49 CFR § 173.315(n).
me know if the cargo tank shown on the Tanker Test and Inspection Report should have
Would someone at DOT please review the attached tanker test & inspection report and let
been in service?
If it should not have been in service, will DOT consider assessing a penalty against the
CT who signed the report and/or the company operating the cargo tank?
Thank You,
James T. Osterhaus
LPG Program Manager
Safety Division
Railroad Commission of Texas
Phone: 512-463-6692
Fax: 512-463-7319
James.Osterhaus@rrc.state.tx.us
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