{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0100","title":"Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-07-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0100 response to Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP concerning 173.220, 176.905.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0100.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0100.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0100","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080100.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJUL 2 2008\n1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.\nWashington, DC 20590\nMr. Jules V. Massee\nHamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP\n100 South Ashley Drive, Suite 12 10\nTampa, FL 33602\nRef. No. 08-0100\nDear Mr. Massee:\nThis is in response to your letter dated April 17,2008, requesting clarification of $ 5 172.220 and\n176.905 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180) applicable to the\ntransportation of gasoline powered engines transported by vessel. You seek guidance as to\nwhether the process you describe in your letter to remove the liquid fuel and flammable vapors\nfrom the engine and fuel lines renders the engine as not containing fuel as specified in\n$ 5 173.220(a)(l) and 176.905(i)(l). You describe the process as follows:\nPrior to being loaded onto the vessel:\n1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The discharge hose of the fuel pump is disconnected from the car's engine.\nThe relay on the car's electrical panel is bridged to allow the fuel pump to run while\nthe engine is off. Power is supplied to the pump via an external battery if necessary.\nThe fuel pump is run until the car's fuel tank is completely drained, and the pump\nloses suction.\n. Once the car's fuel system has been emptied of all flammable liquid through the car's\nfuel pump, the fuel tank is aerated (by natural or forced ventilation) for a period\nsufficient, under existing air temperature and humidity, to allow the residue to\nevaporate and vapors to dissipate.\nOnce the car's fuel system has been processed through the methods described above,\nall disconnected parts are reattached securely.\nParagraph (a)(l) of 5 173.220 states that an engine may be considered as not containing fuel\nwhen the fuel tank, engine components, and fuel lines have been completely drained, sufficiently\ncleaned of residue, and purged of vapors to remove any potential hazard and the engine when\nheld in any orientation will not release any liquid fuel. The process you describe could satisfy\nthese conditions provided the liquid and the vapors have been purged to such an extent that the\natmosphere in and around the engine and the engine components no longer poses a flammable\nhazard, and the engine when held in any orientation will not release any liquid fuel. It is the\nshipper's responsibility to make that determination (see 5 173.22).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nParagraph (i)(l) of 5 176.905 provides an exception from the requirements of the HMR for motor\nvehicles and mechanical equipment with internal combustion engines using liquid fuel that has a\nflash point less than 38 \"C (100 \"F) if the fuel tank is empty, and the engine is run until it stalls\nfor lack of fuel. The process you describe to remove the liquid fuel and vapor from the engine\nsatisfies the conditions of this exception.\nI hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\n/i,L\nSusan Gorsky,\nActing Chief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nRobert B. Bird~isel t\nCarlos J, Chxdon *\nlnri S. Cooperider\nMichael J. Dono\n.AM C. Francolin\nHerbert il Hmilton, of'Bur7.11d\nJenvD. H%nilloll&\nNiva M. Harney\nKliirllbeth A. Marlin\nJules V. k s e e\nJennifer Quildon MiUer &\nHector V. ~anlirez *\nIra S. Hnbin\nMicluel A. Zuppa, Jr. t\nWWW.HAMILTONMILL€RLAW.COM REPLY TO: TAMPA OFFICE\n100 South Ashley Drive, Suite 1210, Tampa, Flo~id.~ 33602\n813-223-1900 813-223-1933\nApril 17,2008\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nATTN: PHH- 1 @\nU.S. Dept. of Transportation, East Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRE: 49 C.F.R. 173.220(a)(l) Interpretation and Guidance Request\n49 C.F.R. 176.905(i)(l) Interpretation and Guidance Request\nDear Sir or Madam:\nThis inquiry focuses on shipping cars with inoperable gasoline powered engines by\nvessel. We b:lieve the method of preparing these cars for shipment, described in detail below,\ncomplies botl with 49 C.F.R. 173.220(a)(l) and with 49 C.F.R. 176+905(i)(l). We respectfully\nrequest the PI iMSA to render an opinion as to whether the procedure outlined below conforms\nwith the requirements of the above-referenced regulations.\nPrior to being loaded onto the vessel:\n1. The discharge hose of the fuel pump is disconnected from the Car's engine.\n2. The relay on the Car's electrical panel is bridged to allow the fuel pump to run while\nthe engine is off. Power is supplied to the pump via an external battery if necessary.\n3. The fuel pump is run until the Car's fuel tank is completely drained, and the pump\nloses suction.\n4. Once the Car's fuel system, has been emptied of ail flammable liquid through the\nCar's fuel pump, the fuel tank is aerated (by natural or forced ventilation) for a period\nMIAMI\n200 Soutl~msl First Street, S~iite 1101\nMiami, Flo~ida 33131\n305-379-3686 F a 305-379-3630\nFORT IAUDIIHDAIX\n101 Nortl~mt Third Avenue, Suite 1500\nForl Laudcrdale, Woridd 33301\n954-703-2108 P ~ x 954-769-91 11\nKINGS'KJN\n68 Bmy Street\nKin~slo~~, Jmnaica\n876-967-1651 Fax 876-922-6557\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nPHMSA\nApril 17,2008\nPage 2\n5 . sufficient, under existing air temperature and humidity, to allow the residue to\nevaporate and vapors to dissipate.\nOnce the Car's fuel system has been processed through the methods described above,\nall disconnected parts are reattached securely.\nPlease advise whether the above procedure:\nA) B) meets the requirements set forth in 49 C.F.R. 173.220(a)(l);\nmeets the requirements set forth in 49 C.F.R 176.905(i)(l).\nThank you in advance for your assistance in this matter, and we await your opinion in\ndue course.\nJules V. Massee\nEIAiVIIL'I'ON, M I L L E R r!k 13IIC1'1-IISEL LLP\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nEichenlaub, Kurt <PHMSA>\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nRichard.C.BornhorstQuscg.mil on behalf of Bornhorst, Richard\n[Richard.C.BornhorstQ uscg.mil]\nWednesday, June 25,2008 2:29 PM\nEichenlaub, Kurt <PHMSA>\nRE: lnterp letter 08-0100\nLooks good. Let me know if you need anything else.\nRichard C. Bornhorst\nChemical Engineer\nHazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. Coast Guard\n+1 (202) 372-1426\n-----Original Message-----\nFrom: Kurt.Eichenlaub@DOT.GOV [mailto:Kurt.Eichenlaub@DOT.GOV]\nSent: Wednesday, June 25,2008 1: 11 PM\nTo: Bornhorst, Richard\nSubject: Interp letter 08-0100\nAtttached is a letter of interpretation that needs USCG concurrence before being finalized. Please respond with\nconcur, concur w/comment, or do not concur. Thanks.\nKurt Eichenlaub\nTransportation Regulations Specialist\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEast Building, 2nd Floor, PHH-10\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590-000 1\nPhone: 202-366-8553\nFax: 202-366-7435","truncated":false,"body_characters":6769}