# Burdette & Associates, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0180
- **title:** Burdette & Associates, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2010-06-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0180 response to Burdette & Associates, Inc. concerning 180.605.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0180.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0180
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090180.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
JUN 072010
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Michael Burdette
Burdette & Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 264
Milton, LA 70558
Ref. No.: 09-0180
Dear Mr. Burdette:
This responds to your August 4, 2009 letter regarding the 1M and UN portable tank periodic
requalification requirements for the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171180).
Specifically, you ask whether an approval agency must witness the leakage test required
by § 180.605(e) and (h).
The answer is no. There is no requirement in § 180.605(e) and (h) for the leakage test to be
performed or witnessed by an approval agency. The tank owner or user may have the tank
inspected and tested by any qualified tester including an approved third party testing agency, as
long as the qualified testers are trained in accordance with the HMR.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: Lehman, Victoria (PHMSA)
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 11 :25 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Subject: Letter of Interp Request @ HMIC
This letter is a request for a formal letter of interpretation;
This question regards an interpretation of 180.605 (e)&(h). During a 5 year
periodic inspection of an 1M or UN Portable tank is an Approval Agency required to
witness the leakage test (air test to 25% of MAWP)? The leakage test is required
if the pressure relief device is removed, and the hydrostatic (or pneumatic) test
"shall" be witnessed, but what about the leakage test?
Thank you for your response.
Michael Burdette, P.E.
DOT Authorized Agency IA-9702
Name: Michael Burdette, P.E.
Organization: Burdette & Associates, Inc.
Email: msbpe@bellsouth.net
Address: P.O. Box 264
City: Milton
Zip Code: 70558
Phone: 3378938652
Country: USA
FAX: 3378935655
8/4/2009
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