# National Oilwell Varco — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 10-0054
- **title:** National Oilwell Varco — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2010-05-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 10-0054 response to National Oilwell Varco concerning 173.241, 176.340.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0054.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-10-0054
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2010/100054.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
MAY -7 2010
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington. D.C. 20590
Dr. Jianke Wang
Senior Project Manager
National Oilwell Varco
2800 N. Frazier St.
Conroe, TX 77303
Ref. No. 10-0054
Dear Dr. Wang:
This responds to your March 5, 20lO email and subsequent telephone discussion with a member
ofmy staff regarding requirements for the continued use ofDOT Specification 1M 101 and 102
portable tanks for transportation of diesel fuel, with a flashpoint of about 140°F, under the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask about
the impact ofthe transitional period provided in § 171.14(d)(4) after January 1, 20lO. You state
these 1M portable tanks will be in full conformance with the requirements in § 173.32(c)(2) and
will occasionally be transported by vessel to offshore drilling sites.
The obsolete provision in § 171. 14(d)(4) allowed for a hazardous material to be transported until
January 1, 2010 in an 1M portable tank in accordance with the T codes (special provisions)
assigned to the hazardous material in the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) in effect
on September 30, 2001. 1M portable tanks now are required to meet the applicable special
provisions appearing in the current HMT.
Diesel fuel, UN1202, is listed in the HMT and assigned Special provisions B 1, T2 and TP 1 in
Column (7). The B 1 code provides that, for a hazardous material with a flashpoint between
lOO°F and 200°F, the bulk packagings listed in § 173.241 may be used. Paragraph (c) of that
section authorizes use of 1M portable tanks. The T2 code specifies the tank's minimum test
pressure, minimum shell thickness, bottom opening and pressure relief requirements. The TP 1
code prescribes filling density requirements. These specific code requirements are contained in
§ 172.1 02( c )(7) and (c )(8), respectively.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this office.
Sincerly,
4L~~
Charles E. Betts
Chief, Standards Development
Office ofHazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Sent: Friday, March 05,201011:42 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: Request for Formal interpretations to diesel transportation in 1M portable tanks after
January 1, 2010.
From: Wang, Jianke [mailto:Jianke.Wang@nov.com]
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 11: 10 AM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Subject: Request for Formal interpretations to diesel transportation in 1M portable tanks after January 1/ 2010.
Dear SirlMadam,
We have some DOT 1M101 and 1M1 02 portable tanks. The transporting liquid is diesel fuel.
As I am reading the Dot CFR 49 code, I have some questions about the continued use ofthese existing 1M
portable tanks.
§ 173.32 Requirements for the use of portable tanks.
(c) Grandfather provisions for portable tanks -(2) A DOT Specification 51. 1M 101. or 1M 102 portable tank may not be manufactured after January 1, 2003; however, such
tanks may continue to be used for the transportation of a hazardous material provided they meet the requirements of this subchapter, including the specification requirements
and the requirements of this subchapter for the transportation of the particular hazardous material according to the T codes in effect on September 30, 2001 or the new T
codes in §172.1 02(c)(7)(i) (see §171.14(d)(4) for transitional provisions applicable to T codes), and provided the portable tanks conform to the periodic inspection and tests
specified for the particular portable tank in subpart G of part 180 of this subchapter. After January 1, 2003, all newly manufactured portable tanks must conform to the
requirements for the design, construction and approval of UN portable tanks as specified in §§178.273, 178.274,178.275,178.276,178.277 and part 180, subpart G, of this
subchapter.
§ 171.14 Transitional provisions for implementing certain requirements.
(d) (4) Until January 1,2010, a hazardous material may be transported in an 1M, IMO, or DOT Specification 51 portable tank in accordance with the T Codes (Special
Provisions) assigned to a hazardous material in Column (7) of the §172.101 Table in effect on September 30, 2001.
What will the § 171.14 (d)( 4) affect our continued use of these existing 1M portable tanks provided all the
conditions specified in § 173.32 (c )(2) are satisfied?
Thanks in advance for your helps.
Best regards,
Jianke Wang, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
National Oilwell Varco
2800 N Frazier St
Conroe, TX 77303
Tel: 936-523-2634
Fax:936-523-2788
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