{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0105","title":"Arcet Cylinder Services Div. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-10-01","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0105 response to Arcet Cylinder Services Div. concerning 173.320, 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0105.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0105.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0105","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120105.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington. DC 20590\ntrr 0 1 2012\nMr. David Goff\nFacility Manager\nArcet Cylinder Services Div.\n10095 Whitesel Rd.\nAshland, VA 23005\nReference No. 12-0105\nDear Mr. Goff:\nThis is in response to your email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to external visual inspections on\ncertain MC 338 cargo tank motor vehicles. In your letter, you state that the cargo tank\nmotor vehicles have a device that maintains the pressure at 17 psi. You ask whether an\nexternal visual inspection on an MC 338 cargo tank motor vehicle that transports liquid\nargon and liquid nitrogen at low pressure not to exceed 25.3 psi is required by§§ 173.33\nand 180.407, or whether the inspection is excepted by § 173 .320( a).\nSection 173.320(a) excepts motor vehicles and rail cars from the requirements of the\nsubchapter when the vehicle is carrying atmospheric gases and helium, cryogenic liquid;\nis insulated; and designed and constructed so that the pressure in such packaging will\nnot exceed 25.3 psig under ambient temperature conditions during transportation, except\nas specified in§ 173.320(a)(l), (a)(2) and (a)(3). Provided that the cargo tank motor\nvehicle meets these specified requirements, it is excepted from all other requirements in\nthe HMR, including an external visual inspection. The cargo tank as described in your\nletter appears to qualify for this exception. However, it should be noted that in order to\ndisplay MC 338 markings, a cargo tank must meet the continuing qualification,\nmaintenance, and periodic testing requirements for a MC 338 cargo tank as specified in\n§ 180.407.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office should you have additional\nquestions.\nSincerely,\nr--7./~\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nThursday, May 03, 2012 1:51 PM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFW: Interpretation of CFR49-Part 173.320\nJ z. - fJ I tJ5\nHi Carolyn,\nWe received the following request for a letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\n-----Original Message-----\nFrom: davidg@arcet.com [mailto:davidg@arcet.com]\nSent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 9:26AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA}\nSubject: Interpretation of CFR49-Part 173.320\nCompleted via phonE~ by VL on 5/3 @ 12:35 Hello, I need some help. There is a disagreement between several of us here\nat Arcet Equipment Co.about the interpretation of 173.320.We have some cargo tanks,DOT Specification\nMC338,thatcarry liquid argon and liquid nitrogen at low pressure not to exceed 25.3psi.We actually have a device that\nmaintains the pressure at 17psi.\nThere are those of the opinion that part 173.320 does away with the requirements of part 180.407.\nThe question is;do we need to do an annual external visual inspection on our MC338 cargo tank trucks as required in\npart 180.407?1f I am reading the compliance table correctly it also says that the MC338 is excepted from the internal\nvisual, leakage test, pressure test,and thickness test.\nMy own understanding(if I am interpreting part 173.320 correctly} is that at the end of 173.320(a}where it reads \" ..... are\nnot subject to the requirements of this subchapter when transported by motor vehicle or railcar except( except is the key\nword)as specified in paragraphs (a)(1},(a}(2},and(a}(3}ofthis section.\"if I go to(3}Subparts A and B of part 173 and look\nespecially at Subpart B-Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation then go down the list to 173.33-\nHazardous materials in cargo tank motor vehicles where it reads\" No person may fill or offer for transportation a\nspecification cargo tank motor vehicle for which the prescribed periodic retest or inspection under subpart E of part 180\nof this subchapter is past due until the retest or inspection has been successfully completed.\"\nI say the DOT MC 338 needs to be externally visually inspected every year. What do you say?Your prompt response\nwould be greatly appreciated.\nSincerely.\nDavid Goff\nFacility Manager\nArcet Cylinder Services Div.\n10095 Whitesel Rd.\nAshland, VA 23005\n(804}-798-2330 office\n(804}-798-8086 fax\nDavidg@arcet.com\n1\n--------·--------~-----·--~~----~-- -~---------","truncated":false,"body_characters":4384}