{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0164","title":"ARTA Group, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-11-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0164 response to ARTA Group, Inc. concerning 177.834, 177.837, 177.840.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0164.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0164.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0164","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120164.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nNOV 1 5 2012\nDr. Alex von Keitz\nARTA Group, Inc.\n4801 Woodway Dr. 300E\nHouston, TX 77056\nRef. No.: 12-0164\nDear Dr. Alex von Keitz:\nThis responds to your July 30, 2012letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the cargo tank\nattendance requirements. Specifically, you ask whether a qualified person supervising the\nloading or unloading of a cargo tank by video surveillance satisfies the HMR provided a\nbreakaway coupling is installed that can either be activated by a pull force (passive) or\nremotely by an actuator (active)?\nGenerally, the answer is no. As specified in§ 177.834(i)(3), except for unloading\noperations subject to §§177.837(d), 177.840(p), and 177.840(q), a qualified person \"attends\"\nthe loading or unloading of a cargo tank if, throughout the process, he is alert and is within\n7.62 m (25 feet) of the cargo tank. Additionally, the qualified person attending the\nunloading of a cargo tank must have an unobstructed view of the cargo tank and delivery\nhose to the maximum extent practicable during the unloading operation.\nThe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration does not consider the use of\nelectronic monitoring equipment, even when combined with breakaway couplings, as\nmeeting the specific requirements contained in § 177.834. Therefore, electronic attendance\nduring cargo tank unloading is authorized only by special permit. You may contact our\nApprovals and Permits Division at (202) 366-4535 for more information.\nI hope this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nCc: Subject: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nMonday, August 06, 2012 12:39 PM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA); Benedict, Robert (PHMSA); Billings, Delmer (PHMSA); Kelley,\nShane (PHMSA); Pfund, Duane (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nFW: presence requirement DOT HM-225A\nFrom: avkeitz@arta-us.com [mailto:avkeitz@arta-us.com]\nSent: Monday, July 30, 2012 2:20 PM\nTo: ann.mazzullo@dot.gov\nCc: Nicklaus, Joseph (PHMSA); Alexy, Karl (FRA)\nSubject: presence requirement DOT HM-225A\nAnn\nHope my email finds you well. I am coming back to our conversation during\nmy visit at DOT dating back 3 years.\nI seek clarification on the requirements in 49 CFR Parts 173, 177, 178,\n180[Docket No. RSPA-97-2718 (HM-225A)] RIN 2137-AD07 but not a special\npermit.\nSection 177. 834 ( i) (2) of the HMR states that ' 'a motor carrier who\ntransports hazardous materials by cargo tank must ensure that the cargo\ntank is attended by a qualified person at all times during unloading.''\nSection 177.834 (i) (3) states that ''a person 'attends' the loading or\nunloading of a cargo tank ifr throughout the processr he is awaker has\nan unobstructed v~ew of the cargo tankr and is within 7.62 meters (25\nfeet) of the cargo tank.''\nQuestion: Does a qualified person, supervising the (un)loading process of\nliquefied gas by video surveillance, satisfy the requirement of section\n177.834(i) (2) oft he HMR provided a breakaway coupling is installed that\ncan either be activated by a pull force (passive) or remotely by an\nactuator (active)?\n1\n------··· --------\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nIn this day and age you do not want the physical presence of an operator\nwithin 7.62m (25 ft) from a cargo tank. Instead, you want to keep the\npeople out of harms way and today's automation of video surveillance\ncombined with active (remote control) and passive (trigger by pull) allows\nyou to do just that.\nAn emergency breakaway coupling covers both, active and passive\nintervention without exposing operators to a potentially harmful chemical.\nThe Chlorine Institute has addressed the issue in the newest update of\nPamphlet 57 - see attached literature.\nKind regards,\nAlex\nDr. Alex von Keitz\nARTA Group Inc.\n4801 Woodway Dr. 300E\nHouston, TX 77056\nTel + 1-713-964-2616\nFax+1-800-934-3178 (Toll-free)\nCell+ 1-215-264-3364\navkeitz(a)arta-us.com\nwww.arta-gmbh.de\nCONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The infom1ation in this e-mail, including any attachment, is confidential and may be legally privileged. This e-mail is intended solely\nfor the addressee. If you are not the addressee, dissemination, copying or other use of this e-mail or any of its content is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you\nare not the intended recipient please inform the sender immediately and destroy the e-mail and any copies. E-mails and unencrypted attachments are scanned for all\nknown viruses. Always scan e-mail attachments for viruses before opening them. All liability for viruses is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any views\nexpressed in this message are those of the_individual sender.\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4959}