# Poly-Coat Systems, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 12-0254
- **title:** Poly-Coat Systems, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-02-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 12-0254 response to Poly-Coat Systems, Inc. concerning 180.407, 180.415.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0254.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0254.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0254
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/120254.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
fEB 2 8 lOU
Ms. Suzanne Felix
Corporate Secretary
Poly-Coat Systems, Inc.
501 Liverpool Spur
Liverpool, TX 77577
Ref. No.: 12-0254
Dear Ms. Felix:
This is in response to your November 08, 2012 email requesting clarification of the
requirements for application of the "L" decal on non-DOT specification glass fiber reinforced
plastic (GFRP) DOT-407 and 412 equivalent special permit tankers under the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask if an "L" marking
should be applied to non-DOT specification GFRP DOT-407 and 412 equivalent tankers
operating under special permit.
Your email does not reference any specific special permits. However, the lining inspection
requirements of§ 180.407(f) do not apply if cargo tanks are authorized by the special permit
they are operating under to be manufactured and utilized in transportation without a liner.
Test and inspection marking requirements for cargo tanks are provided in § 180.415. Section
180.415(a) requires each cargo tank successfully completing the test and inspection
requirements contained in§ 180.407 to be marked as specified in the rest ofthat section; to
include an "L" marking for lining inspections. If no liner is present in a cargo tank operating
under a special permit, no lining inspection is required and no marking in accordance with §
180.415 is required.
Unless otherwise provided for by special permit, any cargo tank utilizing a liner is subject to the
lining inspection requirements of§ 180.407(f) and subsequently the marking requirements in
§ 180.415(b).
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to
contact this office.
-
r2Lm~
Delmer Billings ~
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

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\ Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) $ 1]9), 341-J
From:
Supko, Ben (PHMSA) CM.rao T~
Sent:
Thursday, November 08, 2012 3:08 PM J l '7 D -'1 c Ll.
To:
Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) '- - .4.JIJ'f
Cc:
Betts, Charle.s (PHMSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Hochman, Charles (PHMSA);
Turner, Ted (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: Special Permit and "L" stickers
Carolyn,
Please log this as a request for interpretation.
Thank you,
From: suzanne [mailto:suzanne@polycoatsystems.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:12 PM
To: Tomlinson, Donald (FMCSA); 'Chris Kellogg'; Turner, Ted (PHMSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Supko, Ben
(PHMSA); charles.hockman@dot.gov
Cc: george@polycoatsystems.com
Subject: Special Permit and "L" stickers
All,
There has been much to do about the application or lack of application of the "L" decals for special permit DOT -407 and
412 tankers. PHMSA inspector Ted Turner was adamant that the "L" should not be there. At the NTTC convention this
year, Donald Tomlinson who is teaching classes and is including the special permits in his class, seemed to be of the
opinion that the "L" should be applied. Across the board, this determination should be made. Per the PHMSA rulings ; 04-
0005; 10-0219; 11-0002; and 11-0121; it clearly states that lining requirements do not apply. Conventional wisdom is
that roadside inspectors expect to see a "L" on these tanks. With the addition of some special permits having a lining other
than the corrosion barrier, it would seem the "L" sticker would simplify and stream line what roadSide inspectors expect to ·
see. Can we get a unanimous decision that we can all apply across the board? Can we get this formally stated?
Please respond, as this has been an issue for a very long time and since the goal is to stream line the special permits, I
believe this would be of tremendous help.
Sincerely,
SUUllllre
Poly-Coat Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 9
• . Wverpool, Texas 77577
281-245-3393 ext.103
fax: 281-245-3397
suzanne@polycoatsystems.com
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