# Attorney at Law — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 13-0172
- **title:** Attorney at Law — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-11-15
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 13-0172 response to Attorney at Law concerning 179.22.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0172.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0172.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0172
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130172.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
NOV 1 5 2013
Mr. Lawrence W. Bierlein
Attorney at Law
1101 30111 Street, N.W., Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20007
Ref. No. 13-0172
Dear Mr. Bierlein:
This is in response to your e-mail requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR 171-180) applicable to the marking of tank cars. Section
179.22 requires that tank cars be marked in accordance with Appendix C of the Association
of American Railroads (AAR) Specifications for Tank Cars (M-1002). Appendix C of AAR
M-1 002 requires that markings be stenciled on the tank car sides and ends. In your e-mail,
you describe a scenario where a tank car is stenciled with required markings on both
sides/ends and the top and ask ifthe redundant top marking is required to be maintained.
The answer is yes. Although the top marking is not required and is therefore redundant, any
visible marking must be in accordance with the HMR. We recommend you cover or remove
any additional markings not consistent with the required markings prescribed by the HMR.
I trust this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require further assistance.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Supko, Ben (PHMSA)
Monday, August 19, 2013 2:45PM
Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
FW: AAR tank car markings
6fevens
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lanls eats
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Carolyn,
Did Kurt send you this and request and interp?
Thank you,
Ben
From: Eichenlaub, Kurt (FRA) On Behalf Of HMASSIST (FRA)
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 3:41 PM
To: Supko, Ben (PHMSA)
Subject: FW: AAR tank car markings
This should probably be a request for interpretation right? Sounds like he's fishing for something.
Kurt Eichenlaub
Railroad Safety Specialist (Hazardous Materials)
Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Safety (W35-212)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-493-6050 (Office)
From: Lawrence W. Bierlein [mailto:lany@hazmat-lawyer.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 4:19PM
To: HMASSIST (FRA)
Subject: AAR tank car markings
49 CFR 179.22(a) requires tank cars to be marked in accordance with AAR Specifications M-
1002, Appendix C. M-1002, Appendix C, Sec. 3.3.4.2 requires stenciling of reporting marks on
the car sides and ends. The option is given to stencil on the top of the car. If the car has
reporting marks on the sides/ends, and on the top, i.e., redundant marks, does FRA require the
optional top mark to be maintained? The side/end marks are maintained.
Lawrence W. Bierlein
Attorney at Law
1101 30th Street, N.W., Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20007
Telephone 202-625-8355
larry@hazmat-lawyer.com
www.hazmat-lawyer.com
Please note my contact information has changed.
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