{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0110","title":"HazMat Resources, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2014-07-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0110 response to HazMat Resources, Inc. concerning 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0110.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0110.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0110","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140110.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nJUL 2 2 2014\nMr. Danny Shelton\nPresident\nHazMat Resources, Inc.\n124 Rainbow Drive, Suite 2471\nLivingston, TX 77399-1024\nRef. No.: 14-0110\nDear Mr. Shelton,\nThis is in response to your email dated May 27, 2014, requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) relating to the visual\ninspection of cargo tanks fitted with an external vinyl wrap.\nIn your letter you describe a scenario in which cargo tanks are wrapped in vinyl for\nadvertising and or aesthetic purposes. It is your understanding that because the tank exterior\nis covered by the vinyl wrap, the tank cannot be completely inspected during an external\nvisual inspection in accordance with § 180.407(d) and as such, would be subject to an annual\ninternal visual inspection in accordance with § 180.407(e). Specifically, you ask if an\nexternal visual inspection may be performed on a vinyl wrapped cargo tank; or if a\ncombination external and internal inspection may be performed to account for areas of the\ncargo tank that are covered by the vinyl wrap and not readily visible from the exterior.\nSection 180.407(c) requires all specification cargo tanks to have an external visual inspection\nat least once each year. As provided in § 180.407(d)(1), if external visual inspection is\nprecluded because any part of the cargo tank wall is externally lined, coated, or designed to\nprevent an external visual inspection, those areas of the cargo tank must be internally\ninspected. Therefore, in the scenario you describe where a vinyl wrap precludes an external\ninspection of certain areas of the cargo tank, the areas covered by vinyl wrap that prevent\nexternal inspection must be internally inspected in conjunction with the external visual\ninspection for the remaining areas of the cargo tank.\nI trust this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\nmore hey\nShane C. Kelley\nActing International Standards Coordinator\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n3180.40-\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\n$ 180.406\nFrom:\nSent:\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA)\nTo:\nTuesday, May 27, 2014 1:19 PM\nCargo Tanks\nSubject:\nCc:\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFw: External Visual Inspection of a wrapped cargo tank\nStevens, Michael (PHMSA); Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\n14-0110\nCarolyn-\nPlease log and assign for response. This letter should be assigned to Michael Stevens.\nThanks\nFrom: Danny Shelton [mailto:shelton10104@gmail.com]\nSent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 01:10 PM Eastern Standard Time\nTo: Betts, Charles (PHMSA)\nSubject: External Visual Inspection of a wrapped cargo tank\nCc: Stevens, Michael (PHMSA)\nGood morning Mr. Betts, I have another request for interpretation. A lot of companies are wrapping their cargo tanks\nwith a vinyl wrapped for advertising and other aesthetics. I have spoken with various folks from the DOT and it is their\nopinion, and I happen to agree, that because you cannot inspect the exterior of the tank during an external visual that you\nmust do an internal every year. If the tank is covered you cannot inspect the welds for cracks and you cannot inspect the\nshell for pitting, just to name a few. So the question is this: Can you perform an external visual inspection on a wrapped\ncargo tank or must you do an external visual inspection on those items that you can inspect externally and perform an\ninternal inspection annually on the remaining items such cracks in welds and pitting of the shell?\nThank you in advance for your response.\nRegards\nP.S. I sent this to Mike Stevens also because him and I actually inspected wrapped cargo tanks at the NTTC show in\nHouston and we came up with this question.\nDanny Shelton\nPresident\nHazMat Resources, inc.\n(423) 863-2252 Mobrie\n(423) 863-2252 Work\n124 Rainbow Drive, Suite 2471\nShelton10104@gmail.com\nLivingston, TX 77399-1024\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>","truncated":false,"body_characters":4009}