{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0063","title":"Howard Sheppard, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-02-11","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0063 response to Howard Sheppard, Inc. concerning 171.8, 173.24.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0063.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0063.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0063","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150063.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\nFEB 1 1 2016\nMr. Michael Kitchens\nHoward Sheppard, Inc.\nP.O. Box 797\nSandersville, GA 31082\nRef. No. 15-0063\nDear Mr. Kitchens:\nThis is a response to your March 2 7, 2015 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) with regard to the closures of\npackagings. Specifically, you request clarification whether loading and unloading equipment\n(i.e. the hose and hose tray) that is unattached to a DOT specification cargo tank is considered\na packaging and thus required to meet the closure requirements in § 173 .24(f)(l ). In your\nletter, you state that during a commercial motor vehicle inspection you were issued a violation\ndue to material leaking from a hose, which is used to load and unload product, into a hose tray\nused to store the hose on the vehicle. In this scenario, the vehicle was a DOT Specification\n407 cargo tank transporting \"UNI 830, Sulfuric Acid.\"\nIt is the opinion of this Office that the unattached hose used for loading and unloading of\nhazardous materials and the hose tray used to hold that hose during transportation are not\nconsidered a packaging. As defined in § 171.8, a packaging means a receptacle and any other\ncomponents or materials necessary for the receptacle to perform its containment function in\nconformance with the minimum packing requirements of the HMR. Therefore, this\nequipment is not subject to the packaging closure requirements in§ 173.24(f)(l).\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\ns~1~/~~\n~~r\nChief, Standards Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nCiccarone, Michael CTR (PHMSA)\nFriday, March 27, 2015 2:50 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Interpertation of Hazrdous Materials Regulations Request\nInterpertation Letter.pdf; DataQs_Request_996304.pdf; Inspection report.pdf; IMG_\n0066.JPG; IMG_0065.JPG\nShante/ Alice,\nPlease submit this for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nMike\nFrom: Michael Kitchens [mailto:mkitchens@howardsheppard.com]\nSent: Friday, March 27, 2015 9:35 AM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSubject: Interpertation of Hazrdous Materials Regulations Request\nI have attached a letter for an official interpretation ofthe Hazardous Materials Regulations as it pertains to cargo tanks\nand packagings. I have also attached a copy of the inspection report showing the violation of the regulation and the Data\nQ challenge and response that I am requesting the interpretations on. I have attached two photos that show the hoses\nand hose tray, the hoses were in the tray at the time of inspection.\nMichael Kitchens\nSafety Director\nP.O. Box 797; Sandersville, Georgia 31082\nOffice: 478-552-5127 Ext.1270\nToll Free: 800-846-1726\nCell: 478-357-2302\nEmail: mkitchens@howardsheppard.com\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMichael Kitchens, Safety Director\nPO Box 797 ·Sandersville. GA 31082\n(478) 552-5127 Ext. 1270\nCell: (478) 357-2302\nE-Mail-mkitchens@howardsheppard.com\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRe: Interpretation of the Hazardous Materials Regulations 173.24(f)(l) as it pertains to a 407\nCargo Tank.\nDear Sir/Madam:\nWe received a commercial vehicle inspection on February 25, 2015 in South Carolina by the\nSouth Carolina State Transport Police and were issued a violation for 173 .24( f) ( 1 ). The\nviolation stated \"Trailer-closures for packagings must not be open or leaking (leaking from\nfill hoses in side of trailer)\". Our driver was placed out of service for this violation. I would\nalso like to mention the fact that it was raining and that the officer never tested the liquid to\nconfirm if it was product or rain water. We also applied neutralizer to the area where the\nproduct was reported to have leaked and there was no reaction. The product we were\ntransporting at the time of inspection was Sulfuric Acid, UN1830. The product was being\ntransported in a 407 Cargo Tank. I submitted a Data Q and requested the violation be\nremoved. On March 18, 2015 I received a reply from the South Carolina State Transport\nPolice denying the challenge. Their reply was that, \"when the hose leaks into the tray, the\ntray becomes the package and can not leak\". The hose tray is designed with drain holes and a\ndrain pipe to allow it to drain. I have attached copies of the original inspection report, the\nData Q, the response from SC State Transport Police, and photographs.\nI have two questions I would like an official interpretation on to assist me in this manner.\nQuestion# 1\nIs a hose used for loading and unloading product which is not attached to the cargo tank it\nself, but is laying in a hose tray on the side of the trailer considered a package requiring\nclosures under CFR 173 .24(f)(1 )?\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nQuestion# 2\nIs the tray which is attached to the side of the trailer and designed to store hoses considered a\npackage under the Hazardous Materials Regulations?\nI would appreciate any assistance you could provide in this matter with interpreting the cited\nregulation. If this is in fact a violation, we may need to review our procedures for\ntransporting hoses in a hose tray.\nRegards,\n~-----.\nMichael Kitchens, Safety Director .\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nState Transport Police\nPO Box1993\nhttp:llwww.scdps.org -- http://fmcsa.dot.g · Blythewood, sc 29016\nPhone: (803)896·5500 Fax: (803)896..S526\nReport Number: SCM255001151\nInspection Date: 02/2512015\nStart: 1 :20:00 PM ET End: 3:07:24 PM ET\nInspection Level: II - Walk-Around\nHM Inspection Type:Bulk\nHOWARD SHEPPARD IN0\n755 WACO DRIVE\nState: GA\nSANDERSVILLE, GA 31082-0797\nUSOOT#:Oo092818 . Phone#: (478)552-5127\nMC/IViX#: 133920 Fax#:\nState:\nState#:\nLocation: 1-95 NB DORCHESTER COUNTY\nHighway:\nCounty: DORCHESTER, SC Driver: TANNER, GARY J\nLicense#: 0045£:)27 50\nDate of Birth: 05/05/1958\nCo Driver:\nLicense#:\nDate of Birth:\nMllePost: Shipper: SOUTHERN STATES CHEMICAL\nOrigin: SAVANNAH, GA Bill of Lading:20167306\nDestination:ORANGEBURG, SC Cargo: N - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS\n1 . ' . ' . '. -,~·~··=,..,\n!VEHICLE IOErntFICATION\nl . .\nI Unit Type Make Year State. Plate# Equipment ID\nVIN GVWR CVSA # CVSA Issued# 005 Sticker\n11 TT IN\"J:L 2015 GA.: IC13PM\n! 2 ST POLA 2014 GA LE53511\n1909\nAT343\n3HSOJAPROFN021785 52,350\n1PMS34226E1043759 68,000\nL~-·-·M-•·······-\"c · ·\nBRAKE ADJUSTMENTS: No Brake Measurements Required For Level 2\nlvlOLATIQNS. · -\n·-----·---\n.\n... ·----·----·· .\n·····----·-\n·--··---- -··-·-·······\n..\nI .\n! Vio Cooe Section Unit OOS Citation # Verify Crash Violations Discovered\n} 173:24F{ 173.24(f}[1) 2 Y w472234 u N TRAILER· Closures for packagings must not be open or leaking (\n1._ -......,..---··----~----- _ .. __\n·-·-·--\n___ _ __ _!:..<:,~king f!\"Oin fill_l_1ose~ In side ~ft~-~) .......\nHazl\\ll.at! 8 Corrosive ma!erial Placard: Yes Cargo Tank: 407\nLSpecial Checks: No Data for_§picial Che~k~·-·· ..\nN __ , ___ • -~-~.-~.,,,.----.;-~?J\nState Information:\nCOL Cheek: Y; Driver Mailing Address: PO 753; Driver City, State, Zip: SANDERSVILLE GA, 31082; Driver Race: W, Driver Sex: M;\nPurwant to thi> aµttiority 1:onblinttd ill Tltie 49, CFR; Section 396.9 of the Trensportlltion Rules/Regulations. I hereby delilar11 the above marked ~hicl0(1'}1driver as. ·our OF SERVICE\". No\npoo;on shall remo\\IQ tho Out or Serivce·Sttckers app~ed to these vehicles. er operate such vehicles until the out of sel\\lice defects have benn repairttd and th\" vehicles have been restored\nlo ufe openiling condidon, . .\nFollure lo r&lmtl)hi!ireport · e.roquWl.d cort!rt<:o • n can sultin penalties up to S1,000 per day for each day ~e ~n contin~es. up toe total of SI0.000.\nSlgneluro OfR1tpulrerX: Faclllty: t;;J:;.t:.d.s < cle Da:e;,.=;..1-=~-t.-==---\nCARRIER CERTIFICATION: The undersigned certifies that all violations on this rttport have been eorrecled end action has been lllken to as-sure compliance \"ith th& Fadera!MotorCamer\nSafety and H~uc ~lerial Regiilallons insor8! as th&y a10 appHoablo to motor cairi&rs and d1wers. Tills certification MUST BE SIGNED by the Motor Cam er and RETURNED WITHIN\n15 dajt to t1te:·s:6Uth Carolina Stata T11111Sport Polic&, P.O. Box 1993. Blythewood. South Carolina 29016.\nSignlllllreOfMolor.CllrrlorX: ____________ ._ __\n-'------ Title: __________ Dato:, _____ _\nt\nReport Prepared By:\n~AMILL~ /\nBadge#:\n255\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\n\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>","truncated":false,"body_characters":8557}