{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0139","title":"A.I.D. Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-12-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0139 response to A.I.D. Inc. concerning 173.31.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0139.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0139.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0139","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150139.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nA.I.D., Inc.\n208 143d Street\nOcean City, MD 21842\nReference No. 15-0139\nDear Mr. Brittingham:\nThis letter is in response to your July 6, 2015, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you asked if 49 CFR\n§ 173.31 requires shippers of tank cars containing hazardous materials or the residue of a\nhazardous material to inspect the tank car's \"running gear components (wheels, axles, brake\nsystem components, bolsters, side frames, etc.)\" and all other tank car fittings like \"sill steps\n[and] grab irons couplers\"* for defects prior to offering the tank car for transportation.\nGenerally, the HMR do not require an offeror of a tank car to inspect the tank car's running gear\ncomponents or safety appliances (as identified by 49 CFR Part 231) for defects prior to offering\nthe tank car into transportation. However, § 173.31 prohibits the offering of a tank car unless it\nmeets the applicable specification and packaging requirements of the HMR, and paragraph (d) of\n§ 173.31 sets forth the minimum requirements for an offeror's external visual inspection of a\ntank car being offered into transportation. Regarding the coupling gear, paragraph (d)(1)(viii) of\n§ 173.31 specifically requires an offeror to examine, among other things, a tank car's coupler\nvertical restraint system for conditions that make the tank car unsafe for transportation.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nI Men Taste\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n* We understand your reference to \"grab iron couplers\" to refer to grab irons and coupling gear.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nBelow is a request for a formal letter of interpretation. Mr. Brittingham spoke with myself.\nMr. Brittingham's address is:\nA.l.D., Inc.\n208 143rd Street\nOcean City, MD 21842\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Donald brittingham [mailto:aidtrain@comcast.net]\nSent: Monday, July 06, 2015 4:22 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nCc: hhenry@mchsi.com\nSubject: Request formal letter of interpretation\nDoes part 173.31 \"Use of Tank Cars\" specifically (d) \"Examination Before Shipping\" require the shipper of tank cars\ncontaining hazardous materials or when empty the residue of hazardous materials to inspect the tank cars running gear\ncomponents (wheels, axles, brake system components, bolsters, side frames, etc.) and all other tank car fittings like sill\nsteps, grab irons couplers for defects that might make the tank car unsafe for transportation?\nThank You\nDonald Brittingham\nA.I.D., Inc.\n302-743-2935","truncated":false,"body_characters":2630}