{"operation":"document","citation":"18-0060","title":"Connell Foley LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2018-10-26","effective_on":null,"summary":"18-0060 response to Connell Foley LLP concerning 180.407, 180.413.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0060.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0060.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-18-0060","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/69711/180060.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, DC 20590\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nOCT 2 6 2018\nAdministration\nAngela A. Iuso\nConnell Foley LLP\n56 Livingston Avenue\nRoseland, NJ 07068\nReference No. 18-0060\nDear Ms. Iuso:\nThis letter is in response to your April 13, 2018 and May 9, 2018, letters requesting clarification\nof the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to cargo tank\nmotor vehicle (CTV) repairs. Specifically, you present questions pertaining to a scenario in\nwhich a CTMV was repaired in accordance with § 180.407(b), but the documentation of the\nrepair, as specified in § 180.417(b), is no longer available.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ1.\nYou ask whether a DOT-registered cargo tank repair facility can validate and/or verify an\nundocumented repair by performing standard testing and inspection in accordance with\n§ 180.407(g)(1)(iv).\nAl.\nThe answer is no. Any repair of a cargo tank, including previous repairs, must be\nperformed in conformance with the requirements of § 180.413(a). An undocumented\nspecification cargo tank must be registered in accordance with subpart F of Part 107. Ar\nthat each person performing a repair of a Department of Transportation (DOT\ncargo tank repair facility by performing requalification testing and inspection\nrequirements in accordance with § 180.407 only.\nQ2.\nIn the event the answer in Al is no, you ask what an authorized entity must do to ensure\nthe CTMV is safe, in compliance with 49 CFR Part 180, Subpart E, and eligible for\nhazardous materials service as a specification cargo tank.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nA2.\nThe CTMV may be eligible for hazardous materials service as a specification cargo tank\nif the undocumented repair is removed and replaced by a cargo tank repair facility\nmeeting the requirements of § 180.413 (see A1). After the repair is completed, the cargo\ntank repair facility will generate the appropriate documentation of the repair. If this is not\nfeasible, the CTMV may be able to return to hazardous materials service under the\ncontrols of a special permit, provided an equivalent level of safety can be demonstrated\nby the applicant. To apply, the CTMV owner must submit an application to the\nAssociate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety in conformance with the\nrequirements prescribed in 49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B. You may obtain information on\nthe special permit application process from our website at:\nhttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a. PHMSA may consider addressing this\nscenario in a future rulemaking.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nShane Kelley\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n:Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\nGeller\n180.407(b)\nT-751\nP.01/07 F-556\nCargo Tanks\n18-0060\nFACSIMILE COVER SHEET\nCONNELL FOLEY LLP\nAttorneys at Law\n56 Livingston Avenue\nRoseland, New Jersey 07068\n973) 535-0500\nDate: April 13, 2018\nTime:\nMESSAGE TO:\nMESSAGE FROM:\nName\nDirector Shane Kelley\nName\nAngela luso, Esq.\nCompany\nU.S. DOT\nCompany:\nConnell Foley LLP\nFax No.\n(202) 366-7041\nFax No.\n(973) 535-9217\nTelephone No.\nTelephone No.\n(973) 535-0500\nRE: NATC-InC.\nMESSAGE:\nPlease see the attached. Thank you.\nTotal Number of Pages (including this one):\nDATE SENT:\nTIME SENT:\nOPERATOR:\nCLIENT/MATTER:\nIF NOT RECEIVED PROPERLY, PLEASE NOTIFY:\nJulianne\nAT (973) 535-0500 EXTENSION\n2526\nThis message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is\nthe employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,\nprivileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient, or\nmediately by telephone and retum the original message to us at the above address via the U.S. Postal Service. Thank yo\nistribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, If you have received this communication in error, please notify L\n4169761-1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n: Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\nT-751\nP. 02/07\nF-556\nCONNELL\n-FOLEY\nA TRADITION OF LEGAL EXCELLENCE SINCE 1938\n56 Livingston Avenue\nConnell Foley LLP\nAngela A. luso\nP 973.535.0500 F 973.535.9217\nRoseland, NJ 07068\naiuso@connellfoley.com\nDirect Dial 973.840.2426\nApril 13, 2018\nVia Fax at 202-366-7041 and Federal Express\nDirector Shane Kelley\nStandards and Rulemaking - PHH-10\nUS DOT - PHMSA\n1200 New Jersey Ave. SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590-0001\nRE: NATC -INC.\nFollow Up Request for Response to 09/14/2014 request For Clarification\nDear Director Kelley:\nPlease be advised that the undersigned and this firm represent the interests of NATC -\nINC. (hereinafter \"NATC\"). We write on behalf of NATC to hereby obtain from your office or,\nalternatively from PHMSA, a Letter of Guidance or Interpretation in reply to the request for\nclarification previously presented in 2014 directly by our client. Attached is a copy of that letter\nas well as a copy of the confirmation of receipt by your office and predecessor, Mr. Charles\nBetts. That letter sets forth the specific issue and need not be reiterated in its entirety here.\nIn brief, this is a very straight forward request for confirmation of a decades long industry\nand enforcement understanding of what the HMR requires in order to verify that \"the suitability\ntesting required in the applicable manufacturing specification or in paragraph (g)(1)iv) of this\nof any repair affecting the structural integrity of the cargo tank must be determined either by the\nsection\" as quoted from 180.407(b) 1).\nAccording to both the official OHMS website and general other references within the\nU.S. Department of Transportation, the PHMSA's Office of Pipeline and Hazmat Safety\nStandards & Rulemaking utilize the process of rulemaking to propose and adopt changes to\negulations. Further, the process of rulemaking can include: \"proposing and finalizing rules, the\nlivision post notices, advisory bulletins, special permits and state waivers, interpretations and\nNTSB recommendation.\" It is our position that a response to this public request for a\nclarification of the regulations within the HMR including 49 CFR 180.407(b) is required by your\noffice.\nRoseland\nJersey City\nNewark\nNew York\nCherry Hill\nPhiladelphia\nwww.connellfoley.com\n4497388-1\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\n: Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\nT-751 P.03/07 F-556\nApril 13, 2018\nPage 2\nTo: Directór Shane Kelley\nIf the referenced 2014 request has previously been responded to in writing please\nprovide us with a copy of that response. If not, please respond or advise us in writing as to your\nposition if a response will not be forthcoming.\nThank you for your time and assistance in this matter. If you have questions feel free to\ncontact the undersigned directly.\nVery truly yours,\nCONNELL FOLEY LLP\nAAl/jI\n4497388-1\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n: Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nU5/10/6U14 14.00 rAA\nFrom\nT-751 P.04/07 F-556\n4Y4 •\n*******#7*****‡******\n***\n*********************\nTX REPORT\n***\nTRANSKISSION OK\nDESTINATION TEL #\nTX/RX NO\n3020\n12023667041\nDESTINATION ID\nTIME USE\nST. TIME\n08/18 14:38\nPABES SENT\n00'41\nRESULT\n3\nOK\nNorth American Transportation Consultants, Inc.\nYOUR TOTAL TRANSPORTATION & SAFETY CONSULTANTS\nP. O, Box 1404, Hightstown, NJ 08520\nE-mail: mail@natc-inc.com\nPhone: (609) 426-0555\nDate:\n9/18/2014\nCover Sheet &\n2\nPages\nTo:\nU.S D.O.T - Charles Betts\nFax#: | 202-366-7435: 7041\nFrom:\nJ. P Gibbons\nFax #:\n609-443-0004\nSubject:\nRequest for Clarification of HMR 180.407 (b) Applicability\nCOMMENTS\nPlease acknowledge receipt of this document via fax at (609) 443-0004 or via email at\nmail@natc-inc.com.\n:\nCONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in or attached to this transmission is confidential\nand may be protected by legal privilege. It is intended only for the addressee and access to the information in this\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\n:Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\nT-751 P.05/07 F-556\n• North American Transportation Consultants, Inc.\nYOUR TOTAL TRANSPORTATION & SAFETY CONSULTANTS\nP. O. Box 1404, Hightstown, NJ 08520\nE-mail: mail@natc-inc.com\nPhone: (609) 426-0555\nDate:\n9/18/2014\nCover Sheet &\n12\nPages\nTo:\nU.S D.O.T - Charles Betts\nFax #:\n202-366-7435 7041\nFrom:\nJ. P Gibbons\nFax#;\n609-443-0004\nRequest for Clarification of HMR 180.407 (b) Applicability\nSubject:\nCOMMENTS\nPlease acknowledge receipt of this document via fax at (609) 443-0004 or via email at\nmail@natc-inc.com.\nCONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in or attached to this transmission is confidential\nIfyou experience any problems with this transmission please contact\nour office directly at 609-426-0555.\nVisit our Website at: www.49CFR.com\nDarisar 9114\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\n: Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\nT-761\nP. 06/07 F-556\nNATC\nSeptember 18, 2014\nVia: Fax-202-366-7435—\nПОЧІ\nMr. Charles Betts\nStandards and Rulemaking - PHH-10\nDirector\nU.S. D.O.T - PHMSA\n1200 New Jersey Ave. SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590-0001\nRE: Request for Clarification of HMR 180.407(b) Applicability\nDear Mr. Betts:\nThis letter will serve as formal request for written clarification of the HMR requirements. The\nissue concerns specification CTVs and how they must be handled when the question of\nstructural integrity is raised by an enforcement agency.\nIt has been my clear understanding that for over 40 years, when the structural integrity of a\nspecification cargo tank is questioned the requirements in 180.407(b) would be applicable. Prior\nto HM-183 this same requirement was in 173.33. The first part of the requirement addresses\nhow to handle dents, cuts, gouges, corroded or abraded areas, leaks or any other condition that\nmight render it unsafe for hazardous materials service. These conditions would require repair\nand testing of the cargo tank. If an enforcement agency questioned the cargo tank on the basis\nof a previous repair or weld to the vessel itself in the absence of leakage, such a challenge would\nalso be handled per 180,407(b).\nOur concern is the safe and reasonable return of such specification CTMVs to hazardous material\nservice per the requirements of the HMR.\nMany older cargo tanks have had repairs to their heads or shells for which documentation of the\nrepair is no longer available due to companies going out of business or lost documentation. It is\nmy position that while the missing documentation may be a violation of 180.413(f) it does not\nmean the CTMV is unsafe to operate in hazardous materials service as a specification container.\nOur firm requires pressure testing the vessel before returning it to service without\ndocumentation of the repair.\nNORTH AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS, INC.\nPO. Box 1404 • Hightstown, NJ 08520 • 609-426-0555\nYour Toral Transportation and Safety Consultants\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\n* Apr-13-18 05:05pm\nFrom-\n7-751 P.07/07 F-556\nQuestions:\n1. If there is no documentation of a repair to the head or shell of the vessel can the\nmotor carrier verify the suitability of the repair as noted in 180,407(b) by having the\nCTMV tested under 180.407(g)(1)(iv) as directed in that regulation and maintain that\n2. Once the RI completes the 180.407(g) test and certifies on the documentation\ntest on file for inspection and review as required?\nrequired in 180.417(b) that the CTMV meets the requirements of the DOT\nspecification identified on the report, the CTMV is returned to full hazardous\nmaterials specification service. Is there any additional requirement in the HMR which\nwould prohibit such a CTMV from returning to specification hazardous material\nservice if all other test and inspections are current?\n3. If the requirements of 180.407(b) are not acceptable to verify repairs for which no\ndocumentation is available how should a carrier handle returning the CTMV to\nhazardous material specification service?\nThese questions are extremely critical to a current appeal being considered by the C5O of PHMSA\nand as such request is respectfully made to expedite a reply to these questions. The impact to\nthe entire bulk transportation industry may be extreme if the understandings presented in this\ndocument are wrong. This is the way the entire industry including Ris have functioned for\ndecades.\nThank you for your time and assistance in this matter. If you have any questions feel free to\ncontact me at our New Jersey office at (609) 426-0555.\nSincerely Yours,\nAsilins\nJ. P. Gibbons\nPresident\ncc: Tim Wiseman","truncated":false,"body_characters":12467}