{"operation":"document","citation":"20-0094","title":"Stabilis Solutions — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2021-05-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"20-0094 response to Stabilis Solutions concerning 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0094.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0094.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0094","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/75081/200094.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMay 28, 2021\nMr. Vignesh Pandurengan\nMaintenance Specialist\nStabilis Solutions\n10375 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700\nHouston, TX 77042\nReference No. 20-0094\nDear Mr. Pandurengan:\nThis is in response to your December 7, 2020, email and subsequent conversations with a\nmember of my staff requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49\nCFR Parts 171-180) applicable to Department of Transportation (DOT) cargo tanks.\nSpecifically, you ask whether an insulated MC 338 cargo tank transporting non-corrosive\nmaterials and equipped with manholes must undergo an internal visual inspection within certain\ntime intervals.\nSection 180.407(c) excepts DOT Specification MC 338 cargo tanks from the internal visual\ninspection requirement when transporting non-corrosive materials. However, MC 338 cargo\ntanks are required to be externally inspected annually. If the insulation of the MC 338 cargo tank\nyou describe is found to preclude a complete external inspection, an internal inspection of the\ncargo tank would be required in order to meet the external inspection requirements specified in\n§§ 180.407(c) and 180.407(d). In addition, because the cargo tank you describe is equipped\nwith manholes, Note 4 of § 180.407(c) would apply, and you may perform either an internal\nvisual inspection in conjunction with the external visual inspection or a hydrostatic or pneumatic\npressure-test of the cargo tank.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nEdmonson\n20-0094\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Subject: Date: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Hazmat Interps\nFW: Request for Letter of Interpretation\nMonday, December 7, 2020 11:58:24 AM\nDear Alice,\nPlease see the request for a letter of interpretation below. Please contact our office with any\nquestions.\nThank you,\nSarah (HMIC)\nFrom: Vignesh Pandurengan [mailto:vpandurengan@stabilis-solutions.com]\nSent: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:37 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nCc: Miroslaw Skrzypkowski ; Travis Vandervort\n; Koby Knight ; Jessica\nLopez ; Crystal Alcalar \nSubject: Request for Letter of Interpretation\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or\nopen attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.\nTo Whom It May Concern,\nI am writing to request a letter of interpretation of the regulation that defines internal visual\ninspection requirements of MC338s tanks that have manholes/manways. I spoke with a regulatory\nspecialist, Breanna, who was very thorough and escalated the question of whether or not MC338s\ntanks that have manholes/manways are required to have internal visual inspections at ANY interval\nof time to other specialists and to personnel at the PHMSA Standards department. She got back to\nme and reported that MC338 units with manholes/manways are NOT required by the CFR to have\ninternal inspections but we may do so at our own discretion.\nThe portions of the regulation that define the inspection requirements are 49 CFR 180.407 in\nthe sections shown below:\n\n<<>>\n\nPlease provide a formal interpretation letter for our confirmation and review at your earliest\nconvenience, the physical mailing address to which the letter can be sent is in my signature below.\nRegards,\nVignesh Pandurengan\n\n<<>>\n\nMaintenance Specialist\nStabilis Solutions\n10375 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700\nHouston, Texas 77042\nCorporate Office Main: 832.456.6500\nToll Free: 1.866.LNG.FUEL\nDirect: 832.456.6506\nMobile: 281.203.4552\nhttps://www.stabilisenergy.com\nThis message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If\nyou are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any\naction based on it by you is strictly prohibited.","truncated":false,"body_characters":4384}