{"operation":"document","citation":"22-0129","title":"American Bureau of Shipping — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2023-03-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"22-0129 response to American Bureau of Shipping concerning 173.320, 178.274.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0129.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0129.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0129","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/77416/220129_0.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMarch 21, 2023\nMs. Simone Goncalves\nTechnical Manager\nAmerican Bureau of Shipping\n1701 City Plaza Drive\nSpring, TX 77389\nReference No. 22-0129\nDear Ms. Goncalves:\nThis letter is in response to your November 30, 2022, email and subsequent telephone\nconversations with a member of my staff requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the testing of portable tanks.\nSpecifically, you ask whether there are any “exemptions” from the dynamic longitudinal impact\ntest requirement, specified in § 178.274(j)(6), for portable tanks containing “UN1977, Nitrogen,\nrefrigerated liquid, 2.2” by highway transportation only.\nAs specified in § 178.274(j)(6), United Nations (UN) portable tanks used for the dedicated\ntransportation of “Helium, refrigerated liquid,” UN1963, and “Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid,”\nUN1966, that are marked “NOT FOR RAIL TRANSPORT” in letters of a minimum height of 10\ncm (4 inches) on at least two sides of the portable tank are excepted from the dynamic\nlongitudinal impact test. However, there are certain scenarios where non-specification portable\ntanks may be used when transported by highway. For example, § 173.320(a) states that\n“atmospheric gases and helium, cryogenic liquids, in Dewar flasks, insulated cylinders, insulated\nportable tanks, insulated cargo tanks, and insulated tank cars, designed and constructed so that\nthe pressure in such packagings will not exceed 25.3 psig under ambient temperature conditions\nduring transportation are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter when transported by\nmotor vehicle or railcar except as specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this\nsection.” Therefore, a highway shipment of “UN1977, Nitrogen, refrigerated liquid, 2.2” may be\n\n<<>>\n\ntransported in a non-specification insulated portable tank, provided the portable tank is\nconstructed so that the pressure will not exceed 25.3 psig under ambient temperature conditions\nduring transportation and all applicable requirements of § 173.320 are met.\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\nWolcott\n22-0129\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Interpretation Dynamic Impact Test\nDate: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 3:25:16 PM\nHi Alice,\nPlease see the below interpretation request.\nLet us know if you need anything else.\nRegards,\n-Breanna\nFrom: Simone Goncalves \nSent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 11:31 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nCc: Michael Kloesel ; Benninghoven, Neil (PHMSA)\n\nSubject: Interpretation Dynamic Impact Test\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do\nnot click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content\nis safe.\nDear Sir/Madam,\nI have a question regarding the dynamic impact test indicated in section 6.7.4.14.1 of IMDG and DoT 49\nCFR 178.274 (j) (6). The regulations indicate that the dynamic impact test should be performed for\nportable tanks meeting the definition of containers in CSC. Is it possible to exempt the dynamic impact\ntest for a cryogenic tank carrying Refrigerated Nitrogen (UN 1977) transported by road only? Also, could\nyou please confirm that the dynamic impact test is applicable only for rail transportation?\nPlease find my information below:\nFull Name: Simone Goncalves\nPhysical Mailing Address: 1701 City Plaza Dr, Spring, TX 77389\nTelephone Number: +1 936 900 2056\nBest Regards,\nSimone Gonçalves\nTechnical Manager\nContainer Certification Department\n281-877-6325 wk\n\n<<>>\n\nsgoncalves@eagle.org","truncated":false,"body_characters":4004}