{"operation":"document","citation":"98-0521","title":"Eurotainer USA, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1998-01-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"98-0521 response to Eurotainer USA, Inc. concerning 173.32.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0521.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0521.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0521","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980521.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nor transportation\nU.S. Department\nWashington, D.C.\n400 Sevenm Svent SW\n20590\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nJAN 1 5 10C3\nMr. Terrence Noonan\nEurotainer USA, Inc.\n580 Howard Avenue\nSummerset, NJ 08873\nDear Mr. Noonan:\nThis is in response to your letter requesting clarification on outage and filling limits for\nintermodal (IM) portable tanks under § 173.32c i) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations\nMR 49 C Parts 17-180). Specifically, you ask whether the filling density of no less\nthan 80 percent by volume requirement applies to IM portable tank containers if the\ncommodity is being transported in a non-flowable solid state. I apologize for the delay in\nresponding and hope it has not caused you any inconvenience.\nThe answer is no. Provisions of § 173.32c (i) were developed to cover liquid and flowable\nsolid hazardous materials transported in IM portable tank packagings. This provision was\n:\nintended to minimize the risk of accidents resulting from slosh and the shift of the center of\ngravity. This Office has determined that a monolithic solid material which conforms to the\ntank geometry such that sloshing and the shifting of the center of gravity is not possible\nmay be transported in an IMportable tank at a filling density of less than 80 percent by\nvolume since such an action would not create an unsafe condition. In order to clarify this\nissue, Docket HM-166Y, Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Miscellaneous\nAmendments; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, (62 FR 50222) published September 24,\n1997, is proposing to revise § 173.32c (i) to allow monolithic solid materials to be loaded\ninto IMportable tanks to a filling density of less than 80 percent by volume.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, do not hesitate to\ncontact us.\nSincerely,\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Regulations Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nPole,\nIll. 113,3206)\n351\nS0: 396,\nDate:\nJune 13, 1997\nTo:\nOffice of Haz, Mat. Standards\nEd Marzullo\nFax: (202) 366-3753\nFrom:\nEurotainer USA, Inc.\nTerrence Noonan\nPhone:\n(1) 732-805-9330\nFAx:\n(1) 732-805-0072\nPages:\n_1.\nSubject: 49 CER 173.3290)\n173.32 C(j)\nDear Mr. Mazzullo,\nWe kladly request an interpretation of the above referenced rule with regards to the\noutage and filling limits. Specifically, does the filling density of no less than 80% by\nvolume regulation apply to IMI portable tank containers if the commodity is being\nThe favor of a written reply at your earliest convenience is requested.\nSincerely\nSerene one\nTerrence Noonan\nSummerset, NT D8873\n3/1 3078\nZ400 S08 806","truncated":false,"body_characters":2611}