# Delta Liquid Energy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 98-0578
- **title:** Delta Liquid Energy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1998-01-29
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 98-0578 response to Delta Liquid Energy concerning 173.415.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0578.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0578.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0578
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-10/980578.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S.Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
JAN 29 1998
Mr. Robert Jacobs
Delta Liquid Energy
P.O. Box 3068
Paso Robles, California 93447
Dear Mr. Jacobs:
This is in response to your letter of June 23, 1997, requesting clarification of requirements for
transporting compressed gases in a storage tanks under the Hazardous Material Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you asked whether storage tanks, under § 173.315
(i) (4), are allowed to be charged with propane to more than 5 percent of their water capacity
when being either delivered to a residence or being pickup from a residence and being returned to
the propane retailer facility.
The answer is no. A storage tank with a water capacity exceeding 1,042 pounds (125 gallon) may
....
not be shipped when charged with propane to more than 5 percent of its water capacity regardless
of whether the tank is being delivered to a residence or being picked up from a residence.
:%
I hope this information is helpful. Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact
Sincerely,
Hatle mitshelf
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
210*30298."22200832
Exemptions and Regulations Termination
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
20590
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
JAN 2 9 1998
Mr. Robert Jacobs
Delta Liquid Energy
P.O. Box 3068
Paso Robles, California 93447
Dear Mr. Jacobs:
20
This is in response to your letter of June 23, 1997, requesting clarification of requirements for
...
transporting compressed gases in a storage tanks under the Hazardous Material Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you asked whether storage tanks, under § 173.315
(i) (4), are allowed to be charged with propane to more than 5 percent of their water capacity
when being either delivered to a residence or being pickup from a residence and being returned to
the propane retailer facility.
The answer is no. A storage tank with a water capacity exceeding 1,042 pounds (125 gallon) may
not be shipped when charged with propane to more than 5 percent of its water capacity regardless
of whether the tank is being delivered to a residence or being picked up from a residence.
I hope this information is helpful. Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact
us.
Sincerely,
Natle mitakelf
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Exemptions and Regulations Termination
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173,315

<<<PAGE 3>>>

- I
JAN 29 1998
Mr. Robert Jacobs
Delta Liquid Energy
P.O. Box 3068
Paso Robles, California 93447
Dear Mr. Jacobs:
This is in response to your letter of June 23, 1997, requesting clarification of requirements for
transporting compressed gases in a storage tanks under the Hazardous Material Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you asked whether storage tanks, under § 173.315
() (4), are allowed to be charged with propane to more than 5 percent of their water capacity
when being either delivered to a residence or being pickup from a residence and being returned to
the propane retailer facility.
The answer is no. A storage tank with a water capacity exceeding 1,042 pounds (125 gallon) may
not be shipped when charged with propane to more than 5 percent of its water capacity regardless
of whether the tank is being delivered to a residence or being picked up from a residence.
I hope this information is helpful. Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact
us.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Mattie - Mitchell
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Exemptions and Regulations Termination
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
cbetts:DHM-12:7/31/97:cdd
Revised: 8/6/97:cdd
Revised:08/18/97:gt
Revised:DHM-12:1/28/98:cdd
File: 173.315
SC:358

<<<PAGE 4>>>

06-23-1997 10:42
1-805-239-1327
SAN LUIS BUTANE
P. 01
DELTA LIQUID ENERGY
Location: Freeway 101 at 46 West • PO. Box 3068 • Pasu Rubles, California 93447 • Phone (805) 239-0618
une 23, 1997
FAx (805) 239-1327
D
173315
United States Department of Transportation
File.
Research and Special Programs Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
sci
400 7th. Street Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20590
(800) 167-4922 fax (202) 366.8700
ATT: Edward Mazzullo, Director
Dear Mr. Mazzulln,
Delta Liquid Energy operates five retail propane facilitics in central California. Daily
operations require the delivery of propane storage tanks in excess of 125 water gallon
capacity to private residences. Their has always been some confusion as to the under
standing of Title 49 C.F.R. 173.315 () (4). I have spoken with Deborah Boothe
regarding this issue, at which time she conferred with Hattie Mitchell, and gave me the
ansiver. "Propant storage tanks exceeding a 125 gallon water capacicy cannot be
shipped when charged with liquid potroleum gas to more than 5 percent of their water
capacity isgardless if the tank is being delivered or picked up." This is what our
company has always understood. However, othcr propane rctailers do not agree when
I explain Title 49. They believe the tank must be at 5% or less when delivering to a
permanent location, however they are allowed to ship the tank aboye 5% when
bringing a tank from a residence back to the propane retailer's office/plant location.
At this time I am requesting a written interpretation of Title 49 that will alleviate the
confusion amongst several propane companies and consumers. Please prepare the
written interpretation so that it is easily understood that the above described propane
tanks are not lo exceed the 5% charge when you are cither delivsring to a residence
retailers facility.
or picking up a propane storage tank from a residence and returning it to the propane
•
or comments.
Thank you very much. Please contact me at (805) 232-0616 if you have any questions
Sincerety,
Director of Markering
UPGA
MEMDER

<<<PAGE 5>>>

>86-23-1997 10:42
1-805-239-1327
SAN LUIS BUTANE
P. B1
DELTA LIQUID ENERGY
Location: Freeway 101 at 46 West • PO. Box 3068 • Paso Rubles, California 93447 • Phone (805) 239-0618
lune 23, 1997
FAX (805) 239-1327
File: 173315
United States Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
sei
400 7th. Street Souchwest
Washington, D.C. 20590
(800) 167-4922 fax (202) 366-8700
ATT: Edward Mazzullo, Director
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
Delta Liquid Energy operates five recail propane facilitics in central California. Daily
operations require the delivery of propane storage tanks in excess of 125 water gallon
capacity to private residences. Their has always boen some confusion as to the under
standing of Title 49 C.F.R. 173.315 (j) (4). I have spoken with Deborah Boothe
regarding this issue, at which time she conferred with Hattie Mitchell, and gave me the
answer. "Propane storage tanks exceeding a 125 gallon water capacity cannot be
shipped when charged with liquid potroleum gas to more than 5 percent of their water
capacity isgardless it the tank is being delivered or picked up." This is what our
company has always understood. However, orhcr propane rotailers do not agree when
I explain Title 49. They believe the tank must be at 5% or less when delivering to a
permanent location, however they are allowed to ship the tank above 5% when
bringing a tank from a residence back to the propane retailer's office/plant location.
At this time I am requesting a written interpretation of Titlc 49 that will alleviate the
confusion amongst several propane companies and consumers. Please prepare the
written interpretation so that it is easily understood that the above described propane
tanks are not to exceed the 5% charge when you are cither delivoring to a residence
retailers facility.
or picking up a propane storage tank from a residence and returning it to the propane
Thank you very much. Please contact me at (805) 239-0616 it you have any questions
or comments.
Sincerety,
Robert Jacobs
Director of Marketing
MEMDER
PGA
PROPANE 842 semito
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 8094
