Georgia-Pacific Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation Washington, D.C. 400 Seventh Street, S.W. 20590 specia Programs Administration MAR 2 3 2000 Ms. Becky Clark Ref. No. 99-0279 Traffic Analyst Transportation Department Georgia-Pacific Corporation Highway 273 West Cedar Springs, Georgia 31732 Dear Ms. Clark: This responds to your letter of October 8, 1999, requesting clarification of the attendance requirements for unloading tank cars under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask if the interpretation concerning attendance requirements for tank car unloading published in the Federal Register on February 28, 1990, remains in effect. The answer is yes. Electronic monitoring of tank car unloading to comply with the attendance requirements in § 174.67(i) of the HMR is permitted provided the conditions listed in your letter are met. You need not have an exemption to utilize electronic sensors to monitor tank car unloading operations. I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office. Sincerely, omar I. Allo Thomas G. Allan Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist Office of Hazardous Materials Standards 174.67 990279#

Page 2Georgia-Pacific Corporation Containerboard & Packaging Division GP October 8, 1999 Kanm Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director U.S. DOT / RSPA (DHM-10) Office of Hazardous Material Standards §174.67 400 7* Street, S. W. 99-0279 Washington, DC 20590-0001 Dear Sir: nterpretation of "attendance" provided for Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, Delaware Please refer to the Federal Register, Monday, February 28, 1990, specifically th of 174.67 and 177.834. The Hercules system proposed to include electronic sensors, which Hercules requested DOT to compare its proposed system to the attendance requirements upon detection of minute levels of fumes or vapors would sound an alarm and shut down the unloading process. Also, periodic checks of the system would be conducted by workers in the general area. Dot responded that the system proposed by Hercules meets the requirements of 174.67 if: • An employee is made responsible for unloading and is familiar with the nature and • The employee responsible for unloading is instructed in the procedures to be followed properties of the material being unloaded. during unloading and in the event of an emergency, and has the authority and ability to • In the event of an emergency, the system must be capable of immediately halting the flow halt the flow of product immediately and take emergency action. of product or alerting the employee responsible of unloading. • The monitoring device will provide immediate notification of any malfunction to the person responsible for unloading, or the device is checked hourly for malfunctions, and in case of malfunctioning, the device will no longer be relied upon and instead the individual responsible for unloading will constantly observe the unloading. Interpretation? Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Becky Clack Becky Clark, Traffic Analyst Georgia-Pacific Transportation Department Enc.#

Page 3Federal Rogitter / Vol 55, No. 36 / Mondey, Pubruary 26; 1900 / Ruira ano Inunda Fab, 19, 8087. Coordinator, Hercules Insorporaled, Souret RF. D'OnolHo, Reguietona: Heckman, Washingion, DC. Sourco: David H. Jert, Enq, Koller and Wilmingtor interpretes Fauts: Hi guinte an interpretation lo clarily paragrapha (b) Facla: David I. Jeit requesta an Bectione 21 conteined i and 177676 for thet .170.386 dalines etiologic agente and the and (d) of 49 CFR 172.380, Section consemed ard regulations appitoable to their rall tank a ur veniche cargo unionding of esacilically otates: *° transportelion. Paragraph (b) provided in paragraph (d), no person •except 89 isnke, tex •peci?celt lion 274.07 Througho t the period of graph (): may ship eny materal. Including •• etiologic agent unleas this meterial is niclonical product, containing an connected to (tbe) uni unloading, and wn loading device, the the car it for unlon ma Section 174.57(e car must be atti by the unloader." encordance with $ 172.21 and (che) alber packaged and prepared for snipment in ona bo BO: requires thet only by tell Олова wil apellcable regulations of Lue subchaptat." Paragraph (d), which ексерія семків вивіялов ігога рам 17o Insiructed in materiais: made responaible for londing b oul Seciion 177 834(l) announces the generai careful compliance with this part." scosplable upon dotection of fumes or vapors the estorring thar. any ire/quiremenla of thls subchapter if the The following substancos ure not subject lo tanke must be requirement that motor carrier cargo defect and eufomatically stops the monitoring system warns workers of the tems as peckagad do aot contain any during londing and wnloading, altended el all Urass unlouding process. Homeres, requirementa of Parta 190 through 189 of thia material otherwier subjoot to the Furtheron, purgraph 01(3) of "peraca" to have a continuous { 177824(Xa) apecifically regates a • subchapier. 88: $ 177 834 «pecifically defines "altends" faut" of the cargo lank. h unobalrueled view within "twenty-five (2/ #tological Produola A person "euends" the loading de paragraph (b), biological products thet Mr. jelt inquires whether purauant to viam of the an un contracied Malera (25 cal) o la CanTa tank and in wiihin 283 malor vatices because of tbe sei populwted ure : sm. inclade etiologia sgenta nia subject to whethar they are exempt from the packaging provisions of Part 1/0 o1 that includes electrania sen Herculos propaces to inatall a system upon delaction of minute Invals al fumas cors which monker = for non-humen monitoring tof f 177.834(1X0) becea tracks regulations under peragraph (d)? biological producte that contain ettologio Incerpretation: Undor paragraph (d), down the or vapore will lanca and phut periodic chec yater will be Aleo. another hexordous materiai are not armiz but which do not contaia conducted arta. Her 4 DOT 1o compare In the generai (int. No. 87-5-RSTA) lasued , ene & 1067. subject to the packaging raquíremente of Part 179. Thera in • discrepaacy Ita proposta vyaiem to the atlendanca requiremento al 1$ 174.67 and 177.534, rchnical Adrisor, Lawrence! gurce, Gardon Rousseas, Beni and (0) of $ 173.308. Tre applicability baiween the langusge in paragraphe (1) кувтет тау compiy! Interpretotion: R proposed Bierlein, P.C., Washington, DC. statement of paragraph (b) implier that réquirements of | 174.67, but it does not 49 CER 173.22, regarding how | 173,12 Facta, Requeal ior on interpralabon of biological producte which contain comply with those contained in altendanci § 171874(1)(3). The pur pose of the paiNcous materiala, particulariy applies to hazardous substances and etiologia agenta are subjeot to the and the other requiremente of the HMR. general packaging provisiona ol § 173.24 bazardour salely loaded Is to entune that inhelalion. Paragraph (a) of f173.12 poivonous liquide that are forcty. However, the excepilon provided in tr unload emergency, such procesara are rapidiy the event of en statest pararapa (d) e intended to exclad agenie, bui do not contein any other folorichi produtta that contain ello, ogit haltes. The kry elements of the estendence requirementa in 1$ 174,67 thie subchapter if packigad la 6oi the specification prokedine Mpa поча of (ammable liquid volvente). RSPA bazardous materialo (e.g, formaldehyde, mechanical device monitoring the and 177.434 ate that the perron or parkuginga in accordance with thie sectier loading procesa be abia to determine l'a damo from | 172.101 may be aned ta prose ol • * In addition, a generic proper shtuping beiweth parafraph (b) und (d) of Intende to address the discrepancy operation acouts, and if so, that there is condition requiring cosention of wedle matanials is the same hesard clese are apetitie chemical memes, when ime or more Accordingly, biological producta which $ 173.388 fa & future rulemaking action the ability to stop the operation. necta the requitemento el ibe system proposed by Hercule ('abpecke"") provided the manse meierialo peckaged in the same outeide packagine hazardous material eubject to the HMR, contein euologic agente, bat ho olan 8hs chemica ily compalibis. requiremente of part 173. are nos subfact to the packaging Hf 17457(a)() and 17A.07(1) Ht (2) Ar • The requent for interpretation Involves Lour specific questiona conserting [int Na. 87-4-ASPA) being unlended, (2) the employen nature and proparies of tha materia! unfording and in fasaltar with the exception to the additional poison and · 173.12; (1) Does { 173,92 provide an Jaxued: Mar. 26, 1967, hazardous suberance identifiostion TOTAL P.Ø3#