PHMSA Withdraws Crude Oil Vapor Pressure Proposal
DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has withdrawn a proposal to establish vapor pressure limits for crude oil and other Class 3 flammable hazardous materials.
After reviewing comments submitted in response to its January 2017 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), PHMSA will no longer consider imposing vapor pressure standards for crude oil, other unrefined petroleum-based products, or Class 3 flammable liquids by any mode of transport.
In its notice of withdrawal, PHMSA cites a study conducted by the Sandia National Laboratories that found vapor pressure of crude oil is not a significant factor in the severity of fires or fireballs that result from accidents.
Therefore, PHMSA believes that imposing vapor pressure testing requirements “is not justified because such a regulation would not improve the safety of transporting crude oil by rail.” For more details on the study, the comments PHMSA received, and PHMSA’s decision, read the notice in the May 20 Federal Register.
Designed to help offerors meet DOT’s function-specific hazmat training mandate at 49 CFR 172.704(a)(2), the course covers the requirements for shipping hazmat by tank car, freight container, and bulk or non-bulk packages.
Learn more about the course and sign up here.
After reviewing comments submitted in response to its January 2017 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), PHMSA will no longer consider imposing vapor pressure standards for crude oil, other unrefined petroleum-based products, or Class 3 flammable liquids by any mode of transport.
In its notice of withdrawal, PHMSA cites a study conducted by the Sandia National Laboratories that found vapor pressure of crude oil is not a significant factor in the severity of fires or fireballs that result from accidents.
Therefore, PHMSA believes that imposing vapor pressure testing requirements “is not justified because such a regulation would not improve the safety of transporting crude oil by rail.” For more details on the study, the comments PHMSA received, and PHMSA’s decision, read the notice in the May 20 Federal Register.
Hazmat Ground Shipper–Additional Rail Requirements
To help rail shippers and railroads maintain compliance with changing US DOT standards for hazmat shipments, the new Hazmat Ground Shipper—Additional Rail Requirements Online Course covers the complex rules for this unique mode of transport.Designed to help offerors meet DOT’s function-specific hazmat training mandate at 49 CFR 172.704(a)(2), the course covers the requirements for shipping hazmat by tank car, freight container, and bulk or non-bulk packages.
Learn more about the course and sign up here.
Tags: crude oil, hazardous materials, hazmat by rail, PHMSA
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