[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR174.63]

[Page 642-643]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 174_CARRIAGE BY RAIL--Table of Contents
 
           Subpart C_General Handling and Loading Requirements
 
Sec.  174.63  Portable tanks, IM portable tanks, IBCs, cargo tanks, and 
multi-unit tank car tanks.

    (a) A carrier may not transport a bulk packaging (e.g., portable 
tank, IM portable tank, IBC, cargo tank, or multi-unit tank car tank) 
containing a hazardous material in container-on-flatcar (COFC) or 
trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) service except as authorized by

[[Page 643]]

this section or unless approved for transportation by the Associate 
Administrator for Safety, FRA.
    (b) A bulk packaging containing a hazardous material (including IM 
101 and IM 102 when appropriate according to dimensions and weight 
distribution) may be transported inside a fully closed transport vehicle 
or fully closed freight container provided it is properly secured with a 
restraint system that will prevent it from changing position, sliding 
into other packages, or contacting the side or end walls (including 
doors) under conditions normally incident to transportation.
    (c) When not transported in conformance with and subject to 
paragraph (b) of this section, a bulk packaging may be transported in 
COFC service or TOFC service subject to the following conditions as 
applicable:
    (1) The bulk packaging contains a material packaged in accordance 
with Sec.  173.240, 173.241, 173.242, or 173.243 of this subchapter;
    (2) The tank and flatcar conform to requirements in AAR 600 of the 
AAR Specifications for Tank Cars, Specification M-1002, entitled 
``Specifications for Acceptability of Tank Containers'';
    (3) For TOFC service, the trailer chassis conforms to requirements 
in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of AAR Specification M-943 ``Container 
Chassis For TOFC Service'' of the AAR specification for ``Specially 
Equipped Freight Car and Intermodal Equipment'';
    (4) For COFC service, the container support and securement systems 
conform to requirements in Specification M-952 ``Intermodal Container 
Support and Securement Systems for Freight Cars'', of the AAR 
specification for ``Specially Equipped Freight Car and Intermodal 
Equipment'';
    (5) If transported in a well car--
    (i) The tank is not in a double-stacked configuration (i.e., no 
freight container or portable tank is placed above or below the tank); 
and
    (ii) The tank is transported in the well with its outlet valve 
facing outward towards the end of the well and away from any adjacent 
tank or container; and
    (6) All securement fittings shall be fully engaged and in the locked 
position, provided; however, if the tank is transported in a well car, 
it must be loaded into a well appropriate for the length of the 
container and any void filling device present must be secured in its 
designed appropriate position.
    (d) An approval in effect on February 28, 1991 for the 
transportation of portable tanks or IM portable tanks in TOFC or COFC 
service expires on the date stated in the approval letter or June 15, 
1995, whichever is later.
    (e) A carrier may not transport a cargo tank or multi-unit tank car 
tank containing a hazardous material in TOFC or COFC service unless 
approved for such service by the Associate Administrator for Safety, 
FRA. However, in the event of an accident or incident, no such approval 
is necessary for the transportation of a cargo tank containing a 
hazardous material in TOFC service under the following condition(s):
    (1) There is an emergency need for the cargo tank in order to 
mitigate the consequences of an incident; and
    (2) Movement of the cargo tank is limited to transportation 
necessary for emergency purposes.

[Amdt. 174-79, 59 FR 64744, Dec. 15, 1994, as amended by 66 FR 45383, 
Aug. 28, 2001]