[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR174.63]



[Page 676-677]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY 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-



[[Page 677]]



flatcar (COFC) or trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) service except as authorized 

by 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, ``Specifications for Acceptability of 

Tank Containers'' (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this subchapter);

    (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'' (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of 

this subchapter);

    (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'' (IBR, see Sec. 171.7 of this subchapter);

    (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; 68 FR 75747, Dec. 31, 2003]