Proposed Rule Changes Could Prove Expensive for Liquified Gas Haulers

compressed gas hauler
TT File Photo
A proposed rule changing unloading operations for haulers of liquefied compressed gases such as propane could cost as much as $3,000 for each truck, an industry official said.

The notice of proposed rulemaking was issued March 22 by the Research and Special Programs Administration, a unit of the Department of Transportation.

The agency’s recommendations include:

  • Rigorous new inspection, maintenance and testing requirements for hoses and hose assemblies.



  • New requirements for monitoring unloading of cargo to assure that operators can quickly spot unintentional releases.

  • New emergency discharge equipment that will halt unloading automatically if a hose tears or ruptures.

  • Remote control devices to allow operators to stop unloading.

    The RSPA and affected parties met to develop the recommendations through a negotiated rulemaking, which federal agencies use to expedite the process of drawing up policies.

    Cliff Harvison, president of the National Tank Carriers, said the call for a new rule was prompted by an accident in Sanford, N.C., in which 50,000 gallons of propane spilled when valves in a cargo tank and a storage tank failed. There were no injuries.

    For the full story, see the March 29 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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