The Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration has issued revised regulations for the transportation and unloading of liquefied compressed gas.

The final rule gives manufacturers two years to develop and test mandated cargo tank discharge and emergency equipment such as automatic shutdown systems and remote control devices. Owners of older tanks have five years to retrofit their equipment.
New rules for people attending the unloading of liquefied compressed gas or anhydrous ammonia are effective July 1. In a metered delivery, a qualified attendant must remain within 150 feet of the cargo tank and within 25 feet of the delivery hose throughout the unloading operation. The attendant also must observe the cargo tank, the receiving container and the delivery hose at least once every five minutes during unloading.
In an unmetered delivery, the attendant must be positioned within 25 feet of the cargo tank during unloading and must maintain an unobstructed view of the cargo tank and the delivery hose "to the maximum extent possible, except during short periods when it is necessary to activate controls or monitor the receiving tank."
The final rule was published May 24 in the Federal Register, pages 28,029-28,052, and can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov. Contact: Jennifer Karim or Susan Gorsky, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, (202) 366-8553.