Timeline - Tank Car Resource Center

TIMELINE

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HM-251/FAST Act Timeline

2009
Jul, 2009

Railway Supply Institute Joins Task Force

The railway supply industry joins a newly created task force made up of industry stakeholders to review and develop recommendations for new tank car standards for tank cars in ethanol and crude oil service.

2011
Mar, 2011

“Good Faith” Petition to PHMSA

The Association of American Railroads (AAR), along with the railway supply industry, formally petitions the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to codify a new standard based on changes developed by the tank car task force. This standard is known as “CPC-1232” or “Good Faith” car. [Read Petition]

Oct, 2011

Voluntary Action

While the PHMSA petition is pending, the railway supply industry voluntarily implements the “CPC-1232” standard for newly ordered tank cars for crude and ethanol in packing groups I and II, which incorporates changes developed by the tank car task force. [View CPC-1232 Standard]

2013
Sep, 2013

ANPRM for HM-251

PHMSA publishes an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for docket HM-251, regarding regulatory revisions to improve the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. [View Document]

Dec, 2013

Comments on ANPRM for HM-251

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) submits comments to PHMSA on ANPRM for HM-251, laying out its recommendations for improving the regulations applicable to transportation of hazardous materials by rail, including recommendations regarding new and existing tank car standards. [View Document]

2014
Feb, 2014

RSI Meets with DOT

RSI meets with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx, PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman and Federal Railroad Association (FRA) Administrator Joseph Szabo to present a comprehensive set of recommended standards for new tank cars and recommended modifications for existing tank cars. RSI met with federal regulators again in March. [View Document]

Mar, 2014

PHMSA Testifies on Need for Prevention

PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman states at a Senate hearing on rail safety that a comprehensive approach is required and that regulators “need to first concentrate on prevention” of train derailments. [View Hearing]

Apr, 2014

RSI Meets with Transport Canada

RSI meets with Canadian Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt to present its recommendations on changes to tank car standards and to encourage harmony between future U.S. and Canadian regulations. [View Follow-Up Letter]

Jun, 2014

RSICTC Meets With OMB

RSICTC meets with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the impact of new tank car standards, tank car production and modification capacity considerations, and RSICTC’s recommendation proposal to PHMSA. [View Outline]

Jul, 2014

RSICTC Reacts to USDOT’s NPRM

The U.S. Department of Transportation released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to improve the safe transportation of flammable liquids, including crude oil and ethanol, by rail. RSICTC released a statement on Committee on Tank Car’s commitment to safety and review of the NPRM. [View Document]

2015
May, 2015

RSICTC Press Release Final Rule – Crude by Rail Regulation

The U.S. Department of Transportation released a long-awaited final regulation to reduce the risk of transportation of flammable liquids, including crude oil and ethanol, by rail. RSICTC released a statement in response. [View DOT Regulation]

Dec, 2015

FAST Act Signed into Law

The FAST Act included all major recommendations that had been advocated for by the RSICTC and clarified the U.S. DOT HM-251 regulations to reduce the risk of transport of flammable liquids by tank car. The law set deadlines for the aggressive and appropriate transition from the DOT-111 to the DOT-117 standard. [View RSI press release on the FAST Act]

2016
Jun, 2016

97 Percent of DOT-111 Removed from Crude Oil Service

More than 18 months ahead of the FAST Act deadline, the industry reported that 97 percent of DOT-111 cars had been removed from crude oil service. [See our update on the implementation of the FAST Act]

Jul, 2016

Canada’s Minister of Transport Accelerates DOT-111 Phase-Out Schedule

The Minister of Transport Canada, Marc Garneau, issued Protective Direction 38 on July 13, 2016, which further accelerated the phase out of DOT-111. As a result of the directive, both jacketed and non-jacketed DOT-111 tank cars were prohibited from carrying crude oil in Canada after November 1, 2016.

Nov, 2016

DOT-111 Removed From Crude Oil Service in Canada

The industry was in full compliance with Transport Canada’s Protective Direction 38, which required all DOT-111 tank cars to be removed from crude oil service in Canada. [Read Protective Direction here]

2018
Jan, 2018

First FAST Act Deadline

All non-jacketed DOT-111 carrying crude oil have been phased out of service in the U.S., as required by the FAST Act. The industry met 97 percent of this goal 18-months ahead of schedule.

Mar, 2018

Jacketed DOT-111 Deadline for Crude Oil Tank Cars

All jacketed DOT-111 have been removed from crude oil service, as required by the FAST Act.

Aug, 2018

Canada Accelerates Phase Out Timeline

Transport Canada issue Protective Direction 39, to further accelerate the phase out timeline for unjacketed CPC-1232 tank cars in crude oil service to November 1, 2018, and DOT-111 and unjacketed CPC-1232 tank cars in condensate service to January 1, 2019. [Read Protective Direction here]

Sep, 2018

DOT Removed ECP Brake Requirements

DOT removes ECP brake requirements for High Hazard Flammable Liquids Unit Trains. [Read Federal Register Notice here]

2020
Apr, 2020

Deadline for Non-Jacketed CPC-1232 in Crude Oil

All non-jacketed DOT-111, built to the industry’s voluntary CPC-1232 standard, are to be phased out of crude oil service, as required by the FAST Act.

2023
May, 2023

DOT-111 Phased Out of Ethanol Service

All jacketed and non-jacketed DOT-111 carrying ethanol are to be phased out of service, as required by the FAST Act.

Jul, 2023

Non-Jacketed CPC-1232 Phased Out of Ethanol Service

All non-jacketed DOT-111 built to the industry’s voluntary CPC-1232 standard are to be phased out of ethanol service, as required by the FAST Act.

2025
May, 2025

DOT-117 Required for Crude Oil, Ethanol and Other Flammable Liquids in Packing Group 1

DOT-117 or equivalent DOT-117R-standard cars are required for service of crude oil and ethanol as well as other flammable liquids in U.S. DOT’s Packing Group 1.

2029
May, 2029

DOT-117 Required for All Flammable Liquids

All jacketed and non-jacketed DOT-111 and all DOT-111 built to CPC-1232 standards are to be phased out of flammable liquid service, as required by the FAST Act.

Toxic Inhalation Hazards Timeline

2005
Aug, 2005

Congress passes SAFTEA-LU

FRA is required to validate modeling of forces in accidents and implement appropriate design standards for pressurized tanks.

2006
May, 2006

Next Generation Rail Tank Cars (NGRTC) Project Announced

Dow Chemical, Union Pacific Railroad and Union Tank Car formed a project team to research strategies to improve tank car accidents performance by a factor of 5 to 10 times the then-current baseline cars.

Dec, 2006

AAR Issued Three TIH-Related Circulars

Between July and December 2006, AAR issued CPC-1175, CPC-1176 and CPC-1178, requiring more robust tank specifications for anhydrous ammonia and chlorine, new car specifications and phase-out proposals.

2007
Jan, 2007

FRA Signed Memorandum of Cooperation with NGRTC Project

FRA sponsored two full-scale impact tests during 2007.

2008
Mar, 2008

CPC-1187 Implementation of the AAR Standard for Tank Cars Transporting Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) Commodities

The CPC-1187 circular issues by AAR required more robust tank specifications for anhydrous ammonia, chlorine and other TIH products. New car specifications included 9 mph rollover protection and a 10-year phase out of the legacy TIH Fleet.  CPC-1187

Apr, 2008

HM-246 Interim TIH Standard Proposal – NPRM

This NPRM proposed that cars built for TIH service be capable of surviving both head and shell puncture tests. These new designs had to be implemented within 8 years after the rule was finalized. See HM-246 NPRM

Jul, 2008

P-1525 Industry Petition for Interim TIH Standard

This industry petition from the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the Chlorine Institute (CI), and Railway Supply Institute (RSI) requested that the DOT consider interim TIH standards based on improved CPR (Conditional Probability of Release) measurements.

Sep, 2008

Next Generation Rail Tank Car (NGRTC) Project Concluded

Research on modeling forces in derailments and understanding of the performance of various design elements revealed that current designs involving multiple layers of steel performed best against smaller impactors. Additional research would continue under the Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Program (ATCCRP).

2009
Jan, 2009

HM-246 Interim TIH Standards Final Rule

Authorized the use of interim tank specifications for new construction of TIH cars DOT-105J500I, DOT-112J500I or DOT-105J600I, depending on commodity, and 9 mph rollover protection. These cars are limited to a 20-year regulatory life.

Jan, 2009

The Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Program (ATCCRP) is Formed

The Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Program (ATCCRP) was initiated to coordinate research efforts to enhance the safety and security of rail tank car shipments of toxic inhalation hazard (TIH) materials. [Read more about the full background of the ATCCRP] 

2016
Nov, 2016

ATCCRP Program Conclusions

The Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Program (ATCCRP) investigated a broad spectrum of technologies that had the potential to improve the safety and security of tank cars and development conclusions. [Read the Conclusions]

Dec, 2016

ATCCRP Petitioned the DOT to Adopt the Interim Standards as Final

Based on the ATCCRP research conclusions, industry stakeholders (including the RSI) petitioned PHMSA to make the interim standard (HM-246) a permanent standard for TIH service. [Read the petition]

Dec, 2016

AAR Petitioned DOT for a Six-Year Phase Out of the Legacy TIH Fleet

Immediately following the ATCCRP Petition for a Final TIH Specification, the AAR petitioned PHMSA for a 6-year phase out of the legacy TIH Fleet. [Read the petition]

2017
Apr, 2017

CPC-1325 TCC Issued Six-Year Phase Out of Legacy TIH Cars

The AAR issued revisions to the TIH standard that required all tank cars in TIH service to meet HM-246 requirements by July 1, 2023. Tanks made from non-normalized steels must be removed from TIH service by July 1, 2029. [Read CPC-1325]

Sep, 2017

DOT Accepted ATCCRP Petition for Adoption of HM-246 Interim TIH Standard as Final

PHMSA accepted ATCCRP petition for adoption of the HM-246 interim TIH tank cars as the final TIH standard. The attached response was sent to the AAR.