1. DOT OA:

FMCSA – Hazardous Materials Division

2.  Preliminary Title:

Hazardous Materials (HM) Cargo Tank Service Life Study

3.  Subject and Purpose:

Provide a brief description of the project.  The project summary in the e‑Portfolio system may be used providing the information is current.  Include: Topic, Specific Issues, Broad Goals, Potential Public Benefits.

1. Topic:  HM Cargo Tank service life.

2. Specific Issues:  FMCSA will be conducting a new study to examine performance and safety issues with cargo tanks as they age.  The project will study the effects of external factors that determine the life of a cargo tank, including:  level of maintenance, quality of maintenance, type of HM service, design of cargo tank, inspection intervals and severe weather conditions. 

3. Broad Goals:  The study will seek to develop recommended inspection and safety standards that may be incorporated into regulation.

4. Potential Public Benefits: Determining the limits of cargo tank service life and the effects of external conditions could reduce the number of cargo tank failures and allow proactive measures to be taken to prevent failures.

4.  Is this dissemination likely to be:

(check one)

Highly influential scientific information

Influential scientific information

5.  Peer Review Plan:

1) What is the schedule for peer review?

The peer review is anticipated for FY 2008.

2)  Will the review be conducted through a panel, individual letters, or will an alternative procedure be exercised?

The peer review will be conducted through a selected group that will submit written comments.

3)  Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed, and if so, how and when will these opportunities be provided?

There is no plan to give the public an opportunity to comment.

4) Will the FMCSA provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before conducting their review?

There is no plan to give the public an opportunity to comment.

5)  What is the anticipated number of reviewers (3 or fewer; 4-10; or more than 10)?

There will be 3 or fewer reviewers conducting the peer review.

6)  What are the primary disciplines or expertise needed to conduct the peer review?

The primary expertise needed to conduct the peer review will be experts with structural engineering, cargo tank transportation and HM transportation knowledge and experience.

7)  Will reviewers be selected from within DOT or from an outside organization?  And will reviewers be selected by an outside organization?

The reviewers will be selected by the Chief of Hazardous Materials and will be chosen experts from other DOT modes or the commercial vehicle industry.

8)  Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers?

There are no plans to ask scientific or professional societies to nominate potential peer reviewers.

6.  Contact person:

Danny Shelton

E-mail:

danny.shelton@fmcsa.dot.gov

Phone:

202-366-0476