West Building, W35-322

U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E.

of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590

Federal Railroad Administration

FRA-AIP201205-01

REVIEW DATE: January 1, 2025

1. GRANTEE:

BASF Corporation

100 Park Avenue

Florham Park, New Jersey 07932

2. PURPOSE:

a. This approval authorizes the use of an Alternative 

Inspection and Test Program (AIP) as allowed by 49 CFR 

180.509(l) Alternative inspection and test procedures. This 

letter provides no relief from the Hazardous Materials 

Regulations (HMR) other than as specifically stated herein.

The most recent revision supersedes all previous revisions.

b. The damage tolerance analysis or service reliability 

assessment performed in the development of this AIP only 

considered the hazards and risks associated with the 

transportation in commerce.

c. This approval of this AIP is non-transferrable.

d. This approval only applies to the following 5 tank 

cars: DBCX 200834, DBCX 200835, DBCX 200836, DBCX 200837 

and DBCX 200847

3. REGULATIONS AFFECTED: 49 CFR §§ 180.509(f), 180.509(h), 

180.509(k)

4. BASIS: This approval is based on the application of BASF 

CORPORATION dated September 2, 2004 submitted in accordance 

with § 180.509(l).
Continuation of FRA-AIP 201205-01 Page 2

5. INSPECTION AND TEST PROCEDURES:

a. Definitions

1. Service Reliability Assessment – the process, 

using in-service data, to determine the time a tank 

car or component will continue to function as designed 

under specified conditions.

2. Tank Car Owner – the person to whom a rail car’s 

reporting marks are assigned, as listed in the 

Universal Machine Language Equipment Register (UMLER).

3. Damage-Tolerance Analysis – Determination of the 

probable locations and modes of damage due to fatigue, 

corrosion or accidental damage. The analysis must 

establish a period of time/load cycles during which it 

is demonstrated that widespread fatigue or corrosion 

damage will not occur in the tank car structure.

b. DESIGN LEVEL OF RELIABILITY AND SAFETY – BASF 

CORPORATION must ensure that the tank car tank thickness 

does not decrease its design level of reliability and 

safety.

6. SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

a. A person who is not a holder of this approval who 

receives a package covered by this AIP may reoffer it for 

transportation provided no modification or change is made 

to the package or its contents and it is reoffered for 

transportation in conformance with this approval and the 

HMR.

b. A current copy of this approval must be maintained at 

each facility where the package is maintained and/or

repaired.

c. If a tank car operating under this approval is removed 

from the AIP, any AIP markings must be removed.

7. COMPLIANCE: Failure by a person to comply with any of the 

following may result in suspension or revocation of this 

approval and penalties prescribed by the Federal hazardous 

materials transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.
Continuation of FRA-AIP 201205-01 Page 3

a. The grantee must comply with all terms and conditions 

prescribed in this approval and the Hazardous Materials 

Regulations, 49 CFR Parts 171-180.

b. Each "Hazmat employee", as defined in § 171.8, who 

performs a function subject to this approval must receive 

training on the requirements and conditions of this AIP in 

addition to the training required by §§ 172.700 through 

172.704.

c. No person may use or apply this AIP, including display 

of its number, when this approval has lapsed or is 

otherwise no longer in effect.

8. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

a. BASF CORPORATION must notify the Associate 

Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer, in 

writing no later than 30 days after any incident involving 

a Tank Car conducted under terms of this AIP.

b. BASF CORPORATION must report instances of corrosion 

damage or tank failure not considered in the damage 

tolerance analysis or service reliability assessment on any 

car subject to this approval to Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) within five days of being notified of 

such occurrence.

9. LIMITATIONS:

a. If a tank car operating under this approval is 

transferred from BASF COPORATION to another Tank Car Owner 

then the tank car will no longer be subject to the relief 

granted under this approval and all the above required 

stenciling must be removed. The qualification due date must 

be changed to reflect the new Tank Car Owner’s 

qualification interval in accordance with the new Tank Car 

Owner’s qualification and maintenance program. If the new 

due date is in the past, the qualification is due 

immediately.

10. CANCELLATION:

a. The FRA may rescind this approval for failure to 

comply with its terms.
Continuation of FRA-AIP 201205-01 Page 4

b. When the last car operating under this approval 

completes its initial fifteen (15) year qualification 

interval or is divested, BASF CORPORATION must notify FRA

within ninety (90) days of the termination of this program.

Issued in Washington, D.C.:

______________________________________ November 9, 2020

Karl Alexy

Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety

Chief Safety Officer

Address all inquiries to: Randy M Keltz Jr., Manager, Tank Car 

Safety Programs, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, Southeast, Washington, D.C. 20590.

Photo reproductions and legible reductions of this approval are 

permitted. Any alteration of this approval is prohibited.

REVISION HISTORY

REV DATE DESCRIPTION

05/2012 Original approval

A 10/2020 Updated format, added new requirements