[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53873-53874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27476]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice No. 97-11]


Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Marking of Compressed Gas Cylinders

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that RSPA is investigating the 
unauthorized marking of high-pressure compressed gas cylinders. On 
August 14 and 15, 1997, RSPA inspectors conducted a compliance 
inspection at Columbia Fire Protection Company (CFP), 3811 Contractors 
Place, Memphis, Tennessee. During the inspection it was determined that 
CFP was not registered or approved by DOT as a cylinder retester and 
was incapable of performing hydrostatic tests in accordance with the 
requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). Subsequent 
inspection of CFP's customers revealed numerous cylinders marked by CFP 
with unauthorized Retester Identification Numbers and certified by CFP 
as retested in accordance with the HMR.
    Failure to properly conduct a hydrostatic retest can result in 
cylinders that should be condemned being returned to service. The HMR 
requires that properly tested cylinders exceeding the allowable 10 
percent permanent expansion be condemned and removed from service (49 
CFR 173.34(e)(6)(i)(D)). Serious personal injury, death, and property 
damage could result from rupture of a cylinder. Cylinders that have not 
been retested in accordance with the HMR may not be charged or filled 
with a hazardous material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Chaney, Hazardous Materials 
Enforcement Specialist, Southern Region, telephone (404) 305-6126, Fax 
(404) 305-6125, Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement, Research and 
Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation, 1701 
Columbia Ave, DHM-46, Suite 520, College Park, GA 30337.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Thursday, August 14, and Friday, August 
15, 1997, RSPA inspectors conducted a compliance inspection at Columbia 
Fire Protection Company (CFP) in Memphis, Tennessee. Through follow-up 
inspections of CFP's customers, the inspectors observed a large number 
of cylinders marked with the following two Retester Identification 
Numbers (RINs):
    (1)
        B    4

    X            Y

        3    2

where
X = month of retest
Y = year of retest

    (2)
        O    9

    X            Y

        7    8

where
X = month of retest
Y = year of retest

    On October 10, 1982, RSPA issued RIN B423 for a 5-year period to 
Walker Fire Protection Service, Inc. (Walker). Walker has renewed this 
RIN and is the current holder. Therefore, Walker is the only authorized 
user. Any cylinders marked and serviced by Walker are not a part of 
this safety advisory.
    The RIN 0987 has never been issued by RSPA and is not an authorized 
RIN.
    RSPA believes that any cylinder marked with RIN B423 or RIN O987 
and was last serviced by CFP is not in compliance with the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMR) (49 CFR Parts 171-180). Under the HMR, 
hydrostatic retesting is required to verify a cylinder's structural 
integrity. Thus, any person who has a cylinder marked with RIN B423 or 
RIN O987 and was last serviced by CFP may not charge or fill the 
cylinder with a hazardous

[[Page 53874]]

material without first having it inspected/retested by a DOT-authorized 
retest facility. Filled cylinders (if filled with an atmospheric gas) 
described in this safety advisory should be vented or otherwise 
properly and safely evacuated and purged, and taken to a DOT-authorized 
cylinder retest facility for visual reinspection and retest to 
determine compliance with the HMR. Under no circumstances should a 
cylinder described in this safety advisory be filled, refilled or used 
for any purpose other than scrap, until it is reinspected and retested 
by DOT-authorized retest facility.
    It is further recommended that persons finding or possessing 
cylinders described in this safety notice contact Mr. Chaney, for 
further information and instructions.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1997.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-27476 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P