[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19651-19652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10397]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice No. 97-2]
Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Marking and Modification 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 and modification of high-pressure compressed gas
cylinders. On March 27, 1997, RSPA inspectors entered the premises of
Browns Welding Supply. They observed numerous compressed gas cylinders
and found a significant number marked with an expired Retester
Identification Number (RIN) or unauthorized RIN. Based on those RIN
markings and the inspectors' observations, RSPA believes that many of
these cylinders may not have been retested in accordance with the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180)(HMR).
Furthermore, the inspectors observed many cylinders that exhibited
evidence of improper grinding. Unauthorized grinding can have a
significant effect on a cylinder's minimum wall thickness, and
therefore, its structural integrity. Unauthorized grinding can remove
required markings and can be used to mask a cylinder's overall
condition. Serious personal injury, death, and property damage could
result from the rupture of a cylinder. Cylinders which have not been
retested in accordance with the HMR may not be charged or filled with a
hazardous material.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Smialek, Chief, Western
Region, telephone (909) 483-5624, Fax--(909) 483-5636, Office of
Hazardous Materials Enforcement, Research and Special Programs
Administration, Department of Transportation, 3200 Inland Empire
Boulevard, Suite 230, Ontario, CA 91764.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Thursday, March 27, 1997, RSPA inspectors
entered the premises of Browns Welding Supply located at 4165 State
Street, Pomona, California 91766
[[Page 19652]]
and 14412 East Valley Boulevard, La Puente, California 91746. They
observed a large number of cylinders that were marked with the
following two RINs:
(1)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AP97.003
where
X = month of retest
Y = year of retest
On September 1, 1988, RSPA issued RIN C274 for a 5-year period to
Coast Welding Supply in Oxnard, California. Coast Welding did not renew
its RIN and is no longer in business. Thus, the RIN expired on
September 1, 1993 and, after that date, persons are not authorized to
mark any cylinders with that RIN. RSPA believes that any cylinder
marked with RIN C274 between a test date of ``10 93'' or any later date
is not in compliance with the HMR. Under the HMR, hydrostatic retesting
is required to verify a cylinder's structural integrity. Thus, persons
who have a cylinder marked with this RIN and a date after September 1,
1993 should not charge or fill the cylinder without first having the
cylinder inspected/retested by a DOT-authorized retest facility.
(2)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AP97.004
where
X = month of retest
Y = year of retest
RIN A337 was issued to Altair/Ultratest, a Torrance, California
cylinder filler/shipper that also retests and stamps its own cylinders.
RSPA believes that persons, who were not authorized to use this RIN,
marked an unknown number of cylinders with Altair/Ultratest's RIN, in
violation of 49 CFR 173.34(e)(2). RSPA believes that many of these
cylinders also bear ``UT'', plus (+) sign and five-pointed star
() markings indicating that the cylinders have been tested with
ultrasonic equipment, can be filled to a pressure 10 percent in excess
of cylinder's marked service pressure and qualify for a ten-year
hydrostatic retest, respectively. Specifically with regard to the
``UT'' markings, Altair/Ultratest has indicated that it began
ultrasonic testing after April 1995. Therefore, RSPA believes that any
cylinder marked with RIN A337 earlier than ``4 95'' and bearing ``UT''
markings is not in compliance with the HMR and should not be charged or
filled without first having the cylinder inspected/retested by a DOT-
authorized retest facility. It is important to note, however, that
other cylinders marked with RIN A337 and test dates after ``4 95'' with
or without the ``UT'', ``+'' and () markings may not be in
compliance with the HMR.
RSPA also believes that an unknown number of cylinders bearing RINs
C274 and A337 (and possibly others) had permanent markings (e.g. ICC/
DOT-specifications, service pressures, original manufacturers' dates
and Independent Inspection Agency (IIA) marks, and older hydrostatic
test dates) ground off and were then restamped with more contemporary
information before or after painting. The grinding may have included
areas of corrosion or other imperfections which may have met the
criteria for rejection on visual examination in accordance with 49 CFR
173.34(e)(3) and Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet C-6, Standards for
Visual Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas Cylinders. Some cylinder neck
collars, which generally indicate the cylinder owner, were also
subjected to grinding and may be detected by a ``wavy'', irregular
appearance. In some cases, the ground areas of cylinders may appear
smoother to the touch when compared to untouched areas adjacent to them
or these areas may reveal paint brush strokes which contrast to other
untouched areas of the cylinder surface. This grinding may have a
significant effect on the minimum wall thickness and, therefore, the
overall integrity of the cylinder. In some cases, cylinders may have a
``putty-like'' substance applied to the area adjacent to the cylinder's
valve. This substance may cover defects in the cylinder and prevent a
complete visual inspection.
Should any evidence of unauthorized or improper grinding be found,
the cylinder(s) may not be used until a DOT-authorized cylinder retest
facility has reinspected and retested the cylinder(s) as required by 49
CFR 173.34(e). If a cylinder fails the reinspection and retest or the
DOT-authorized cylinder retest facility cannot verify the markings on a
cylinder, the cylinder must be condemned in accordance with 49 CFR
173.34(e)(6).
Filled cylinders (if filled with an atmospheric gas) described in
this safety notice 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
notice be filled, refilled or used for any purpose other than scrap,
absent reinspection and retest by a DOT-authorized retest facility.
Persons possessing cylinders described in this safety notice, and
marked with RIN A337, can contact Altair/Ultratest to verify the
cylinder's retest information and markings. Altair/Ultratest will
require the cylinder's serial number and dimensions/size/capacity.
Altair/Ultratest requests this information by fax (Fax Number: (310)
371-2162).
It is further recommended that persons finding or possessing
cylinders described in this safety notice contact Anthony Smialek for
further information and instructions.
Issued in Washington, DC on April 16, 1997.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-10397 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P