[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