[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7047-7049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3303]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[Notice 97-1]


Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Cargo Tanks Used to Transport 
Hazardous Materials

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that certain specification DOT 
407 and DOT 412 cargo tank motor vehicles manufactured by Prairie State 
Equipment, doing business as Petro Steel, in Mitchell, SD, are not 
authorized for the transportation of hazardous materials unless the 
original accident damage protection devices have been modified to 
improve their structural strength. Failure of these devices during a 
collision could result in serious injury, death, and property damage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Quade, Office of Motor 
Carrier Safety and Technology, (202) 366-0476; Federal Highway 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 
4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cargo tanks represented, marked, certified, 
or sold for use in the bulk transportation of hazardous materials must 
conform with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) (49 CFR 171-
180). Specification DOT 407 and DOT 412 cargo tanks are authorized to 
transport numerous hazardous materials including flammable liquids 
(e.g., toluene), poisonous liquids, (e.g., pesticides), corrosive 
liquids (e.g., sulfuric acid), and others. Due to the risk of 
transporting these types of materials in bulk, the DOT 407 and DOT 412 
cargo tank specifications require these tanks to be protected from 
damage during rear-end or rollover accidents. Requirements concerning 
the size and strength of these accident damage protection devices are 
set forth in Sec. 178.345-8.
    During a compliance review of Prairie State Equipment, doing 
business as Petro Steel, in Mitchell, SD, the FHWA discovered that 
rollover protection devices and rear-end protection devices as 
manufactured and installed on some cargo tanks did not meet the 
requirements of the DOT specifications. Since these tanks were not 
equipped with adequate accident damage protection devices required by 
the specifications, they may not be represented as specification cargo 
tanks and may not be used to transport hazardous materials which 
require a specification cargo tank. Specifically, as manufactured by 
Petro Steel, the rollover damage protection devices installed on the 
following cargo tanks did not meet the requirements of the 
specifications:

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 Vehicle identification No./serial No.            DOT specification                       Design type           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
93115..................................  DOT 407                              CVA-5-TM                          
1P9TAR203R2021217......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR208R2021214......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR20XS2021219......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            

[[Page 7048]]

                                                                                                                
1P9TAR20XR2021215......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR208S2021218......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR206S2021220......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR207P2021203......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR200P2021205......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25                            
1P9TAR209P2021204......................  DOT 407                              CVT-25-SS                         
94101..................................  DOT 412                              CST-38                            
94102..................................  DOT 412                              CST-38                            
92130..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-42                            
92123..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-45                            
92124..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-45                            
94103..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-55                            
92120..................................  DOT 407/412                          CTM-70-SS                         
95101..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
95104..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
93114..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
93113..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
92125..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
93116..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
94108..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
93117..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-70                            
93105..................................  DOT 407                              CRO-70                            
92121..................................  DOT 407/412                          CTM-80                            
94105..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-80                            
92117..................................  DOT 407/412                          CTM-80                            
93118..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-80                            
95102..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-80                            
92131..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-80                            
94109..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-80                            
92119..................................  DOT 407                              CTO-80                            
93100..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-90                            
93119..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-90                            
95100..................................  DOT 407                              CTM-110-2                         
1P9TAA208N2021189......................  DOT 407                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA207N2021197......................  DOT 407                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA204R2021213......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA200R2021208......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-2                         
1P9TAA209N2021198......................  DOT 407                              CVT-130-2                         
1P9TAA209R2021207......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA200R2021209......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA202R2021210......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA209R2021211......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA200R2021212......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA207R2021206......................  DOT 412                              CVT-160-2                         
1P9TBA209N2021194......................  DOT 407                              CVT-196                           
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    Additionally, as manufactured by Petro Steel, the rear-end 
protection devices installed on the following cargo tanks did not meet 
the requirements of the specifications:

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 Vehicle identification No./serial No.            DOT specification                       Design type           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1P9TAA208N2021189......................  DOT 407                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA207N2021197......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA204R2021213......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130                           
1P9TAA200R2021208......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-2                         
1P9TAA209N2021198......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-2                         
1P9TAA209R2021207......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA200R2021209......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA202R2021210......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA209R2021211......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA200R2021212......................  DOT 412                              CVT-130-SS                        
1P9TAA207R2021206......................  DOT 412                              CVT-160-2                         
1P9TBA209N2021194......................  DOT 407                              CVT-196                           
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    Cargo tanks listed above may be used to transport hazardous 
materials if they have been modified to a design certified by Petro 
Steel or another Design Certifying Engineer (DCE) as meeting the 
requirements of Sec. 178.345-8. Cargo tanks which have not had 
appropriate modifications must have the DOT specification plate 
removed, obliterated, or covered and may not be used to transport 
hazardous materials requiring a specification cargo tank.

    Authority: 49 CFR 1.48.


[[Page 7049]]


    Issued on: February 3, 1998.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-3303 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M