[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10547-10548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5447]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 56

[USCG-1998-3560]


Coast Guard Acceptance of Resiliently Seated Valves

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of policy; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces an interim policy concerning the 
acceptance of resiliently seated valves as an alternatives to the 
requirements in 46 CFR 56.20-15. Additionally, the Coast Guard requests 
the public's comments on how the Coast Guard should proceed in the 
future regarding any regulatory revision of the current criteria for 
the acceptance of resiliently seated valves as contained in 46 CFR 
56.20-15.

DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
May 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility, 
[USCG-1998-3560], U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 
7th Street SW., Washington DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to Room PL-
401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same 
address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366-9329.

    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at Room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif 
Building at the address above between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also access this 
docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Wayne M. Lundy, Systems Engineering Division (G-MSE-3), U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, telephone (202) 267-2206 for questions concerning 
the substance of this notice or Carol Kelly, Coast Guard Dockets Team 
Leader, or Paulette Twine, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, telephone (202) 366-9329 for questions 
concerning the filing and reviewing of comments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identify this notice [USCG-1998-3560] and the reason for 
each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing to the DOT Docket Management Facility at 
the address under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt 
of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or 
envelopes. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during 
the comment period and may change this policy in view of the comments.

Background and Purpose

    Over the past twelve months, the Coast Guard has received several 
inquiries from the marine industry, including valve manufacturers and 
distributors, regarding the acceptance criteria for resiliently seated 
valves addressed in 46 CFR 56.20-15. The current issue is whether the 
existing acceptance criteria found in the 1989 version of 46 CFR 56.20-
15. The current issue is whether the existing acceptance criteria found 
in the 1989 version of 46 CFR 56.20-15 is significantly stricter than 
the criteria previously applied to the resiliently seated valves 
grandfathered by the regulatory project on vessel piping systems (CGD 
77-140; 50 FR 1072, January 9, 1985, and 54 FR 40592, October 2, 1989). 
In the preamble to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on vessel piping 
systems (CGD 77-140; 50 FR 1074, January 9, 1985), Category A 
resiliently seated valves were previously recognized by the Coast Guard 
as acceptable for continued service, without additional testing, 
provided there were no changes in the design or materials, and no 
casualty data or Coast Guard tests which would indicate a need to 
withdraw the acceptance. The preamble to the Final Rule on vessel 
piping systems (CGD 77-140; 54 FR 40592, October 2, 1989), stated that 
46 CFR 56.20-15 was revised to clarify the requirements of resiliently 
seated valves. However, neither the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking nor 
the Final Rule discussed that the intent of the regulatory changes to 
46 CFR 56.20-15 was to increase the acceptance criteria for new 
resiliently seated valves beyond the previous acceptance criteria 
applied to resiliently seated valves.
    Recent inquiries have caused the Coast Guard to review and re-
evaluate past policies and practices employed in the development and 
evolution of the acceptance criteria for resiliently seated valves over 
the past 35 years. In addition, the Coast Guard reviewed its casualty 
data available during the same period. From this effort, the Coast 
Guard concluded that the existing acceptance criteria contained in 46 
CFR 56.20-15 did, in fact, exceed the acceptance criteria applied to 
previously accepted resiliently seated valves, but that the change in 
acceptance criteria was unintended. Additionally, the Coast Guard was 
unable to identify any casualty data which justified an increase in the 
stringency of the criteria for acceptance of new resiliently seated 
valves.
    As a result of this review, the Coast Guard will, as an interim 
policy until a regulatory project can be published to revise 46 CFR 
56.20-15, consider new resiliently seated valves for acceptance as 
Category A that demonstrate a level of safety equivalent to previously 
accepted resiliently seated valves that have shown satisfactory service 
for at least 5 years. This may be done by demonstrating that the valves 
provide for performance or dimensional equivalence to previously 
accepted resiliently seated valve designs. Precedent for acceptance of 
equivalents

[[Page 10548]]

exists in other sections of Title 46, such as 46 CFR 30.15-1. The 
comparisons for performance or dimensional equivalence must be 
certified by a recognized independent testing facility, a 
classification society recognized under the Alternate Compliance 
Program, or a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) acceptable under 
the provisions of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 10-
92. This written certification should be submitted with other 
supporting documentation when applying for approval by the Coast Guard.
    Comparison tests of performance should demonstrate that the 
effective closure (internal leakage with the resilient seat removed) of 
a new resiliently seated valve is equivalent with that of a previously 
accepted resiliently seated valve. New resiliently seated valves being 
submitted for acceptance by the Coast Guard based on performance 
equivalency must have a flow coefficient (Cv), when in the closed 
condition with the resilient material removed, that is within 
acceptable tolerances, as indicated in Instrument Society of America 
standard ISA-S75.02-1996, of the Cv of a previously accepted 
resiliently seated valve. New resiliently seated valves being submitted 
to the Coast Guard for acceptance based on dimensional equivalency must 
demonstrate that the dimensions of the pressure-containing components 
(valve body, disk, and stem, etc.) are within acceptable tolerances, 
based on a recognized industry standard, such as American Petroleum 
Institute (API) 609 (1997), Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) 
SP-67 (1990), or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B16.10 
(1992), of the dimensions of the previously accepted resiliently seated 
valve. Regardless of which method is demonstrated, the materials of the 
pressure-containing components for all new resiliently seated valves 
shall comply with the requirements of 46 CFR 56.60.
    Notwithstanding this interim policy, valve manufacturers continue 
to have the option of demonstrating compliance with the existing 
regulations in 46 CFR 56.20-15. Those seeking acceptance of new 
resiliently seated valves under the provisions of this policy notice 
or, alternatively, those choosing to continue to use the existing 46 
CFR 56.20-15, should submit supporting documentation for approval to 
the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.
    Additionally, the Coast Guard solicits the public's comments on how 
it should proceed with the revision or amendment of the existing 
regulatory requirements for resiliently seated valves as contained in 
46 CFR 56.20-15. The Cost Guard has identified five potential options 
on how to proceed as follows: incorporation by reference of an industry 
standard (develop a suitable industry standard working in conjunction 
with a voluntary standards development organization, e.g., the American 
Society for Testing and Materials F-25 Technical Committee on 
Shipbuilding); evaluation of the need to have any standard for 
resiliently seated valves; revise the acceptance criteria requirements 
within existing 46 CFR 56.20-15 to reflect acceptance criteria applied 
to previously accepted resiliently seated valves; maintain the 
acceptance criteria contained in existing 46 CFR 56.20-15 and set an 
effective date upon which the acceptance of previously accepted 
resiliently seated valves would terminate; or maintain the acceptance 
criteria as currently exists in 46 CFR 56.20-15. The preferred option 
for the Coast Guard, at this juncture, is to pursue development of an 
industry standard which can be considered for incorporation by 
reference into 46 CFR 56.20-15. Therefore, the Coast Guard encourages 
submission of written data, views, or arguments regarding the five 
options addresses above or any other alternative option. Also, the Coat 
Guard is soliciting comments which address. The service history of 
previously accepted resiliently seated valves; compliance of previously 
accepted resiliently seated valve designs with the current leakage rate 
criteria found in 46 CFR 56.20-15(c)(1); the need for a leakage rate 
criteria with the seat removed as an option in lieu of fire tests; 
compliance of designs with an acceptable fire test (e.g., American 
Petroleum Institute (API) standard 607); and the need for the current 
three categories of resiliently seated valves, (Category A, Category B, 
and positive shut-off). The Cost Guard will carefully consider all 
comments received and may initiate a regulatory project to adopt one of 
these or another alternative.

    Dated February 26, 1998.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection
[FR Doc. 98-5447 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M