[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20350]



[[Page 40786]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice No. 98-7]


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 
March 12, 1998, RSPA inspectors conducted a compliance inspection at 
City Fire Equipment Company, Inc. (CFECI), 518 34th Street, Gulfport, 
Mississippi. During the inspection it was determined that CFECI had 
improperly retested a number of cylinders. The President of CFECI told 
inspectors that his company had not done any type of cylinder retesting 
since January 1998. Subsequent inspections of CFECI's customers 
indicate that CFECI has charged some of its customers for cylinder 
retesting and has marked cylinders as having been properly retested in 
accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) after January 
1998.
    Failure to properly conduct a hydrostatic retest can result in 
cylinders that should be condemned being returned to service. 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: Cheryl K. Johnson, Hazardous Materials 
Enforcement Specialist, Southern Region, telephone (404) 305-6120, 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: Through follow-up inspections of CFECI's 
customers, the inspectors found cylinders marked after January 1998 
with CFECI's retester identification number (RIN):

                B    8
                X        Y
                8    9

[Where B898 is CFECI's RIN number, X=month of retest (/e.g., (4) and 
Y=year of retest (e.g., 98)]
    CFECI provided inspectors with a list of customers with whom it has 
done business over the past year; however, RSPA has reason to believe 
that any cylinder that was marked with RIN B898 and last serviced by 
CFECI 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.
    Any person who has a cylinder marked with RIN B898 that was last 
serviced by CFECI should not charge or fill the cylinder with a 
hazardous 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 a DOT-authorized retest facility.
    It is further recommended that persons finding or possessing 
cylinders described in this safety notice contact Ms. Cheryl K. 
Johnson, for further information.

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 23, 1998.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-20350 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P