[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63191-63192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25790]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA 2002-11270, Notice No. 02-8]


Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Stamping of DOT specification 
Compressed Gas Cylinders

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that RSPA has documented the 
unauthorized stamping of indentations in the side walls of high-
pressure

[[Page 63192]]

compressed gas cylinders by Blue Water Divers (Blue Water), Ltd., Road 
Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The cylinders are being used in 
the SCUBA industry. An undetermined number of the SCUBA cylinders or 
``dive tanks'' owned by Blue Water Divers were stamped with month and 
year markings in the side walls of the cylinders. RSPA has determined 
that some of the cylinders may have been sold to individuals or U.S. 
companies and possibly are being used for transportation of hazardous 
materials in commerce in the U.S. All cylinders observed were DOT 3AL 
aluminum cylinders, but other cylinder types may be involved.
    The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) specifically prohibit 
stamping in the side wall of compressed gas cylinders, except DOT 3E 
cylinders, because doing so could compromise the structural integrity 
of the cylinder. The HMR prohibit the charging or filling of DOT 
specification or exemption cylinders with compressed gas or other 
hazardous materials and the offering for transportation of cylinders 
with markings stamped in the side walls. Furthermore, the HMR prohibit 
hydrostatic retesting and the return to service of cylinders that have 
been stamped on the side wall of the cylinder. Any cylinders that are 
marked on the side wall should be condemned in accordance with the HMR. 
Serious personal injury, death, or property damage could result from 
rupture of a cylinder.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Bunn, Hazardous Materials 
Enforcement Specialist, Southern Region, Office of Hazardous Materials 
Enforcement, Research and Special Programs, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 520, College Park, GA 
30337. Telephone: (404) 305-6120. Fax: (404) 305-6125.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RSPA has documented the unauthorized marking 
of high-pressure compressed gas cylinders on the side wall of the 
cylinder by Blue Water Divers (Blue Water), Ltd., Road Town, Tortola, 
British Virgin Islands. The tanks are being used in the SCUBA industry. 
An undetermined number of the SCUBA cylinders or ``dive tanks'' owned 
by Blue Water Divers were stamped with month and year markings in the 
side walls of the cylinders. RSPA has determined that some of the 
cylinders may have been sold to individuals or U.S. companies and 
possibly are being used for transportation of hazardous materials in 
commerce in the U.S. Some of the cylinders have been requalified in 
DOT-certified hydrostatic retest facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
The cylinders in question may have stickers on the side walls that may 
cover the side-wall stamps. All cylinders observed were DOT 3AL 
aluminum cylinders, but other cylinder types may be involved.
    The HMR specifically prohibit the stamping of markings in the side 
walls of compressed gas cylinders because doing so could compromise the 
structural integrity of the cylinder. The HMR prohibit the charging or 
filling of cylinders with compressed gas or other hazardous materials 
when the cylinders have been stamped on their side walls. Furthermore, 
the HMR prohibit hydrostatic retesting and return to service of 
cylinders with markings stamped in the side walls. Any cylinder found 
to have been stamped with markings on the side wall of the cylinder 
should be condemned in accordance with the HMR. Serious personal 
injury, death, or property damage could result from rupture of a 
cylinder.
    Based on its preliminary investigation, RSPA learned that Blue 
Water has submitted some of these cylinders for requalification in the 
U.S. Virgin Islands or has sold some of these cylinders that are now 
being used in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some of these cylinders may have 
a sticker on the side of the cylinder with the name ``Blue Water 
Divers'' on the sticker. Others may simply be stamped on the side of 
the cylinder. Any cylinder that has a sticker as described above should 
be closely inspected. You should remove the sticker and inspect for any 
unauthorized markings or stamping on the side of the cylinder.
    The cylinders observed are stamped on the side wall with a marking 
of a month and a year. For example:
 2 00
    Some cylinders have multiple months and years stamped on the sides 
of the cylinders. All labels, stickers and bands should always be 
removed from cylinders prior to requalification. Cylinders described in 
this safety advisory, or any cylinder with side-wall stamping or 
unauthorized markings, should not be filled, refilled, retested or 
requalified for use in underwater breathing or for any hazardous 
material purpose. These cylinders should be condemned in accordance 
with the HMR. RSPA requests that any person possessing a cylinder 
described in this safety advisory telephone, or provide a facsimile to, 
Robert Bunn with the following information for each cylinder: (1) The 
cylinder manufacturer's name, (2) the serial number of the cylinder, 
(3) the DOT specification or exemption information for the cylinder, 
and (4) details concerning the acquisition and subsequent disposition 
of the cylinders.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 4, 2002.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-25790 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P