[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 100 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29203-29204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10081]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2007-28285; Notice No. 07-4]


Safety Advisory: Removal From Service of Liner-Less, Fully-
Wrapped Fiberglass Composite Cylinders

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice--Removal from service.

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SUMMARY: Recently, five (5) 33-pound propane cylinders authorized under 
DOT Special Permit (DOT-SP 13957) ruptured during storage at a facility 
in Miami, Florida. The purpose of this notice is to alert owners and 
users of certain cylinders manufactured under this special permit to 
potential safety problems and to advise them to remove the cylinders 
from service as outlined in this notice. Also, PHMSA requests 
information on any other failures or leakage of lading, involving all 
cylinders made under DOT-SP 13957, which include 10-pound, 20-pound, 
and 33-pound cylinders, that may not have been previously reported to 
the agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl West Freeman, Office of 
Hazardous Materials Technology, (202) 366-4545 or Wayne Chaney, Office 
of

[[Page 29204]]

Hazardous Materials Enforcement, (202) 834-3568, Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington DC 20590; or by e-mail to [email protected] and referring to the Docket and Notice numbers set 
forth above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has been notified of the rupture of 
five (5) 33-pound liner-less, fully wrapped fiberglass composite 
cylinders. The cylinders are of two-part construction, which are 
adhesively joined to form the completed cylinder. The cylinders have a 
permanently attached thermoplastic outer casing which provides 
protection from impact damage and serves as a carry handle. The 
ruptured cylinders were manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Company 
Incorporated (TLCCI) in Franklin, Tennessee, under DOT-SP 13957, in 
January 2007. The cylinders are marked DOT-SP 13957 followed by the 
service pressure, 294 psig. All of the failed cylinders were 33-pound 
cylinders, which were typically horizontally mounted to fuel forklift 
trucks. The cylinders were in liquefied petroleum gas (propane) 
service.
    The ruptures occurred during storage at the Heritage Propane 
facility in Miami, Florida. All cylinders involved were in storage on 
an outside platform and had been filled with propane. The first 
cylinder ruptured on April 4, 2007. The second cylinder ruptured on 
April 10, 2007. The third incident involved the rupture of three 
cylinders on April 13, 2007. The serial numbers were 14674, 14750, 
14757, 14866, and 14881. The dates of manufacture were from January 16 
to January 18, 2007. There were no injuries or property damage 
associated with any of the failures. PHMSA is currently conducting an 
investigation to determine the cause of the failures and the full scope 
of problems in the manufacturing process.
    In order to avoid any potential injury or damage, PHMSA is removing 
from service all cylinders of the same design as those involved in the 
incidents. Any person who owns, uses, fills, or retests a 33-pound 
propane cylinder marked DOT-SP 13957 should take the following actions:
    1. Do not vent the cylinder. Have only qualified persons safely 
discharge and purge the cylinder.
    2. Send the empty cylinders to the manufacturer at the following 
address: T.L.C.C.I., Incorporated, 112 Alpha Drive, Franklin, TN 37064.
    3. Provide the serial number of each returned cylinder to PHMSA at 
the contact address. Please note any problems that may have been 
witnessed with the cylinder (e.g. leaking, damage, etc.).
    4. Under no circumstances should a cylinder described in this 
safety advisory be filled, refilled, or used for the transportation of 
hazardous materials.
    Any person who is aware of the rupture of any cylinder, 10-pound, 
20-pound, or 33-pound, marked DOT-SP 13957, is requested to contact 
PHMSA, through one of the individuals or e-mail address listed under 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above, as soon as possible.
    This safety advisory is available for review on the Internet by 
accessing the HazMat Safety Homepage at http://hazmat.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2007.
Theodore L. Willke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-10081 Filed 5-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P