[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64590-64591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25870]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0170, Notice No. 12-7]


Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Marking of Compressed Gas Cylinders

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

ACTION: Safety Advisory Notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this safety advisory to notify the public of 
the unauthorized marking of high pressure compressed gas cylinders by 
George Welding & Supply Co., Inc. located at 205 Tombs Lane, 
Montoursville, PA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mitchell Brown, Hazardous Materials 
Investigator, Eastern Region, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 306, West Trenton, NJ 
08034. Telephone: (609) 989-2256, Fax: (609) 989-2277 or, via email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Investigators from PHMSA's Office of 
Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) recently conducted a compliance 
inspection of George Welding & Supply Co., Inc. As a result of that 
inspection, PHMSA has determined that George Welding & Supply Co., Inc. 
marked an unknown number of high pressure compressed gas cylinders with 
unauthorized Requalifier Identification Numbers (RIN). In addition, the 
evidence suggests that George Welding & Supply Co., Inc. marked and 
certified an unknown number of high pressure compressed gas cylinders 
as being properly requalified in accordance with the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMR) when it had not conducted the testing 
prescribed by the HMR. PHMSA has no record that George Welding & Supply 
Co., Inc. was ever approved to requalify DOT-specification cylinders or 
mark such cylinders as being requalified.
    The evidence suggests that George Welding & Supply Co., Inc. used 
RINs that were issued by PHMSA to other companies authorizing cylinder 
requalification. The companies whose RINs were used without 
authorization are: C171--Proshield Fire Protection, Waterloo, IA; 
C004--Swartz Fire & Safety Equipment Co., Inc., Bellefonte, PA; C411--
Advanced Fire Protection Services, Inc., Ft. Walton Beach, FL; C951--
Peifer's Fire Protection, Inc., Pillow, PA; D477--NASCO, Colorado 
Springs, CO; D575--Sea Sports, Inc., Hyannis, MA; D576--Chenango 
Welding Supply, LLC; A101--Airgas North Central, Waterloo, IA; and 
D322--Allstate Fire Equipment Co. Each of the previously indicated 
companies with an authorized RIN has been granted authority to 
requalify cylinders under the terms of the RIN supplied to them. Thus, 
if cylinders were serviced by the aforementioned companies, they are 
not subject to this notice. Only cylinders serviced by George Welding & 
Supply Co., Inc. baring these markings are affected.
    A cylinder requalification consisting of a visual inspection and a 
hydrostatic test, conducted as prescribed in the HMR, is used to verify 
the structural integrity of a cylinder. If the requalification is not 
performed in accordance with the HMR, a cylinder with compromised 
structural integrity may be inadvertently returned to service when it 
should be condemned. Extensive property damage, serious personal 
injury, or death could result from rupture of a cylinder.

[[Page 64591]]

    If cylinders have been taken to or received from George Welding & 
Supply Co., Inc., between calendar years 2001 through 2012, these 
cylinders may not have been properly tested as prescribed by the HMR. 
These cylinders should be considered unsafe and unauthorized for the 
filling of hazardous material, unless and until the cylinder is first 
tested properly by an individual or company authorized to requalify DOT 
specification cylinders. Cylinders described in this safety advisory 
that are filled with an atmospheric gas should be vented or otherwise 
safely discharged. Cylinders that are filled with a material other than 
an atmospheric gas should not be vented but instead should be safely 
discharged. Prior to refilling, the cylinders must be taken to a DOT-
authorized cylinder requalifier to ensure their suitability for 
continued service. A list of authorized requalifiers may be obtained at 
this Web site: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a/approvals/cylinders.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 16, 2012.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-25870 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P