[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42817-42818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0176, Notice No. 13-11]


Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Filling of Compressed Gas Cylinders

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

ACTION: Safety Advisory Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that PHMSA has confirmed that 
North American Coil and Beverage Group, 15641 E 10 Mile Road, 
Eastpointe, MI, 48021, improperly filled and offered for transportation 
high pressure compressed gas cylinders without verifying that they met 
the appropriate safety requirements for continued use. The Eastpointe 
Michigan Fire Department alerted the Michigan State Police, who in turn 
alerted PHMSA of an incident on June 25, 2013, in which a high pressure 
DOT 3A 1800 cylinder filled and provided by North American Coil and 
Beverage Group with carbon dioxide catastrophically burst at Sullivan's 
Bar in Eastpointe, Michigan

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: North American Coil and Beverage 
Group: Mr. Len Santamaria, Manager, 15641 E 10 Mile Road, Eastpointe,

[[Page 42818]]

Michigan 48021, Telephone (586) 775-7229, to arrange for the return of 
these empty cylinders.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA determined that North American Coil 
and Beverage Group improperly filled various types of high pressure US 
DOT and special permit cylinders with compressed gases without 
verifying that they met the appropriate safety requirements for 
continued use. The DOT 3A 1800 cylinder that failed was manufactured by 
Morcar in 1973 and had not been requalified since May, 1996. DOT 3A 
1800 cylinders used in carbon dioxide service must be successfully 
requalified through a visual inspection and a pressure test at least 
once every 5 years. Cylinders that are not properly and routinely 
inspected and requalified as required may not possess the structural 
integrity to safely contain their contents under pressure during normal 
transportation and use. Extensive property damage, serious personal 
injury, or death could result from a rupture of a cylinder.
    Because North American Coil and Beverage Group did not have their 
cylinders requalified prior to filling them and the fact that one 
catastrophically failed, PHMSA questions the condition of all of the 
cylinders owned and filled by North American Coil and Beverage. These 
cylinders should be considered unsafe and unauthorized for the filling 
of hazardous material unless and until they are first tested properly 
by an individual or company authorized by DOT to requalify DOT 
specification cylinders. Anyone who had their carbonated beverage 
service cylinders filled and provided by North American Coil and 
Beverage Group is advised to remove these cylinders from service 
immediately and contact a cylinder filler to have the cylinders 
depressurized. North American Coil and Beverage Group will contact 
their customers with further instructions on returning the empty 
cylinders.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 12, 2013.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-17121 Filed 7-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P