[Federal Register: December 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 238)]
[Notices]               
[Page 69590]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13de99-123]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-99-5143, Notice No. 99-15]

 
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 high-pressure, compressed 
gas cylinders were marked but may not have been tested by Fire 
Extinguisher Sales & Service (FESS), 1100 Weimer Road, Bloomington, 
Indiana. Those cylinders may pose a safety risk to the public. During a 
September 28, 1998 compliance inspection, RSPA determined that FESS had 
marked an undetermined number of cylinders as having been properly 
retested in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) 
without retesting the cylinders. In addition, RSPA determined that FESS 
had marked cylinders as tested in accordance with the HMR without 
holding a Retester Identification Number (RIN) issued by RSPA.
    A hydrostatic retest and visual inspection, conducted as prescribed 
in the HMR, are used to verify the structural integrity of a cylinder. 
If the hydrostatic retest and visual inspection are not performed in 
accordance with the HMR, a cylinder with compromised structural 
integrity may be returned to service when it should be condemned. 
Serious personal injury, death, or 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 compressed 
gas or other hazardous material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guadalupe Castellanos, Hazardous 
Materials Enforcement Specialist, Central Region, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Enforcement, Research and Special Programs Administration, US 
Department of Transportation, 2350 East Devon Avenue, Suite 136, Des 
Plaines, IL 60018. Telephone: (847) 294-8580, (847) 294-8590 fax.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on its inspection, RSPA learned from 
FESS that it had been servicing cylinders without holding a RIN for 
nearly 30 years. Furthermore, the condition of the equipment at the 
time of inspection indicated that it had not been used by FESS to 
hydrostatically test cylinders for quite some time. FESS indicated in a 
written statement to RSPA that it had represented cylinders as properly 
tested when no tests had been performed. Because FESS failed to 
maintain accurate records of retest and reinspection, it is impossible 
to determine the number of cylinders that FESS has marked without 
retesting or retested without a RIN. These cylinders may pose a safety 
risk to the public.
    Cylinders serviced by FESS prior to November 23, 1998, are marked 
on their shoulders with the letters ``M'' and ``L'' separating the 
month and year of the alleged hydrostatic retest. For example:

                                    M
                                 5    98
                                    L


    Anyone who has a cylinder that was last serviced by FESS or marked 
with an ``M'' and ``L'' should consider the retest marking invalid and 
should not refill and offer the cylinder for transportation until it 
has been successfully retested.
    It is further recommended that persons finding or possessing 
cylinders described in this safety notice contact Ms. Guadalupe 
Castellanos for additional information.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 8, 1999.
Robert A. McGuire,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-32202 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P