[Federal Register: September 1, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 53497]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01se04-131]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-2004-18975, Notice No. 04-5]
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 RSPA is investigating the
unauthorized marking of high-pressure compressed gas cylinders by New
England Ski and Scuba, LLC, 520 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT, 06066.
New England Ski and Scuba's approval to requalify DOT specification
cylinders was issued by RSPA under the company name, K&B Enterprises.
RSPA believes that New England Ski and Scuba marked and certified an
undetermined number of high-pressure DOT specification and exemption
cylinders as properly tested in accordance with the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR), when the cylinders were not hydrostatically
retested, or when the cylinders were improperly tested and inspected.
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.
Extensive property damage, serious personal injury, or death could
result from rupture of a cylinder. Cylinders not retested in accordance
with the HMR may not be charged or filled with compressed gas or other
hazardous material and offered for transportation in commerce.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Lima, Senior Hazardous
Materials Enforcement Specialist, Eastern Region, Office of Hazardous
Materials Enforcement, Research and Special Programs Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 306, W.
Trenton, NJ 08034. Telephone: (609) 989-2252, Fax: (609) 989-2277.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its investigation of New England Ski
and Scuba, RSPA obtained evidence that the company marked and certified
an undetermined number of cylinders as properly tested in accordance
with the HMR without conducting proper testing of the cylinders.
Therefore, all cylinders marked and certified as requalified by New
England Ski and Scuba may pose a safety risk to the public and should
be considered unsafe for use in hazardous materials service until
retested by a DOT-authorized facility. The cylinder types in question
are carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, industrial gas cylinders,
medical oxygen cylinders, and Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus (SCUBA) tanks.
New England Ski and Scuba's Retester Identification Number (RIN) is
C626. The cylinders in question are stamped with RIN C626 in the
following pattern:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01SE04.016
Anyone who has a cylinder serviced by New England Ski and Scuba,
and has not retested the cylinder since then, should consider the
cylinder potentially unsafe and not fill it with a hazardous material
unless the cylinder is first properly retested by a DOT-authorized
retest facility. Cylinders described in this safety advisory that are
filled with an atmospheric gas should be vented or otherwise safely
discharged and then taken to a DOT-authorized cylinder retest facility
for proper retest. Cylinders described in this safety advisory that are
filled with a material other than an atmospheric gas should not be
vented, but instead should be safely discharged. Upon discharge, the
cylinders should be taken to a DOT-authorized cylinder retest facility
for proper retest to determine compliance with the HMR and to ensure
their suitability for continuing service. You may obtain a list of
authorized cylinder retesters at the following Web site: http://hazmat.dot.gov.
Under no circumstance should a cylinder described in
this safety advisory be filled, refilled or used for its intended
purpose until it is reinspected and retested by a DOT-authorized retest
facility.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 27, 2004.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-19964 Filed 8-31-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P