[Federal Register: February 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 28)] [Notices] [Page 7047-7049] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr11fe98-121] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Notice 97-1] Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Cargo Tanks Used to Transport Hazardous Materials AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DOT. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that certain specification DOT 407 and DOT 412 cargo tank motor vehicles manufactured by Prairie State Equipment, doing business as Petro Steel, in Mitchell, SD, are not authorized for the transportation of hazardous materials unless the original accident damage protection devices have been modified to improve their structural strength. Failure of these devices during a collision could result in serious injury, death, and property damage. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Quade, Office of Motor Carrier Safety and Technology, (202) 366-0476; Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cargo tanks represented, marked, certified, or sold for use in the bulk transportation of hazardous materials must conform with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) (49 CFR 171- 180). Specification DOT 407 and DOT 412 cargo tanks are authorized to transport numerous hazardous materials including flammable liquids (e.g., toluene), poisonous liquids, (e.g., pesticides), corrosive liquids (e.g., sulfuric acid), and others. Due to the risk of transporting these types of materials in bulk, the DOT 407 and DOT 412 cargo tank specifications require these tanks to be protected from damage during rear-end or rollover accidents. Requirements concerning the size and strength of these accident damage protection devices are set forth in Sec. 178.345-8. During a compliance review of Prairie State Equipment, doing business as Petro Steel, in Mitchell, SD, the FHWA discovered that rollover protection devices and rear-end protection devices as manufactured and installed on some cargo tanks did not meet the requirements of the DOT specifications. Since these tanks were not equipped with adequate accident damage protection devices required by the specifications, they may not be represented as specification cargo tanks and may not be used to transport hazardous materials which require a specification cargo tank. Specifically, as manufactured by Petro Steel, the rollover damage protection devices installed on the following cargo tanks did not meet the requirements of the specifications: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle identification No./serial No. DOT specification Design type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 93115.................................. DOT 407 CVA-5-TM 1P9TAR203R2021217...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR208R2021214...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR20XS2021219...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 [[Page 7048]] 1P9TAR20XR2021215...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR208S2021218...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR206S2021220...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR207P2021203...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR200P2021205...................... DOT 407 CVT-25 1P9TAR209P2021204...................... DOT 407 CVT-25-SS 94101.................................. DOT 412 CST-38 94102.................................. DOT 412 CST-38 92130.................................. DOT 407 CTM-42 92123.................................. DOT 407 CTM-45 92124.................................. DOT 407 CTM-45 94103.................................. DOT 407 CTM-55 92120.................................. DOT 407/412 CTM-70-SS 95101.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 95104.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 93114.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 93113.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 92125.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 93116.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 94108.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 93117.................................. DOT 407 CTM-70 93105.................................. DOT 407 CRO-70 92121.................................. DOT 407/412 CTM-80 94105.................................. DOT 407 CTM-80 92117.................................. DOT 407/412 CTM-80 93118.................................. DOT 407 CTM-80 95102.................................. DOT 407 CTM-80 92131.................................. DOT 407 CTM-80 94109.................................. DOT 407 CTM-80 92119.................................. DOT 407 CTO-80 93100.................................. DOT 407 CTM-90 93119.................................. DOT 407 CTM-90 95100.................................. DOT 407 CTM-110-2 1P9TAA208N2021189...................... DOT 407 CVT-130 1P9TAA207N2021197...................... DOT 407 CVT-130 1P9TAA204R2021213...................... DOT 412 CVT-130 1P9TAA200R2021208...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-2 1P9TAA209N2021198...................... DOT 407 CVT-130-2 1P9TAA209R2021207...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA200R2021209...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA202R2021210...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA209R2021211...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA200R2021212...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA207R2021206...................... DOT 412 CVT-160-2 1P9TBA209N2021194...................... DOT 407 CVT-196 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, as manufactured by Petro Steel, the rear-end protection devices installed on the following cargo tanks did not meet the requirements of the specifications: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle identification No./serial No. DOT specification Design type ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1P9TAA208N2021189...................... DOT 407 CVT-130 1P9TAA207N2021197...................... DOT 412 CVT-130 1P9TAA204R2021213...................... DOT 412 CVT-130 1P9TAA200R2021208...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-2 1P9TAA209N2021198...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-2 1P9TAA209R2021207...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA200R2021209...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA202R2021210...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA209R2021211...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA200R2021212...................... DOT 412 CVT-130-SS 1P9TAA207R2021206...................... DOT 412 CVT-160-2 1P9TBA209N2021194...................... DOT 407 CVT-196 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cargo tanks listed above may be used to transport hazardous materials if they have been modified to a design certified by Petro Steel or another Design Certifying Engineer (DCE) as meeting the requirements of Sec. 178.345-8. Cargo tanks which have not had appropriate modifications must have the DOT specification plate removed, obliterated, or covered and may not be used to transport hazardous materials requiring a specification cargo tank. Authority: 49 CFR 1.48. [[Page 7049]] Issued on: February 3, 1998. Kenneth R. Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration. [FR Doc. 98-3303 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M