81 FR 90061 - Hazardous Materials: Use of DOT Specification 39 Cylinders for Liquefied Flammable Compressed Gas
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 239 (December 13, 2016)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 239 (December 13, 2016)
| Page Range | 90061-90062 | |
| FR Document | 2016-29813 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 90061-90062] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-29813] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0078; Notice No. 2016-14] Hazardous Materials: Use of DOT Specification 39 Cylinders for Liquefied Flammable Compressed Gas AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Safety advisory notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this safety advisory notice to inform offerors and users of DOT Specification 39 (DOT-39) cylinders that DOT- 39 cylinders with an internal volume exceeding 75 cubic inches (in\3\) (1.23 L) should not be filled with liquefied flammable compressed gas. PHMSA maintains filling or transporting DOT-39 cylinders with an internal volume exceeding 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) is not safe. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Refaat Shafkey, General Engineer, Engineering and Research Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-4545 or, via email: [email protected]. [[Page 90062]] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Action Requested PHMSA advises offerors of DOT-39 cylinders having an internal volume exceeding 75 cubic inches (in\3\) (1.23 L) that such cylinders should not be filled with liquefied flammable compressed gas. PHMSA further advises the public not to use any DOT-39 cylinder with an internal volume greater than 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) containing a liquefied flammable compressed gas. Safety Concern The release of a liquefied flammable compressed gas from or rupture of such a cylinder having an internal volume exceeding 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) is a safety concern that could result in extensive property damage, serious personal injury, or even death. A liquefied flammable compressed gas has a stored energy that is several times greater than that of a non-liquefied compressed gas. Further, a DOT-39 cylinder can have a volume of up to 1,526 in\3\ (25 L) at a service pressure of 500 psig or less and, as such, can have up to 22 times the stored energy of a DOT-39 cylinder limited to 75 in\3\ (1.23 L). Additionally, because of the design specifications that allow for thinner walls when used at lower pressure, the cylinders may be at greater risk from corrosion or puncture. Given the known risks associated with cylinders that are filled with liquefied flammable compressed gases, PHMSA is issuing this safety advisory notice to inform offerors and users of DOT-39 cylinders that cylinders with an internal volume of 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) or more should not be filled with liquefied flammable compressed gas. Background This safety advisory notice is being issued in part because of concern over confusion about the regulatory requirements when using DOT-39 cylinders for liquefied compressed gases. Historically, the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180) limited the internal volume of a DOT-39 specification cylinder to 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) when used for certain liquefied flammable compressed gases. This size limitation applied when DOT-39 cylinders were used for gases that were subject to Note 9 following the table at Sec. 173.304(a)(2) or liquefied petroleum gas as addressed in Sec. 173.304(d)(3) (The table is currently located at Sec. 173.304a). In an October 30, 1998 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)--the predecessor agency to PHMSA--proposed to extend the 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) volume limitation of DOT-39 cylinders to all liquefied flammable compressed gases by revising Sec. 173.304 to delete Note 9 from the table at Sec. 173.304(a)(2) and adding Sec. Sec. 173.304a and 173.304b.\1\ RSPA received several comments in opposition to extending the limit to all liquefied flammable compressed gases which would have been codified in Sec. 173.304a(a)(3). RSPA published a final rule on August 8, 2002 and, based on the opposing comments, decided not to extend the 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) limitation to all liquefied flammable compressed gases in a DOT-39 cylinder at that time. However, in the process of publishing the final rule, the agency inadvertently omitted the 75 in\3\ (1.23 L) limitation for liquefied flammable compressed gas and liquefied petroleum gas.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ NPRM--Hazardous Materials: Requirements for DOT Specification Cylinders (HM-220D) [63 FR 58460]. \2\ Final Rule--Hazardous Materials: Requirements for Maintenance, Requalification, Repair and Use of DOT Specification Cylinders (HM-220D) [67 FR 51625] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On November 13, 2014, PHMSA accepted a petition for rulemaking (P- 1622) from Worthington Cylinders to address this error in a rulemaking. On July 26, 2016, PHMSA published in the Federal Register an NPRM titled, ``Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Amendments Pertaining to DOT Specification Cylinders (RRR),'' [81 FR 48977; Docket No. PHMSA- 2011-0140 (HM-234) \3\] that again proposes to extend the limit on the internal volume of DOT-39 cylinders to use with all liquefied flammable compressed gases, thus correcting the inadvertently omitted size limitation and expanding the applicability to capture those liquefied flammable compressed gases (e.g., difluoromethane (Refrigerant gas R 32)) either not reflected in the Sec. 173.304a(a)(2) table or not considered a liquefied petroleum gas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-07-26/pdf/2016-16689.pdf. Issued in Washington, DC on December 5, 2016. William S. Schoonover, Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. [FR Doc. 2016-29813 Filed 12-12-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices 90061
Notice and Request for
ACTION: Avenue SE., Room W23–453, Privacy Act
Comments. Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202– In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c),
366–9309, Email Bianca.carr@dot.gov. If DOT solicits comments from the public
SUMMARY: Pursuant to a delegation of you have questions on viewing the
authority from the Secretary of to better inform its rulemaking process.
Docket, call Docket Operations, DOT posts these comments, without
Transportation, the Maritime telephone: (800) 647–5527.
Administrator is authorized to issue edit, to www.regulations.gov, as
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a result described in the system of records
waivers allowing documented vessels
of the enactment of the Coast Guard notice, DOT/ALL–14 FDMS, accessible
with only registry endorsements or
Authorization Act of 2010, codified at through www.dot.gov/privacy. In order
foreign flag vessels to be used in
46 U.S.C. 12102, the Secretary of to facilitate comment tracking and
operations that treat aquaculture fish or
Transportation has the discretionary response, we encourage commenters to
protect aquaculture fish from disease,
authority to issue waivers allowing provide their name, or the name of their
parasitic infestation, or other threats to
documented vessels with registry organization; however, submission of
their health when suitable vessels of the
endorsements or foreign flag vessels to names is completely optional. Whether
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be used in operations that treat or not commenters identify themselves,
could perform those services. A request
aquaculture fish for or protect all timely comments will be fully
for such a waiver has been received by
aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic considered. If you wish to provide
the Maritime Administration (MARAD). comments containing proprietary or
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This notice is being published to solicit confidential information, please contact
health when suitable vessels of the
comments intended to assist MARAD in the agency for alternate submission
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determining whether a suitable vessel of instructions.
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the United States is available that could
Secretary has delegated this authority to Authority: 49 CFR 1.93(w).
perform the required services. If no
the Maritime Administrator. Pursuant to * * * * *
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Maritime Administrator may issue a Dated: December 8, 2016.
notice of the services proposed by Cook
waiver necessary to comply with USCG By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Aquaculture (Cook) in order to make a
Aquaculture Support regulations. A T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
U.S.-flag vessel availability
brief description of the proposed Secretary, Maritime Administration.
determination.
aquaculture support service is listed in
In order to comply with USCG [FR Doc. 2016–29894 Filed 12–12–16; 8:45 am]
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
Aquaculture Support regulations at 46 BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
below.
CFR part 106, Cook is seeking a MARAD
DATES: Submit comments on or before Aquaculture Waiver to operate the
January 12, 2017. vessels M/V COLBY PERCE and M/V DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments RONJA CARRIER as follows:
identified by DOT Docket Number Intended Commercial Use of Vessel: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
MARAD–2016–0126 by any of the ‘‘to use two highly-specialized foreign- Safety Administration
following methods: flag vessels referred to as ‘‘wellboats’’ [Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0078; Notice No.
• On-line via the Federal Electronic (or ‘‘live fish carriers’’) to treat Cooke’s 2016–14]
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. swimming inventory of farmed Atlantic
Search using ‘‘MARAD–2016–0126’’ salmon in the company’s salt-water Hazardous Materials: Use of DOT
and follow the instructions for grow-out pens off Maine’s North Specification 39 Cylinders for
submitting comments. Atlantic Coast. This treatment prevents Liquefied Flammable Compressed Gas
• Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: against parasitic infestation by sea lice AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous
Docket Management Facility; U.S. that is highly destructive to the salmon’s Materials Safety Administration
Department of Transportation, 1200 health.’’ (PHMSA), DOT.
New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12– Geographic Region: ‘‘Off Maine’s ACTION: Safety advisory notice.
140, Washington, DC 20590. Submit North Atlantic Coast’’.
comments in an unbound format, no Requested Time Period: ‘‘2017 SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this safety
larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for calendar year, from January 1, 2017 to advisory notice to inform offerors and
copying and electronic filing. December 31, 2017’’. users of DOT Specification 39 (DOT–39)
Reference Materials and Docket Interested parties may submit cylinders that DOT–39 cylinders with
Information: You may view the comments providing detailed an internal volume exceeding 75 cubic
complete application, including the information relating to the availability inches (in3) (1.23 L) should not be filled
aquaculture support technical service of U.S.-flag vessels to perform the with liquefied flammable compressed
requirements, and all public comments required aquaculture support services. If gas. PHMSA maintains filling or
at the DOT Docket on-line via http:// MARAD determines, in accordance with transporting DOT–39 cylinders with an
www.regulations.gov. Search using 46 U.S.C. 12102(d)(1) and MARAD’s internal volume exceeding 75 in3 (1.23
‘‘MARAD–2016–0126.’’ All comments regulations at 46 CFR part 388, that L) is not safe.
received will be posted without change suitable U.S.-flag vessels are available to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
to the docket, including any personal perform the required services, a waiver Refaat Shafkey, General Engineer,
information provided. The Docket
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
will not be granted. Comments should Engineering and Research Division,
Management Facility is open 9:00 a.m. refer to the docket number of this notice Office of Hazardous Materials Safety,
to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the vessel name in order for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
except on Federal holidays. MARAD to properly consider the Administration, U.S. Department of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: comments. Comments should also state Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave.
Bianca Carr, U.S. Department of the commenter’s interest in the waiver SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
Transportation, Maritime application, and address the waiver (202) 366–4545 or, via email:
Administration, 1200 New Jersey criteria set forth in 46 CFR 388.4. refaat.shafkey@dot.gov.
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![90062 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: proposed to extend the 75 in3 (1.23 L) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Public Action Requested volume limitation of DOT–39 cylinders
to all liquefied flammable compressed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
PHMSA advises offerors of DOT–39 gases by revising § 173.304 to delete Safety Administration
cylinders having an internal volume Note 9 from the table at § 173.304(a)(2) [Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0065]
exceeding 75 cubic inches (in3) (1.23 L) and adding §§ 173.304a and 173.304b.1
that such cylinders should not be filled Pipeline Safety: High Consequence
RSPA received several comments in
with liquefied flammable compressed Area Identification Methods for Gas
opposition to extending the limit to all
gas. PHMSA further advises the public Transmission Pipelines
not to use any DOT–39 cylinder with an liquefied flammable compressed gases
internal volume greater than 75 in3 (1.23 which would have been codified in AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous
L) containing a liquefied flammable § 173.304a(a)(3). RSPA published a final Materials Safety Administration
compressed gas. rule on August 8, 2002 and, based on (PHMSA); DOT.
the opposing comments, decided not to
Safety Concern ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory
extend the 75 in3 (1.23 L) limitation to
Bulletin.
The release of a liquefied flammable all liquefied flammable compressed
compressed gas from or rupture of such gases in a DOT–39 cylinder at that time. SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this
a cylinder having an internal volume However, in the process of publishing advisory bulletin to remind gas
exceeding 75 in3 (1.23 L) is a safety the final rule, the agency inadvertently transmission pipeline operators of
concern that could result in extensive omitted the 75 in3 (1.23 L) limitation for certain previously issued guidance and
property damage, serious personal liquefied flammable compressed gas and provide operators with additional
injury, or even death. A liquefied liquefied petroleum gas.2 guidance for the identification of High
flammable compressed gas has a stored Consequence Areas (HCAs) along
energy that is several times greater than On November 13, 2014, PHMSA
pipeline right-of-ways. This advisory
that of a non-liquefied compressed gas. accepted a petition for rulemaking (P–
bulletin provides suggestions for
Further, a DOT–39 cylinder can have a 1622) from Worthington Cylinders to
accurately mapping and integrating
volume of up to 1,526 in3 (25 L) at a address this error in a rulemaking. On
HCA data, documenting how mapping
service pressure of 500 psig or less and, July 26, 2016, PHMSA published in the systems are used, periodically verifying
as such, can have up to 22 times the Federal Register an NPRM titled, and updating their mapping systems,
stored energy of a DOT–39 cylinder ‘‘Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous utilizing buffer zones (tolerances) to
limited to 75 in3 (1.23 L). Additionally, Amendments Pertaining to DOT provide additional protection around
because of the design specifications that Specification Cylinders (RRR),’’ [81 FR the calculated potential impact radius
allow for thinner walls when used at 48977; Docket No. PHMSA–2011–0140 (PIR) along their pipelines, and ensuring
lower pressure, the cylinders may be at (HM–234) 3] that again proposes to the accuracy of class locations. The
greater risk from corrosion or puncture. extend the limit on the internal volume bulletin emphasizes that HCA
Given the known risks associated with of DOT–39 cylinders to use with all identification relies on pipeline-specific
cylinders that are filled with liquefied liquefied flammable compressed gases, information regarding the location, size,
flammable compressed gases, PHMSA is thus correcting the inadvertently and operating characteristics of the line,
issuing this safety advisory notice to omitted size limitation and expanding as well as the identification of
inform offerors and users of DOT–39 the applicability to capture those structures, specified sites, and their
cylinders that cylinders with an internal liquefied flammable compressed gases intended usage along the pipeline right-
volume of 75 in3 (1.23 L) or more (e.g., difluoromethane (Refrigerant gas R of-way.
should not be filled with liquefied 32)) either not reflected in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
flammable compressed gas. § 173.304a(a)(2) table or not considered Allan Beshore by phone at 405–834–
Background a liquefied petroleum gas. 8344 or email at allan.beshore@dot.gov.
This safety advisory notice is being Issued in Washington, DC on December 5,
All materials in this docket may be
issued in part because of concern over 2016.
accessed electronically at http://
confusion about the regulatory www.regulations.gov. Information about
William S. Schoonover, PHMSA may be found at http://
requirements when using DOT–39 Acting Associate Administrator for
cylinders for liquefied compressed www.phmsa.dot.gov.
Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and
gases. Historically, the Hazardous Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR [FR Doc. 2016–29813 Filed 12–12–16; 8:45 am] I. Background
parts 171–180) limited the internal
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
volume of a DOT–39 specification A key component of PHMSA’s
cylinder to 75 in3 (1.23 L) when used for pipeline safety regulations is its
certain liquefied flammable compressed integrity management (IM) program. For
gases. This size limitation applied when gas transmission pipelines, this program
DOT–39 cylinders were used for gases is outlined in Subpart O of 49 CFR part
that were subject to Note 9 following the 192 and is based on the concept that
table at § 173.304(a)(2) or liquefied pipeline operators need to identify those
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
1 NPRM—Hazardous Materials: Requirements for
petroleum gas as addressed in segments of their pipeline systems that
DOT Specification Cylinders (HM–220D) [63 FR
§ 173.304(d)(3) (The table is currently pose the greatest risk to human life,
58460].
located at § 173.304a). 2 Final Rule—Hazardous Materials: Requirements
property, and the environment, and to
In an October 30, 1998 notice of for Maintenance, Requalification, Repair and Use of
take extra precautions to ensure their
proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the DOT Specification Cylinders (HM–220D) [67 FR safety. These higher-risk areas are
Research and Special Programs 51625] known as ‘‘HCAs.’’ Each operator is
Administration (RSPA)—the 3 https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-07-26/ required to survey its entire pipeline
predecessor agency to PHMSA— pdf/2016-16689.pdf. system to identify all pipeline segments
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:08 Dec 12, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00171 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM 13DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_90300/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2016-12-13 02:44:25
Document Modified: 2016-12-13 02:44:25
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Safety advisory notice. | |
| Contact | Refaat Shafkey, General Engineer, Engineering and Research Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-4545 or, via email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 90061 |
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