# PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion: Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Requalification Test Date

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** PHMSA Guidance, PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion: Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Requalification Test Date
- **title:** PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion: Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Requalification Test Date
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2024-10-04
- **effective on:** 2024-10-04
- **summary:** PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion: Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Requalification Test Date Document PHMSA Notice of Enforceent Discretion - Cylinders Exceeding Requalification Dates - Hurricane Helene.pdf (164.31 KB) Issued Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory-compliance/phmsa-guidance/phmsa-notice-enforcement-discretion-cylinders-exceeding
**body:**

PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion: Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Requalification Test Date

Document

 PHMSA Notice of Enforceent Discretion - Cylinders Exceeding Requalification Dates - Hurricane Helene.pdf (164.31 KB)

          Issued Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION REGARDING CYLINDERS
THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR PERIODIC REQUALIFICATION TEST
DATE
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) understands that due to the flooding and damage caused by
Hurricane Helene, many members of the medical and industrial gas industry may be
experiencing difficulty in obtaining cylinders due to the increased demand for these gases
or a disruption in the normal business model for cylinder exchange and testing facilities.
This ongoing situation has made it difficult for the industry to consistently obtain
cylinders which can be filled in accordance with the requalification provision specified in
49 CFR 173.301(a)(6).
PHMSA gives notice that it will not take enforcement action against any person for
filling (during the period of this enforcement discretion) a DOT-specification cylinder
used to transport Division 2.2 (non-flammable) gas that is overdue for periodic
requalification by not more than 12 months. Any such cylinder must meet all other
requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Depending on the cylinder type, periodic requalification is required at either a 5-year or
10-year interval. This enforcement discretion is in response to unprecedented flooding
and damage caused by Hurricane Helene and is intended to minimize disruptions in the
supply chain—especially those related to providing medical gases to the health care
industry. This enforcement discretion has been coordinated with and endorsed by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration . This relief applies only to transportation
by motor vehicle and does not extend to transport by air, vessel, or railroad.
Prior to filling and offering for transportation, all cylinders must be inspected in
accordance with the applicable Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet and DOT
requirements. Any cylinder that does not pass the prefill inspection criteria must not be
filled.
This notice is limited to the filling and offering of cylinders containing Division 2.2 (non-
flammable) gases when such cylinders are no more than 12 months past their periodic
requalification test date and within the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. These cylinders must be in compliance with all
other requirements of the HMR.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

This document is a temporary notice of enforcement discretion. Regulated entities may rely
on this notice as a temporary safeguard from Departmental enforcement as described herein.
To the extent this notice includes guidance on how regulated entities may comply with
existing regulations, it does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the
regulated entities in any way. This notice of enforcement discretion will expire sixty days
after the date of issuance.
Issued October 4, 2024, in Washington D.C.
William S. Schoonover
Associate Administrator
for Hazardous Materials Safety
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