# Mr. Peter Collins — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 09-0148
- **title:** Mr. Peter Collins — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-08-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 09-0148 response to Mr. Peter Collins concerning 171.2, 173.301.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0148.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0148.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-09-0148
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2009/090148.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E
Washington, D.C. 20590
BUG 0 7 2009
Mr. Peter Collins
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street, NW
Washington, DC 20534
Reference No. 09-0148
Dear Mr. Collins:
This is in response to your August 19,2004 letter, postmarked June 17,2009, and your
June 29, 2009 telephone conversation with Ms. Eileen Edmoi~son of my staff concerning
requalifying cylinders under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HNIR; 49 CFR Parts 171-
180). Specifically, you ask whether a cylinder filled before its requalification date may
remain in storage and be transported off-site for use for an indefinite period of time after this
date.
The answer is yes. Under the HMR, a cylinder filled (i.e., charged) before its requalification
becomes due may remain in service until it is emptied, and may be transported in commerce
by highway, rail, aircraft, or vessel provided the cylinder is in sound condition and all
applicable HMR requirements are met (see $$ 171.2, 173.301(a)(6), and 180.205). A DOT
specification cylinder containing a hazardous material need not be emptied to meet a testing
schedule under the HMR but may be required for cylinders used in certain applications by
some other Federal agency. A cylinder past its test date may not be filled or topped off with a
hazardous material and transported in commerce. After emptying, a cylinder due for retest
may not be refilled and offered for transportation unless it has been inspected and retested in
accordance with Part 180, Subpart C of the HMR. However, a cylinder with a specified
service life may not be refilled and offered for trailsportation after its authorized service life
has expired (see $5 173.301(a)(7) and 180.205(c)).
You also ask how the wording "remain in service" is defined under the HMR. The HMR do
not define this phrase; however, as this phrase is used in the HMR, it meails the cylinder may
be used to transport the product it contains until the cylinder is emptied, provided the cylinder
continues to meet all applicable requirements.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

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9 18 0 205 0 U.S. Department of Justice
C ~;rrders d 0 -0138
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Washington, D. C. 20534
August 19,2004
U.S. Department of Transportation
PHMSA Ofice of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: PHH-10
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590400 1
Re: Request for clarification on 49 CFR 180.205(c), general requirements for requalification of
specification cylinders.
Good morning,
I am writing to request clarification on language contained in 49 CFR 180.205 paragraph
(c), which outlines the requirements for the periodic requalification of cylinders. My specific
questions deal with the provision allowing a cylinder, filled before the requalification becomes
due, to remain in service until it is emptied.
Question # 1 : Has the term 'kemain in service" been defined?
Question # 2: Can a cylinder, filled prior to the requalification date, remain in storage for an
indefinite period of time beyond the scheduled requalification date?
Question # 3: Can a cylinder, W p r k to the n q d & c d b date, be
location after the scheduled requalification date?
F&
you for y o u time an8 assistance.
Peter Collins
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 2053
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