Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is issuing this safety advisory to provide notice to owners and operators of certain cargo tanks that they have been improperly inspected and tested, and must be re-inspected and retested before being used in Hazardous Materials specification tank service. The tanks in question were tested by H&W Tank Testing, CT#8083, Ohatchee, Alabama, and Christopher Humphries, CT#13131, Jacksonville, Alabama. Cargo tanks that have been inspected and/or tested by either company from April 2011 through March 2016, must be re-inspected and/or retested in accordance with 49 CFR § 180.407 immediately by a cargo tank facility registered with FMCSA.
is a violation of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to use these cargo tank motor vehicles for transportation of hazardous materials before they have been properly re-inspected and retested by an FMCSA-registered cargo tank facility. The following actions must be taken immediately:
You must provide FMCSA with documentation that the required inspections and testing have been performed for all of the affected cargo tank motor vehicles; send to the attention of Paul Bomgardner, Chief, Hazardous Materials Division, by email at: [email protected], or by Fax at 202-366-3621, prior to operating any cargo tank motor vehicle that was tested and/or inspected by Registered Inspectors under either of the above-listed cargo tank registration numbers.
The documentation must consist of:
- A pressure test by a cargo tank facility that is currently registered with USDOT/FMCSA and has a qualified and trained Registered Inspector.
- Documentation of the bench test, or if required, replacement of the pressure relief devices;
- An external visual inspection and an internal visual inspection in conjunction with the pressure test.
- For those cargo tank motor vehicles that do not have a manway, the Registered Inspector must document that the pressure relief devices and internal valves were removed and inspected. It is recommended, but not required, that the inspector perform a visual inspection of the tank in the area where the pressure relief devices and internal valves were removed for the accumulation of rust or other materials that could diminish their performance. This documentation must include the findings and recommendations of the Registered Inspector;
- A thickness test of all corroded or abraded areas on the cargo tank motor vehicle or a statement by the Registered Inspector that no corroded or abraded areas were identified;
- For all cargo tanks made of quenched and tempered steel (QT) a wet florescent magnetic particle exam immediately prior to and in conjunction with the pressure test that complies with Section V of the ASME Code and CGA Technical Bulletin TB-2 by a trained, qualified Registered Inspector; and
- The training certificate of the person conducting the wet florescent magnetic particle exam, dated to within 3 years of the date the exam is conducted.
For more information, or questions concerning this Safety Advisory, please contact Paul Bomgardner, Chief, Hazardous Materials Division, at 202-493-0027, or by email at [email protected]
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