2019-16677. Hazardous Materials: Response to an Industry Petition To Reduce Regulatory Burden for Cylinder Requalification Requirements

AGENCY:

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

PHMSA is proposing to revise requirements on the requalification period for certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive gas service in response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by the National Propane Gas Association. This rulemaking proposes regulatory relief and a reduction in the requalification-related costs for propane marketers, distributors, and others in non-corrosive gas service.

DATES:

Comments must be received by October 7, 2019. To the extent possible, PHMSA will consider late-filed comments as a final rule is developed.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by the Docket Number PHMSA-2017-0083 (HM-219B) by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: Docket Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and Docket Number (PHMSA-2017-0083) or RIN (2137-AF30) for this rulemaking at the beginning of the comment. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. All comments received will be posted without change to the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) and will include any personal information you provide.

Docket: For access to the dockets to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or DOT's Docket Operations Office (see ADDRESSES).

Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov,, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at http://www.dot.gov/​privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shelby Geller, Standards and Rulemaking Division, [phone], Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background

A. History

B. Petition P-1696

C. Statement of Enforcement Discretion

II. Overview

III. Regulatory Analyses and Notices

A. Statutory/Legal Authority for This Rulemaking

B. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

C. Executive Order 13771

D. Executive Order 13132

E. Executive Order 13175

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Order 13272, and DOT Policies and Procedures

G. Paperwork Reduction Act

H. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

J. Environmental Assessment

K. Privacy Act

L. Executive Order 13609 and International Trade Analysis

M. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

N. Executive Order 13211

List of Subjects

I. Background

A. History

On January 30, 2015, PHMSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Special Permits (MAP-21) (RRR)” [Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0042 (HM-233F); 80 FR 5339]. The HM-233F NPRM proposed to adopt provisions contained in 98 widely-used or longstanding special permits with an established safety record. Following a 60-day comment period, PHMSA published a final rule on January 21, 2016, that adopted the provisions of 96 of these special permits [81 FR 3635]. The HM-233F final rule became effective on February 22, 2016.

The HM-233F final rule amended § 180.209(e), which details conditions for allowing the requalification period to be longer for DOT 4-series specification cylinders in certain hazardous material service. Prior to publication of the final rule, § 180.209(e) authorized DOT 4B, 4BW, 4BA, or 4E cylinders used exclusively for a specified list of hazardous materials (non-corrosive gases) to be requalified by volumetric expansion every 12 years, instead of every 5 years. Alternatively, these cylinders were authorized to be requalified by the proof pressure test method every 7 years after the first 12-year period. A proof pressure test is a pressurization test without the determination of a cylinder's expansion, and a volumetric expansion test determines the total and permanent expansion of a cylinder at a given pressure and is conducted by either water jacket or direct expansion test, both of which are conducted with water (see § 180.203).

In the HM-233F NPRM, PHMSA proposed to adopt the provisions of special permit 12084, which was issued to Honeywell International, Inc.^[1] This special permit authorized the requalification of DOT 4B, 4BA, or 4BW cylinders in accordance with § 180.209(e) for 11 additional non-corrosive gases. PHMSA identified this special permit as suitable for adoption into the regulations. In the HM-233F NPRM, PHMSA proposed to revise § 180.209(e) by replacing the list of specific hazardous materials with broader applicability to non-corrosive gases commercially free from corroding components.

PHMSA also proposed to amend the requalification periods of authorized cylinders for both the volumetric expansion and proof pressure tests in § 180.209(e). Specifically, PHMSA proposed to standardize the requalification period to 10 years for both the volumetric expansion test (previously a 12-year period) and the proof pressure test (previously a 7-year period after an initial 12-year period). While this proposed change was not discussed in the preamble of the HM-233F NPRM, PHMSA did propose amended regulatory text. PHMSA received no adverse comments to any of the proposed changes to § 180.209(e)—the adoption of special permit 12084 and 10-year requalification period—and therefore adopted the language as proposed in the final rule. While the effective date of the final rule was February 22, 2016, PHMSA allowed for delayed compliance to begin on January 23, 2017.

B. Petition P-1696

On January 13, 2017, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) submitted a petition to PHMSA and the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) titled “Petition for Rulemaking and Emergency Stay Cylinder Requalification Requirements” [PHMSA-2017-0019 (P-1696) ^[2] ]. NPGA requested that PHMSA revise the initial timeframe before requalification, revise the requalification period for both the volumetric expansion and proof pressure tests in § 180.209(e) to those authorized prior to the HM-233F final rule, and update the table in § 180.209(a) accordingly. NPGA also requested a Statement of Enforcement Discretion while the rulemaking action was pending.

In the petition, NPGA advised PHMSA and OST that the HM-233F rulemaking created potential impacts and unanticipated costs. Specifically, NPGA asserted that the regulatory change to the requalification period created confusion in the propane industry because it was unclear whether those cylinders manufactured or requalified by the volumetric expansion test within the last 10 to 12 years had to be immediately requalified, since prior to the final rule they would not have required requalification until the 12-year date. Furthermore, NPGA stated that the requirement to test cylinders following manufacture or volumetric expansion testing more frequently (i.e., every 10 years instead of every 12 years) would increase qualification and training costs. NPGA explained that current industry practice ^[3] is to mark newly manufactured cylinders, eligible for requalification in accordance with § 180.209(e), with a 12-year requalification mark. Even though this marking is not required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180), industry would have to train employees to ignore those markings. Additional training would be required on the revised requalification periods for both volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing.

On March 2, 2017, PHMSA met with NPGA representatives to: (1) Better understand NPGA's concerns; (2) identify existing industry practice and request data to assess the impact of the revised cylinder requalification periods; and (3) evaluate the merits of a rulemaking and Statement of Enforcement Discretion. During this meeting, NPGA reiterated their petition, in that the change in requalification intervals would impose unanticipated industry costs. Furthermore, NPGA conveyed that a majority of their associate members requalify certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders by volumetric expansion testing. Following these discussions, PHMSA accepted NPGA's petition for rulemaking.

C. Statement of Enforcement Discretion

On March 17, 2017, PHMSA issued a Statement of Enforcement Discretion stating that it will not take enforcement action against a person who requalifies DOT 4-series specification cylinders using volumetric expansion testing pursuant to a 12-year requalification period while it reviews NPGA's petition for rulemaking.^[4] This Statement of Enforcement Discretion specified that until further action, DOT 4-series specification cylinders requalified by volumetric expansion in accordance with § 180.209(e) may have a 10- or 12-year requalification period without any enforcement action taken.

II. Overview

PHMSA has reviewed NPGA's petition for rulemaking and agrees that it merits a rulemaking to consider revising the § 180.209(e) requalification period, as accepting the petition is expected to reduce regulatory burden and industry cost. PHMSA does not anticipate that this revision poses any increased safety risk, as historically these cylinders were authorized to be requalified on a 12-year cycle for volumetric expansion testing and on a 7-year cycle (after an initial 12-year period) for proof pressure testing with no known incidents attributable to the requalification timeframe. It should be noted that in accordance with § 180.205(c), even if a cylinder is due for requalification, it may be used until emptied, as long as it was filled prior to the requalification due date. Once emptied and placed into transportation, it must be requalified in accordance with the appropriate test method before being refilled.

In this NPRM, PHMSA is proposing to return the initial and subsequent requalification periods to 12 years for volumetric expansion tests, as proposed in the NPGA petition and authorized prior to HM-233F. PHMSA is proposing to also return the initial requalification period for proof pressure testing to 12 years, but maintain the 10-year period for subsequent proof pressure requalification testing as adopted in HM-233F final rule. The proof pressure test requalification period of 10 years was not proposed in NPGA's petition for rulemaking (proposed as 7 years). We acknowledge that the proposed 10-year requalification period will likely result in one-time industry training costs; however, the allowance to requalify a cylinder by proof pressure test every 10-years, instead of every 7 years, after the initial 12-year requalification period, may outweigh the costs of training because of less frequent cylinder requalification. Thus, PHMSA believes that this could allow for the greatest regulatory relief. PHMSA invites comments on the potential for costs or savings that may result from maintaining a 10-year requalification period following the initial 12-year requalification period for proof pressure testing instead of returning to the 7-year cycle, after the initial 12-year period (as proposed by the NPGA in its petition and reflective of the requalification period prior to publication of the HM-233F final rule).

Additionally, PHMSA is proposing to revise the title of § 180.209(e) to more appropriately reflect the regulatory provisions in this paragraph. PHMSA is also proposing to revise the table in § 180.209(a) to properly reflect the baseline requalification period and the alternate requalification period allowances for various DOT specification cylinders. The baseline for DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E cylinder requalification is 5-years, but in accordance with the proposed language of § 180.209(e), these cylinders may be requalified every 10 or 12 years, under the specified conditions and dependent on the type of pressure test performed. In addition, PHMSA proposes to add a “7” to the § 180.209(a) table for DOT 4B, 4BA, or 4BW cylinders, as they are authorized for requalification every 7 or 12 years, instead of 5 years, when used as a fire extinguisher in accordance with § 180.209(j). There is no substantive change in adding “7” to the table as this is a conforming amendment for consistency between the table in paragraph (a) and the provisions in paragraph (j), which was inadvertently deleted in the HM-233F final rule.

PHMSA is also proposing to amend the table in § 180.209(a) to remove any reference to paragraph (e) for DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3AX, 3AAX, 3B, 3BN, and 4AA480 cylinders. Section 180.209(e) does not authorize requalification of these cylinder types. Therefore, this NPRM adjusts for any requalification period that is not currently authorized.

Further, PHMSA is proposing to make editorial corrections to the table for consistency. We propose to: Delete “DOT” preceding 3, 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3AX, 3AAX, and 4E cylinders because the other entries do not have a similar qualifier; specify “service pressure” in the “Minimum test pressure (psig)” column for DOT 4D, 4DA, and 4DS cylinders to match other entries; and remove a duplicative citation of § 180.209 for DOT 3AL cylinders to be consistent with the other requalification period references.

III. Regulatory Analyses and Notices

A. Statutory/Legal Authority for This Rulemaking

This rulemaking is published under the authority of Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law (Federal hazmat law; 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.), which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to “prescribe regulations for the safe transportation, including security, of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce.” The Secretary's authority is delegated to PHMSA at 49 CFR 1.97. This rulemaking proposes to amend the requalification periods for certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders under relief provided in § 180.209(e) and to revise the requalification table in § 180.209(a) accordingly.

B. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

This rulemaking is considered a nonsignificant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 (“Regulatory Planning and Review”) and was not reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This rulemaking is also considered a nonsignificant rulemaking under the DOT's Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings [DOT Order 2100.6; December 20, 2018].

Executive Order 12866 (“Regulatory Planning and Review”) ^[5] requires agencies to regulate in the “most cost-effective manner,” to make a “reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs,” and to develop regulations that “impose the least burden on society.”

Additionally, Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to provide a meaningful opportunity for public participation, which also reinforces requirements for notice and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).^[6] Therefore, PHMSA solicits comment on the revised requalification periods for DOT 4-series specification cylinders as proposed in § 180.209(e). PHMSA also seeks comment on the preliminary cost and cost savings analyses, including industry costs or cost savings due to the revised requalification periods for volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing.

Overall, this rulemaking maintains the continued safe transportation of hazardous materials while producing a net cost savings. PHMSA's findings are summarized here and described in further detail in the following 13 sections, which together comprise our preliminary analysis for this NPRM:

1. Summary of preliminary findings

2. Description of the need for the regulatory action

3. Definition of the baseline and rulemaking scenarios

4. The time horizon of analysis

5. Description of the type and number of affected cylinders

6. Description of the type and number of affected entities

7. Analysis of requalification cost savings

8. Analysis of training costs and cost savings

9. Analysis of total net cost savings

10. Evaluation of non-quantified and non-monetized impacts

11. Characterization of additional uncertainty in impacts, including estimated costs, cost savings, and net cost savings

12. Supplemental analysis regarding the number of affected cylinders

13. Supplemental analysis regarding possible effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders

Summary of Preliminary Findings

PHMSA's preliminary analysis finds that the proposed changes would result in total net cost savings of approximately $142.4 million over 10 years, or $20.3 million annualized, when discounted at 7 percent.

These cost savings are almost entirely based on two effects. The first effect is avoiding the immediate, accelerated requalification of approximately 5 million DOT 4-series specification cylinders that would otherwise be required if the proposed changes of this rulemaking are not adopted. The second effect is an anticipated reduction in the number of cylinders in need of requalification in any given year. The avoidance of accelerated requalification occurs in year one, and the “enduring” effect of reducing the number of cylinders in need of requalification occurs in subsequent years (years 2-10). Our primary analysis focuses on cost savings to entities that requalify cylinders by volumetric expansion testing. However, this NPRM also proposes to retain the 10-year requalification period for the proof pressure test adopted under the HM-233F final rule, so we assume cylinder marketers require some training to ensure knowledge of the revised requalification timeframes for proof pressure testing. This NPRM would also relieve cylinder manufacturers of training to ensure that voluntary stamping practices align with the initial requalification timeframe, resulting in training-related cost savings for cylinder manufacturers. On net, we estimate training cost savings at approximately $0.2 million. We add the two types of requalification cost savings to the net cost savings related to training to determine the total net cost savings. See Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1—Summary of Estimates and Findings ⁷

Number of Cylinders Affected in Year 1	5 million.
Annual Number of Cylinders Affected in Years 2-10	500,000.
Requalification Cost Savings in Year 1	$86.1 million.
Requalification Cost Savings per Cylinder (weighted average)	$17.22.
Training Net Cost Savings in Year 1	$0.2 million.
Requalification Cost Savings in Years 2-10 (7%)	$56.1 million.
Total Net Cost Savings (7%)	$142.4 million.

Exhibit 1 shows “year one,” monetized cost savings as well as “enduring” cost savings in years 2-10 based on a reduction in the number of cylinders in need of requalification. Please see the section, “Analysis of total net cost savings,” for additional tabulation of the total net cost savings of the rule, discounted over 10 years.

If one were to present these cost savings on an indefinite or perpetual time horizon, their net present value would be approximately $209.3 million at a 7% discount rate, and their annualized value would be $14.7 million, also at a 7% discount rate.^[8] Please note, to arrive at this calculation, year-one impacts are undiscounted because these impacts are expected to begin occurring soon after the rulemaking is made effective, if it is made effective. On a perpetual horizon, the year-one savings is $86,338,066 and subsequently, all other years repeat a savings of $8,610,338.

Description of the Need for Regulatory Action

NPGA petitioned ^[9] PHMSA to amend § 180.209(e) because the HM-233F final rule was expected to impose a substantial cost burden on industry. Specifically, NPGA reasoned that, due to confusion about the applicability of the HMR, the requirements in the HM-233F final rule would accelerate the requalification of certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders by 2 years, even though the HMR allows a cylinder filled before the end of the requalification period to remain in service until emptied, as long as it is requalified prior to being refilled and offered back into transportation (see § 180.205(c)). For example, a cylinder tested by volumetric expansion would need to be requalified every 10 years, rather than every 12 years. This 2-year acceleration would effectively force 3 years of cylinder vintages to be requalified in a single year, and thus would have a potential one-time impact on thousands of propane marketers and millions of cylinders. To avoid this substantial cost burden, PHMSA issued a Statement of Enforcement Discretion on March 17, 2017, and initiated this rulemaking, which proposes to allow affected cylinders to be initially and subsequently requalified over a 12-year period when tested by volumetric expansion.

NPGA also cited confusion stemming from the industry practice of stamping a propane cylinder at the time of manufacture with an indication that the cylinder must be requalified 12 years after the manufacture date. The HMR do not require this stamp. However, this practice means that under current requirements, retraining would be necessary to educate employees on the 10-year requalification period and to ignore the stamp marking.

Further, PHMSA proposes to retain the 10-year period for proof pressure testing requalification, after the initial requalification test at 12 years. Prior to publication of the HM-233F final rule, the HMR required a 7-year timeframe for subsequent requalification by proof pressure. In its petition, NPGA asked that PHMSA return the proof pressure test requalification periods of paragraph (e) to 7 years. However, PHMSA is proposing to maintain the 10-year requirement on the basis that it may add regulatory relief. PHMSA solicits comments regarding this proposal, especially as it differs from the NPGA petition (P-1696). To address possible cost-saving effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders, PHMSA offers a supplemental analysis in the last section of this analysis. Due to data uncertainties, this supplemental cost savings analysis is separate from and secondary to our primary analysis methods and estimates. PHMSA solicits comments to address these data uncertainties, specifically comments regarding the extent of proof pressure testing.

Definition of the Baseline and Rulemaking Scenarios

This rulemaking is expected to have a variety of effects or impacts, some of which result in cost savings, others in costs. We do not estimate benefits in this analysis because PHMSA anticipates that the proposed changes maintain an equivalent level of safety. This section describes the baseline and rulemaking scenarios, which are the basis for determining whether the proposed rule may result in costs or cost savings.

Absent rulemaking action, the existing Statement of Enforcement Discretion relieves cylinder marketers of the HM-233F requirement to requalify cylinders every 10 years. However, the Statement of Enforcement Discretion does not provide regulatory certainty. Therefore, PHMSA uses the HM-233F or current HMR standards as the baseline, and uses this rulemaking action (HM-219B) as the rulemaking scenario and basis for incremental change.

Thus, in the baseline, requalifications are accelerated by 2 years, resulting in costs; in the rulemaking scenario, these accelerated requalifications are avoided, resulting in cost savings. This effect would occur in year one of impacts. In addition, in subsequent years, the pool of cylinders requiring requalification would be larger in the baseline than in the rulemaking scenario. Thus, if this rulemaking becomes effective, PHMSA is also providing “enduring” cost savings due to fewer cylinders being in need of requalification in the rulemaking versus the baseline scenario. These cost saving effects are the main effects of this proposed rulemaking.

Please note that this analysis focuses on the cost and cost-savings impacts of the 2-year acceleration of requalification by volumetric expansion because there is substantial uncertainty regarding the proportion and number of cylinders that are requalified by proof pressure testing. However, in the last section of this cost-savings analysis, we attempt to address this uncertainty by providing a supplemental analysis illustrating possible cost-savings effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders. In the baseline, proof pressure-tested cylinders must be requalified every 7 years after the initial 12-year period; in the rulemaking scenario, these cylinders can be requalified every 10 years after the initial 12-year period. This may enhance regulatory flexibility, and is a possible mechanism for cost savings. To better address these uncertainties in future analyses, PHMSA solicits comment on the proportion and number of cylinders that are proof pressure-tested versus cylinders tested using other methods. Due to data uncertainties, we limit our discussion of these proof-pressure cost savings to the supplemental analysis—they do not factor into our primary estimates for cost savings.

PHMSA also anticipates another, relatively smaller effect: Cost savings that result from relieving manufacturers of the need to mark cylinders with a revised requalification timeframe. This marking is not an HMR requirement. However, in the baseline scenario, this marking would need to be revised to indicate a 10-year initial requalification timeframe, resulting in costs; in the rulemaking scenario, this marking could continue to indicate a 12-year initial requalification timeframe, resulting in avoided costs or cost savings.

In addition to cost savings, the HM-219B proposal to retain a revised timeframe for subsequent proof pressure requalifications may result in training costs to cylinder marketers. In the baseline, current HMR requirements would necessitate this training and imposition of costs on cylinder marketers. Additionally, the rulemaking scenario will still necessitate this training and imposition of costs, since proof pressure requirements differ from pre-HM-233F conditions.

In summation, this rulemaking may have a variety of cost and cost-savings effects, but the main effects are due to the baseline and rulemaking scenarios for cylinders requalified by volumetric expansion. In the baseline scenario, cylinders must be initially requalified every 10 years. This is the current HMR requirement, as codified in HM-233F. Conversely, in the rulemaking scenario, cylinders tested by volumetric expansion must be requalified every 12 years. This is the change proposed in this rulemaking (HM-219B), which effectively revises the requalification timeframe for volumetric expansion testing back to the standards in place before HM-233F was published. See Exhibit 2.

Exhibit 2—Impacts of HM-219B Provisions for Volumetric Expansion Testing

Rulemaking provision	Baseline (no action)	HM-219B amendments
Revise § 180.209(e)	HMR remains as made effective in January 2017, and regulatory text remains the same as in HM-233F	PHMSA reverts text in § 180.209(e) to its earlier iteration before HM-233F.
	DOT cylinders must be requalified every 10 years	DOT cylinders must be requalified every 12 years.

The Time Horizon of Analysis

This analysis assumes that this rulemaking will result in a “one-time” impact occurring in the first year the rulemaking is effective due to accelerated requalifications. After this first year, the rulemaking will also result in a reduction in the number of cylinders requiring requalification in any one year.

With respect to year-one impacts, we can elaborate further with an example using the baseline and rulemaking scenarios. In the baseline scenario, cylinder marketers need to requalify three different vintages of cylinders in 2019, specifically those cylinders manufactured or requalified in 2007, 2008, and 2009. This is the direct result of the requirement that these cylinders be requalified on a 10-year timeframe instead of a 12-year timeframe. As such, the HM-233F final rule imposed an accelerated requalification for cylinders manufactured or requalified in 2008 and 2009, whereas the cylinders manufactured or requalified in 2007 would need to be requalified in 2019 under either the baseline or rulemaking scenario. In the baseline scenario, 3 years' worth of cylinders need to be requalified in a single year, with the 2008 and 2009 cylinders needing requalification earlier than anticipated. Conversely, in the rulemaking scenario, the 2008 and 2009 cylinders can be requalified in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and the requalification costs that the HM-233F final rule imposed are avoided. To the extent that cylinders are requalified using volumetric expansion, this NPRM proposes a requalification timeframe that would have occurred were the HM-233F final rule never published.

PHMSA's analysis sees this effect as a “one-time” or “year one” impact. In the baseline, it is a one-time cost imposition; in the rulemaking scenario, it is a one-time avoidance of these costs (cost savings). See Exhibit 3.

As evident in Exhibit 3, the baseline scenario (HM 233F; current HMR requirements) primarily affects cylinder requalification in the first year of the rule's effect. Before this first year, there is no difference between the baseline and rulemaking scenario. After this first year of effect (e.g., 2019 onward), the requalification cycle returns to a “normal state,” where only one vintage of cylinders are requalified per year, although the number of cylinders in need of requalification in any given year would be smaller in the rulemaking than in the baseline scenario.

Note that we do not have data on the manufacturing and requalification dates for the affected cylinders—this affects how we chose to model the timing of requalification in Exhibit 3 and the impacts of the baseline and rulemaking scenarios. As evident in Exhibit 3, we assume that each cylinder has a specific manufacturing or requalification year and do not distinguish between the cylinders on a more granular level (e.g., month-to-month). For instance, we do not distinguish between a cylinder from January 2007 and one from June 2007. All 2007 cylinders are assumed to be requalified in 2019, as well as all 2008 and 2009 cylinders in the baseline. We make no further distinction about the timing of the manufacture and requalification of affected cylinders. Further, our analysis does not have a discounting component for avoiding accelerated requalifications because it is assumed to occur in the first year of the rulemaking's implementation, without distinctions between an expenditure made in January 2019 and one in December 2019, for example. For these reasons, the costs of accelerated requalification (or the avoidance of these costs) are undiscounted, one-time or “year one” impacts.

In addition to “year one” impacts, there is potential for “enduring” effects occurring in subsequent years. In subsequent years, the pool of DOT 4-series specification cylinders that need requalification in a given year may be smaller in the rulemaking scenario than in the baseline scenario. In the baseline scenario, this requalification pool represents effectively 1/10th of cylinders in service since these cylinders would need requalification once every 10 years. In the rulemaking scenario, this requalification pool would represent 1/12th of cylinders in service since these cylinders would need requalification once every 12 years. This rulemaking scenario reduction in requalification may result in cost savings. We attempt to quantify and monetize this effect as a cost savings, which in tandem with the avoided accelerated requalification costs, may be substantial. PHMSA solicits comment on the “one-time” and “enduring” effects, and on this analysis in general. We also solicit comment on whether there are additional economic effects that were not foreseen that could be represented in a future, revised analysis.

Description of the Type and Number of Affected Cylinders

According to information provided by NPGA in P-1696, the revisions made in the HM-233F final rule affect nearly 5 million DOT 4-series specification cylinders (e.g., 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E). Furthermore, NPGA estimates that 75 percent of cylinders are 20-lb. cylinders (used primarily for BBQ grills, patio heaters, construction heat, temporary heat, etc.), and the remaining 25 percent comprise a variety of sizes, e.g., 33.5 lb. (forklift cylinders), 100 lb. (exchange cylinders), and the largest size, 420 lb. propane cylinders (residential/commercial heat). Absent any other data describing the population of affected cylinders, PHMSA uses NPGA's assumptions for this analysis.^[10] See Exhibit 4.

Exhibit 4—Affected Cylinders ¹¹

Cylinder service sector	Cylinder size categories	Distribution (%)	Number of cylinders requiring accelerated requalification
Residential	20 lbs.	75	3,750,000
Commercial	33-420 lbs.	25	1,250,000
Total		100	5,000,000

 

Exhibit 4 reiterates that, absent this rulemaking, approximately 5 million cylinders would need to be requalified on an accelerated basis. If this rulemaking is adopted, these 5 million cylinders can be requalified on a 12-year timeframe. As explained previously, this would revert volumetric expansion test requalification back to the timing in place before publication of the HM-233F final rule.

This estimate of the number of affected cylinders is also important to the estimation of “enduring” cost savings. After year one, the difference between the annual number of cylinders in need of requalification in the baseline and rulemaking scenarios is an input to our method for the enduring cost savings. Specifically, NPGA's estimate of 5 million represents 2 cylinder vintages that would undergo accelerated requalification. This means an estimated 2.5 million cylinders may need requalification in any one year. As such, over 12 years, 30 million cylinders would need requalification (2.5 * 12). If this same number of cylinders were to be requalified instead over 10 years, as the baseline holds, this would mean 3 million cylinders per year, or an increase of 500,000 cylinders per year. In other words, the baseline scenario would require that 20% more cylinders be requalified each year; in the rulemaking scenario, 20% fewer. This differential is an input to our cost savings method for “enduring” cost savings, which occur after year one.

Based on the accelerated requalifications in year one and the enduring effects thereafter, PHMSA chooses a time period of analysis of 10 years. A different time period of analysis may result in different findings and PHMSA may revise this analysis in the future to reflect different time periods of analysis.

Because PHMSA relies on NPGA assumptions and data, this cost savings analysis includes a supplemental analysis addressing the number of affected cylinders. This is provided in the section, “Supplemental analysis regarding the number of affected cylinders.”

Description of the Type and Number of Affected Entities

This rulemaking affects various entities, specifically cylinder marketers and manufacturers. If this rulemaking is not adopted, cylinder marketers bear the costs of accelerated cylinder requalification; however, if this rulemaking is adopted, cylinder marketers achieve a cost savings because they are relieved of the need to requalify cylinders on an accelerated basis. Moreover, cylinder marketer employees would require training if this rulemaking is adopted as proposed, since proof pressure requirements would be different. Lastly, if adopted, the rulemaking would relieve cylinder manufacturers of changes to voluntary stamping/marking practices, resulting in cost savings (avoided training costs). These training costs and cost savings are detailed in the section, “Analysis of training costs and cost savings.”

To describe the type and number of affected cylinder marketers, PHMSA relies on the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS),^[12] specifically sector code 454310 Fuel Dealers.^[13] This sector is comprised of fuel dealers primarily engaged in retailing heating oil, liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, and other fuels via direct selling to customers. For the purposes of this analysis, we call entities in this sector, “cylinder marketers” or “marketers,” which is used synonymously with “fuel dealers.” There are approximately 8,700 establishments in this sector.^[14] The employment estimate for this NAICS sector is approximately 74,000, according to U.S. Census data. This estimate of the number of cylinder marketer employees is used as an input in our estimation of this rulemaking's training costs. We detail cost and cost-savings methods and calculations in the sections, “Analysis of requalification cost savings” and “Analysis of training costs and cost savings.”

In addition to cylinder marketers, the rulemaking is likely to have an impact on NAICS sector 332420 Metal Tank Manufacturing,^[15] which is the sector primarily engaged in cutting, forming, and joining heavy gauge metal to manufacture tanks, vessels, and other containers. For the purposes of this analysis, we call entities in this sector, “cylinder manufacturers,” or “manufacturers” for short. During 2014, this sector included 739 establishments and 36,869 employees.^[16] It is industry practice—albeit not required by the HMR—that DOT 4-series specification cylinder manufacturers currently place a stamp during manufacture indicating that the cylinder must be requalified 12 years after the manufacture date.^[17] If this rulemaking is not adopted (baseline), cylinder manufacturers may need to adjust this stamp to reflect the 10-year requirement, and implement any necessary training or manufacturing process changes to do so. This estimate of the number of cylinder manufacturing employees is used as an input in our estimation of this rule's training-related cost savings.

See Exhibit 5 for the estimates of the number of establishments and employees on payroll for the NAICS sectors, 454310 Fuel Dealers and 332420 Metal Tank Manufacturing.

Exhibit 5—Potentially Affected Entities ¹⁸

NAICS code	NAICS code sector	Number of establishments	Employees on payroll
Primarily Affected Industry:
454310	Direct Sales Fuel Dealers	8,677	73,555
Other Relevant Industry Stakeholders:
332420	Metal Tank Manufacturing	739	36,869

Analysis of Requalification Cost Savings

Assuming the rulemaking takes effect in 2019, adoption of this rulemaking would relieve cylinder marketers of the cost to accelerate the requalification of cylinders manufactured in 2008 and 2009. PHMSA believes it would also provide a reduction in the number of cylinders in need of requalification after year one, on an enduring, year-over-year basis. In this section, we estimate the value of these potentially avoided costs.

In the baseline or HM-233F scenario, changes to § 180.209(e) require cylinder marketers to requalify some cylinders on an accelerated basis. Based upon assumptions provided by NPGA, a typical safety inspector can requalify three residential cylinders per hour and two commercial cylinders per hour.^[19] We estimate the avoided requalification cost by multiplying the number of residential and commercial cylinders requiring requalification, from Exhibit 4, by the amount of time needed to requalify a single cylinder, differentiated by type, and the mean hourly labor rate ^[20] for a safety inspector in the 454310 Fuel Dealers sector.^[21] This approach results in estimated costs of $15.26-$23.12 to requalify each residential and commercial cylinder, respectively. Total potentially avoided requalification costs for these cylinders are estimated to be approximately $86 million dollars. See Exhibit 6-1.

Exhibit 6-1—One-Time Avoided Requalification Testing Costs During Year One

Cylinder type	Number of cylinders 22	Hours to requalify 23	Labor rate for fuel dealer inspectors 24	Avoided requalification cost
Residential	3,750,000	0.33	$46.23	$57,209,625
Commercial	1,250,000	0.50	46.23	28,893,750
Total				$86,103,375

PHMSA interprets this impact as a “one-time” cost savings that is assumed to occur over a one-year period during 2019. We do not distinguish these cost savings on a month-to-month basis because we do not have data relaying the specific manufacturing dates of the affected cylinders. Further, this may not be relevant if requalification dates are uniformly distributed across different months of the year.

There is also cost savings due to enduring, year-over-year effects in which the number of cylinders in need of requalification is expected to be fewer in the rulemaking scenario. With a longer requalification timeframe (12 years vs. 10 years), there are fewer cylinders in need of requalification in a given year. In a previous section regarding the affected number of cylinders, PHMSA estimated that 20% fewer cylinders would be in need of requalification in the rulemaking scenario. Combining this 20% estimate with the cost findings related to year one impacts, we can estimate enduring, year-over-year cost savings. This assumes that input values (e.g., labor rates, time to requalify, breakdown of cylinder types) remain constant over the time period of analysis. For example, labor rates are assumed to be constant; if they were adjusted to reflect inflation, our cost savings estimate would be higher.

Thus, Exhibit 6-1 above provides that the accelerated requalification of 2 cylinder vintages would result in approximately $86 million. We divide that figure in half to represent annual requalification costs and then take 20% of the resulting figure to estimate enduring, year-over-year cost savings.^[25] This gives approximately $8.6 million in undiscounted, yearly cost savings. Equivalently, if 500,000 extra cylinders need requalification on an on-going basis in the baseline, this amounts to 1/10th of the “glut” created by the accelerated requalification in year one and hence 10% of the estimated costs.^[26] Exhibit 6-2 below presents these cost savings in years 2-10, as well as the year-one cost savings based on avoidance of accelerated requalification. We present undiscounted (0%) and 3% and 7% discount rates.

Exhibit 6-2—Cost Savings Due to Avoidance of Accelerated Requalification in Year 1 and Reduction in Number of Needed Requalifications in Years 2-10; Net Present Value and Annualized at 0%, 3%, and 7% Discount Rates

Year	Undiscounted (0%)	3%	7%
1	$86,103,375	$86,103,375	$86,103,375
2	8,610,338	8,359,551	8,047,044
3	8,610,338	8,116,069	7,520,602
4	8,610,338	7,879,679	7,028,600
5	8,610,338	7,650,173	6,568,785
6	8,610,338	7,427,353	6,139,052
7	8,610,338	7,211,022	5,737,431
8	8,610,338	7,000,992	5,362,085
9	8,610,338	6,797,080	5,011,295
10	8,610,338	6,599,107	4,683,453
Net Present Value (Total)		153,144,405	142,201,727
Annualized		17,953,196	20,246,327

Therefore, if this proposed rule is adopted, cylinder marketers in the 454310 Fuel Dealers NAICS sector would be relieved of requalifying approximately 5 million cylinders in year one, which would save them approximately $86 million dollars in costs (undiscounted). Conversely, $86 million in requalification costs would be imposed in year one if this rulemaking is not adopted, which this analysis assumes would sustain HM-233F's requirement for a 10-year requalification timeframe. Moreover, if adopted, cylinder marketers would have 20% fewer cylinders to requalify in each year after year one. This results in cost savings of approximately $8.6 million in years 2-10 (undiscounted).

Combining these two cost savings effects together, cylinder marketers are expected to save $142.2 million over 10 years, discounted at 7%. On an annual basis, they are expected to save $20.2 million annualized at 7%. We use these figures to calculate total net cost savings later in the document, but first we must account for training-related cost savings, as well as some training-related costs, due to the rulemaking scenario.

Analysis of Training Costs and Cost Savings

This rulemaking may relieve approximately 18,000 cylinder manufacturing employees from needing training. In the baseline scenario, these cylinder manufacturing employees may need to change the way they voluntarily stamp newly-manufactured cylinders, necessitating training; conversely, in the rulemaking scenario, their stamping practices can remain unchanged, avoiding this training and associated costs. The net effect of these training-related impacts is quantified in the section, “Analysis of total net cost savings.”

However, this rulemaking is also likely to result in approximately 36,000 cylinder marketer employees to need training on the proposed changes to proof pressure requalification periods. Specifically, PHMSA is proposing to retain the 10-year requalification timeframe for cylinders that are initially requalified using proof pressure testing. This may provide cylinder marketers regulatory relief by reducing the requalification frequency for proof pressure, but it is also likely to necessitate training because this proposal diverges from the standards in place before the HM-233F final rule. PHMSA seeks comment on this proposal.

Regarding the training of cylinder marketers, their employees need to understand that a 12-year timeframe applies to cylinders initially and subsequently requalified by volumetric expansion testing, and that a 10-year timeframe applies to cylinders requalified by proof pressure testing after an initial 12-year period. In P-1696, NPGA suggests that this training would take two hours per employee and that approximately half of employees would require training.²⁷ PHMSA believes only the training portion related to proof pressure testing is a relevant change, so we assume this training takes just one hour per employee, and, as stated by NPGA, that half of employees would require training. Thus, we take the number of employees for the 454310 Fuel Dealers sector from Exhibit 5 (73,555) and divide it by 2 to get the number of these employees requiring training (73,555/2 = 36,778, with rounding). We use the hourly labor rate for these 454310 Fuel Dealers employees, as exhibited in Exhibit 6-1 ($46.23), and multiply by 1 training hour to estimate the cost to train each employee ($46.23 * 1 = $46.23). We then multiply $46.23 by the number of 454310 Fuel Dealers employees requiring training to estimate the training cost for these employees ($46.23 * 36,778 = $1,700,247, with rounding).

As NPGA explains in P-1696, millions of cylinders currently in service show a stamp placed during manufacture, indicating that the cylinder must be requalified 12 years after the manufacture date. Under the baseline scenario, cylinder manufacturers would need to adjust this stamp to indicate a 10-year period. From this vantage, this proposed rulemaking results in training cost savings for cylinder manufacturers, not training costs; in other words, the regulations proposed here ensure that cylinder manufacturers can continue the industry practice of stamping to reflect the 12-year timeframe for initial requalification.

To estimate training cost savings for cylinder manufacturers, PHMSA references NPGA's estimate that training would take two hours per employee and that approximately half of employees would require training.^[28] Thus, we take the number of employees for the 332420 Metal Tank Manufacturing NAICS sector from Exhibit 5 (36,869) and divide it by 2 to get the number of these employees requiring training (36,869/2 = 18,435, with rounding). We use $52.48 as the hourly labor rate for 332420 Metal Tank Manufacturing employees and multiply by 2 training hours to estimate the cost to train each employee ($52.48 * 2 = $104.96).^[29] We then multiply $104.96 by the number of 332420 Metal Tank Manufacturing employees requiring training to estimate the training cost savings for these employees ($104.96 * 18,435 = $1,934,938, with rounding).

Based on these assumptions, input values, and methods, PHMSA estimates net cost savings related to training, totaling approximately $0.2 million dollars (undiscounted). See Exhibit 7. These training costs and cost savings would occur in year one of implementation of the rulemaking and are not discounted. They are not modeled to repeat in subsequent years.

Exhibit 7—Training Costs/(Cost Savings)

[Year one; undiscounted]

NAICS Sector	Number of employees 30	Percent trained	Number of employees trained	Training hour(s)	Labor rate 31	Total training cost
Fuel Dealers (454310)	73,555	50	36,778	1	$46.23	$1,700,247
Manufacturers (332420)	36,869	50	18,435	2	52.48	(1,934,938)
Total						(234,691)

Analysis of Total Net Cost Savings

PHMSA outlined our assumptions, input values, and methods for estimating the expected costs and cost savings of this rulemaking. We now present the total net cost savings as the sum of net cost savings to both 454310 Fuel Dealers and 332420 Manufacturers. See Exhibit 8-1. As such, we estimate total net cost savings at approximately $163.8 million dollars, undiscounted.

Exhibit 8-1—Total Net Cost Savings

[Undiscounted]

Sector	Cost savings (“avoided accelerated requalification” in year 1)	Cost savings (“enduring” reduction in annual number of needed requalifications)	Training cost savings 32	Net cost savings
Fuel Dealers (454310)	$86,103,375	$77,493,038	($1,700,247)	$161,896,166
Manufacturers (332420)	0	0	1,934,938	1,934,938
Total	86,103,375	77,493,038	234,691	163,831,104

We also discount these savings over the time period of analysis. See Exhibit 8-2. To year one, we add the net cost savings related to training ($234,691) to cost savings related to the avoidance of accelerated requalification ($86,103,375), yielding $86,338,066 in cost savings in year one. The year-one impacts related to both effects are not discounted; they are assumed to occur at present value. However, the “enduring” cost savings are discounted according to the discount rate and the appropriate year in which the savings occurs. As such, we estimate total net cost savings of $142.4 million over 10 years, discounted at 7%, and $20.3 million annualized at 7%. These total figures do not differ much from the results presented in Exhibit 6-2 because training impacts are very small relative to requalification impacts.

Exhibit 8-2—Total Net Cost Savings Over 10 Years; Net Present Value and Annualized at 3% and 7% Discount Rates

Year	Undiscounted	3%	7%
1	$86,338,066	$86,338,066	$86,338,066
2	8,610,338	8,359,551	8,047,044
3	8,610,338	8,116,069	7,520,602
4	8,610,338	7,879,679	7,028,600
5	8,610,338	7,650,173	6,568,785
6	8,610,338	7,427,353	6,139,052
7	8,610,338	7,211,022	5,737,431
8	8,610,338	7,000,992	5,362,085
9	8,610,338	6,797,080	5,011,295
10	8,610,338	6,599,107	4,683,453
Net Present Value (Total)		$153,379,096	$142,436,418
Annualized		$17,980,709	$20,279,741

Evaluation of Non-Quantified and Non-Monetized Impacts

PHMSA has not estimated quantitatively all the possible cost and cost-savings impacts of this rulemaking. This is due to data availability and uncertainty surrounding the actual impacts of the rulemaking if it is made effective. Ultimately, the actual impacts of the rulemaking may vary from the representation in this analysis; this analysis merely represents our expectations based on the available data and our professional judgment. For these reasons, PHMSA solicits comment on this rulemaking and its analysis as expressed in this NPRM.

To address some of these uncertainties and data limitations, we have identified various non-quantified costs and cost savings that might result from adopting this rulemaking. Our discussion here of non-quantified and non-monetized impacts is not exhaustive. For example, PHMSA can identify the following potential impacts, which are not quantified or monetized in this analysis:

1. Changes in the number of cylinders taken out of service due to accelerated requalification requirements;

2. Changes in the demand for or supply of DOT 4-series cylinders and requalification services; and

3. Changes in the prices faced by propane consumers.

If this rulemaking is not adopted, PHMSA expects there may be changes in the number of cylinders that are taken out of service in the first year of the rule's effect due to failure of a requalification test. The HM-233F final rule accelerated initial requalification requirements, resulting in industry performing triple the number of requalification tests during year one. The increase in the number of requalification tests performed in year one means there could also be an increase in the number of cylinders that are taken out of service as a result of the requalification testing. To the degree that accelerated testing would result in cylinders being removed from service sooner, cylinder marketers would incur costs to acquire more replacement cylinders. PHMSA has not quantified the number of cylinders that might be “prematurely” taken from service and has not monetized the costs of replacing them. This represents a new category of potential costs under the baseline scenario and a new category of potential cost savings for cylinder marketers under the petition scenario. As such, the cost savings of adopting this rulemaking may be understated. Therefore, PHMSA seeks comments and any supporting data on this analysis, including comments and data regarding the potential effect of accelerated requalification on the number of cylinders removed from service and associated costs.

In addition, if this rulemaking is not adopted, PHMSA can anticipate changes in the supply of and demand for DOT 4-series specification cylinders, as well as cylinder requalification services. For instance, accelerated requalification requirements may be expected to result in higher costs for cylinder marketers, disincentivizing cylinder supply in the overall market. Similarly, a temporary increase in the demand for cylinder requalification services could affect the price of these services faced by cylinder marketers. As another example, accelerated requalification requirements may result in increased demand for newly manufactured cylinders to the extent that they are a substitute for requalified cylinders. A temporary increase in the demand for newly manufactured cylinders might result in a temporary increase in economic activity for that sector and could affect the prices for these cylinders and the revenues of cylinder manufacturing companies. PHMSA has not quantified these market dynamics because of their complexity and highly uncertain nature.

Lastly, there is uncertainty about the potential impact on consumers (e.g., propane end-users), so PHMSA has not quantified downstream price impacts. This is also a question of market dynamics. Specifically, the baseline scenario may result in price increases for propane-related goods and services for end-use consumers to the degree that the cylinder manufacturers and marketers are able to pass additional costs onto consumers.

Characterization of Additional Uncertainty in Impacts, Including Estimated Costs, Cost Savings, and Net Cost Savings

The discussion in the previous section characterizes non-quantified and non-monetized impacts of this rulemaking. Other impacts were quantified and/or monetized in this analysis, but PHMSA's estimates remain uncertain. As such, this section characterizes additional uncertainty in the quantitative impacts estimated in this analysis. Note that this discussion is not exhaustive. PHMSA solicits comments on our analysis, including commentary on where our estimates could be improved and findings made more accurate. We note uncertainty in these quantitative areas:

1. Estimate of the number of affected entities and employees;

2. Estimate of the training hours necessitated by the rulemaking;

3. Estimate of the labor hours needed to requalify affected cylinders;

4. Estimate of the number of affected cylinders;

5. Proportion of cylinders initially requalified by proof pressure testing (estimated only in the supplemental analysis); and

6. Number of cylinders initially requalified by proof pressure testing (estimated only in the supplemental analysis).

As outlined, there is uncertainty regarding the estimate of the number of affected entities and, thus, the number of affected employees, per Exhibit 5. This uncertainty arises from the fact that only some establishments in NAICS 454310 Fuel Dealers may sell fuels in DOT 4-series specification cylinders affected by § 180.209(e). There may also be propane marketing entities in other NAICS sectors, but current data do not support estimates of the portion of affected establishments in additional sectors. These uncertainties may result in training costs or cost savings being over or underestimated. Since the number of affected entities is not actually used as an input variable to determine training costs or cost savings, we do not explore this variable in a supplemental analysis.

As another example of uncertainty in this analysis, PHMSA is not able to corroborate the NPGA estimate regarding the amount of time required for training. NPGA estimated that each employee would need two hours to be appropriately trained on the revised requalification periods. Since training costs are proportionately small compared to estimated requalification cost savings, we do not explore this uncertainty in a supplemental analysis. To illustrate this point, consider a simple example. Doubling the amount of time for training cylinder marketing employees would double estimated training costs, from approximately $1.7 million to $3.4 million, yet training costs would remain a relatively small proportion of the estimated, year-one requalification cost savings ($3.4 million/$86.1 million = 3.9%). It is unlikely that variance in this input value would alter PHMSA's assessment that this rulemaking provides total net cost savings.

We are also unable to corroborate NPGA's estimate regarding the amount of time required to requalify affected cylinders. To the extent that it takes longer to requalify affected cylinders, requalification costs are understated in the baseline scenario and cost savings are understated in the rulemaking scenario. If less time is required to requalify affected cylinders, the reverse is true: Requalification costs are overstated in the baseline scenario and requalification cost savings are overstated in the rulemaking scenario. However, we believe that NPGA is uniquely positioned to estimate this variable due to the nature of its member representation. For this reason, we do not explore this variable with a supplemental analysis.

Furthermore, PHMSA is not able to corroborate the NPGA estimate for the number of affected cylinders. In this analysis, we rely on NPGA's estimate of approximately 5 million cylinders affected due to accelerated requalification. The number of cylinders affected is a critical input value for the estimation of cylinder requalification costs and cost savings in the baseline and rulemaking scenarios, respectively. Moreover, this specific variable presents uncertainty in that the NPGA estimate may be overestimated. This is because the HMR allow a cylinder, filled before the requalification becomes due, to remain in service until it is emptied.^[33] As such, filled cylinders may remain in service, and cylinder marketers would not need to remove compliant cylinders from service to meet the 10-year requalification timeframe codified in the HM-233F final rule and presented in this analysis as the baseline scenario. To the extent that fewer cylinders need to be requalified to meet the 10-year timeframe in the baseline scenario, the requalification costs estimated in the baseline scenario and the requalification cost savings in the rulemaking scenario are both overstated. To explore this uncertainty further, we provide a supplemental analysis regarding the number of affected cylinders in the following section.

Lastly, PHMSA notes uncertainty regarding the proportion and number of affected cylinders that would be requalified using proof pressure testing versus other methods. Proof pressure testing is an alternative to volumetric expansion testing. Despite proposing to retain the 10-year timeframe for a cylinder initially requalified by proof pressure testing, PHMSA did not include proof pressure-related requalification cost savings in our primary estimates because of the uncertainty surrounding the extent to which proof pressure testing is used to requalify the affected cylinders. If it is costlier to requalify using proof pressure testing than volumetric expansion testing and requalifiers continue to use proof pressure methods, then costs may be understated in the baseline scenario and cost savings may be understated in the rulemaking scenario. To the extent that requalifiers use proof pressure testing and it is less costly to requalify by proof pressure testing, then costs may be overstated in the baseline scenario and cost savings may be overstated in the rulemaking scenario. There also may be little or no difference between the costs of requalifying by volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing. PHMSA solicits comment on the extent of proof pressure testing versus other requalification methods.

Furthermore, our requalification cost savings analysis characterizes the timing of initial requalification in relation to cylinder manufacture. Refer to Exhibit 3. For volumetric expansion testing, the distinction between initial and subsequent requalification tests is not relevant since they would both occur at 12-year intervals; however, for proof pressure testing, the question of whether the cylinder is being initially or subsequently requalified is relevant and would determine the regulatory timeframe that applies (12 or 10 years). Noting this distinction, it may be reasonable to conceive of the cost-savings impacts on proof pressure-tested cylinders as altogether separate and possibly affecting a different, older pool of cylinders. We do not know whether the estimate of affected cylinders that NPGA provided accommodates this distinction. Put another way, uncertainty surrounds the proportion and number of cylinders that would be initially requalified by proof pressure testing versus volumetric expansion testing, as well as the overall number of cylinders that are requalified using proof pressure testing during subsequent requalification tests. These uncertainties are substantial to the point that we refrain from including cost savings related to proof pressure-tested cylinders in our primary estimates.

Nevertheless, we provide a supplemental analysis for the possible cost savings effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders, specifically how this proposed rulemaking would affect different vintages of cylinders that would initially be requalified by proof pressure (at the 12-year mark) and subsequently requalified at the 10-year mark as opposed to the 7-year mark, amounting to a 3-year deferral of these requalification tests and associated costs. This supplemental analysis is found in the section, “Supplemental analysis regarding possible effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders.”

See Exhibit 9 for a distillation of the uncertainties discussed in this analysis.

Exhibit 9—Uncertainties Associated With the Regulatory Cost Analysis

[Quantified and non-quantified]

Variable	Estimate(s)	Source	Description of uncertainty
Number of affected entities	Fuel Dealers: 8,677 Manufacturers: 739 Total: 9,416	U.S. Census	• Additional NAICS sectors may be affected. • Affected entities may be a subset of represented NAICS sectors. • Number of affected entities may vary from estimates, which is likely to affect the number of employees in need of training.
Number of affected employees	Fuel Dealers: 36,778 Manufacturers: 18,435 Total: 55,213	U.S. Census	• Additional employees in other NAICS sectors may require training. • The number of employees in represented NAICS sectors may vary. • Training costs are positively related to the number of employees.
Training hours per employee	1-2	NPGA	• Training hours per employee may vary. • Training costs are positively related to the training hours per employee.
Percent of affected employees in need of training	50%	NPGA	• Percent of affected employees in need of training may vary. • This percentage is positively related to training costs.
Labor hours to requalify residential and commercial cylinders	Residential: 0.33 hours Commercial: 0.5 hours	NPGA	• Labor hours per cylinder requalification may vary. • Labor hours to requalify affected cylinders is positively related to requalification costs and cost savings.
Labor rates	Fuel Dealers: $46.23 Manufacturers: $52.48	U.S. BLS	• Labor rates for cylinder marketers and cylinder manufacturers may vary. • Labor rates for cylinder marketers are positively related to cylinder requalification costs and cost savings, as well as training costs. • Labor rates for cylinder manufacturers are positively related to training cost savings.
Number of affected cylinders	5,000,000	NPGA	• Number of affected cylinders may vary. • HMR allows compliant in-service cylinders to remain in service past required requalification dates. • Number of affected cylinders positively relates to requalification costs and cost savings.
Number of cylinders removed from service early	Non-quantified	N/A	• Accelerated requalification may increase or expedite the number of cylinders removed from service. • Cylinder marketers may face increased replacement costs.
Cost to requalify (market dynamics)	Non-quantified	N/A	• Accelerated requalification may affect requalification capacity or throughput. • Accelerated requalification may increase requalification costs/pricing.
Cost of newly manufactured cylinders (market dynamics)	Non-quantified	N/A	• Increased requalification costs may reduce supply of available requalified cylinders. • Newly manufactured cylinders may be a substitute for a requalified cylinder. • Demand for newly manufactured cylinders may increase. • Price of newly manufactured cylinders may in turn increase.
End-user cylinder prices (market dynamics)	Non-quantified	N/A	• End-user market prices may be positively related to requalification and training costs. • Cylinder marketers and manufacturers may pass on compliance costs to end-users (e.g., propane consumers).
Proportion of proof pressure-tested cylinders	Non-quantified in primary analysis	N/A	• See supplemental analysis. • High proportion of proof pressure-tested cylinders could result in material cost savings due to deferred subsequent requalification. • Low proportion of these cylinders minimizes forgone cost savings if 7-year requirement were adopted (not proposed).
Number of affected proof pressure-tested cylinders	Non-quantified in primary analysis	N/A	• See supplemental analysis. • Large number of proof pressure-tested cylinders could result in material cost savings due to deferred subsequent requalification. • Small number of these cylinders minimizes forgone cost savings if 7-year requirement were adopted (not proposed).

Supplemental Analysis Regarding the Number of Affected Cylinders

As previously discussed, PHMSA believes the number of affected cylinders may differ from NPGA's estimate of 5 million affected cylinders. For example, affected cylinders may be fewer than 5 million due to existing allowances in the HMR. Specifically, a cylinder that is filled prior to its requalification date may remain in service until it is emptied. For this reason, the number of cylinders that would need to undergo accelerated requalification in the baseline scenario could be fewer than estimated, and associated costs would be less than estimated. Similarly, the cost savings in the rulemaking scenario would be less than estimated. For example, imagine a cylinder manufactured in 2009; in the baseline scenario, this cylinder would need to be initially requalified in 2019 (10 years later), even though cylinder marketers conventionally expected this cylinder to be requalified in 2021 (12 years later). If that cylinder were filled prior to 2019, but remained in service to the end-user until 2021, this cylinder would not need to be requalified until 2021 despite the regulatory change made in the HM-233F final rule.

Thus, for this cylinder, the baseline and rulemaking scenario are no different. No new cost is imposed in the baseline; no cost savings are achieved by adopting this rulemaking.

Nevertheless, PHMSA does not have data to estimate the number of cylinders that would remain in service under HMR allowances despite the acceleration of their requalification date, and NPGA may have considered this factor when developing its estimate. Even if data were available, this task of differentiating cylinders in this manner would undoubtedly be complicated given differences in service periods. Since we are unable at this time to corroborate NPGA's estimate, PHMSA also considers a scenario where the number of affected cylinders may be greater than estimated in this analysis. This could be the case if NPGA based its estimate on information from its members and there are marketers that are not members of NPGA who requalify cylinders.

In the absence of additional data, PHMSA uses a simple, assumption-based method to present the cost saving variances that would be expected if the number of affected cylinders were 25 percent fewer or 25 percent greater. This gives us a range of requalification cost-savings estimates occurring in year one, and over the 10-year time period of analysis. See Exhibit 10.

Exhibit 10—High-, Mid-, and Low-Range Cost Savings Estimates Based on the Number of Affected Cylinders

Scenario label(s)	Number of affected cylinders	Proportion of primary estimate	Estimated requalification cost savings (year one)	Total estimated requalification cost savings (years 1-10)
High	6,250,000	1.25	$107,629,219	$204,495,516
Primary/Middle/NPGA	5,000,000	1.0	86,103,375	163,596,413
Low	3,750,000	0.75	64,577,531	122,697,309

This simple, straightforward exercise shows that cost savings would be lower if fewer cylinders are affected by the proposed rule due to, for example, the current HMR allowance to keep a cylinder in service past its requalification date. Similarly, if the number of affected cylinders is greater than estimated, cost savings would also be greater. PHMSA solicits comments on this analysis, including the supplemental analysis and our estimate of the number of affected cylinders (5 million) in year one, which is the same as NPGA's. Despite the allowance for in-service cylinders in the HMR and other uncertainties, we continue to use NPGA's estimate because it is the best data available.

Supplemental Analysis Regarding Possible Effects on Proof Pressure-Tested Cylinders

PHMSA focused its cost savings analysis on revising the requalification timeframe for cylinders that are requalified by volumetric expansion. This reflects NPGA's emphasis in its petition for rulemaking (P-1696) and the uncertainty surrounding the extent of impacts on proof pressure-tested cylinders. As discussed in this analysis, PHMSA does not know the proportion or total number of affected cylinders that would be requalified using proof pressure testing, or whether these variables would have any material influence on our cost and cost savings estimates. Similarly, we do not know whether proof pressure-tested cylinders constitute an additional (and possibly older) pool of affected cylinders beyond NPGA's estimate of 5 million cylinders affected in year one. If so, then cost and cost savings estimates may be understated in this analysis. Nevertheless, PHMSA explores the possible effects on proof pressure-tested cylinders in this supplemental analysis. Specifically, we explore the difference between a 7-year timeframe and a 10-year timeframe for cylinder requalification occurring after initial requalification (i.e., “subsequent” or second requalification). By way of the HM-233F final rule, the HMR currently reflect a 10-year timeframe for both initial and subsequent requalification of proof pressure-tested cylinders, whereas the pre-HM-233F standard held that proof pressure-tested cylinders would be initially requalified at the 12-year mark and subsequently requalified on a 7-year timeframe.

In its petition, NPGA appears to recommend that the proof pressure standard for subsequent requalification be reverted to the 7-year timeframe in the HMR prior to HM-233F's publication.^[34] In contrast, this NPRM proposes to retain the 10-year requalification timeframe since it may add relief. PHMSA solicits comment on this proposal.

PHMSA believes this proposal would offer additional relief because it would enable cylinder marketers to defer by up to 3 years the subsequent requalification of cylinders that would otherwise be subject to the 7-year requirement. This deferral changes the timing of cash flow obligations for cylinder marketers and presents a potential cost savings.

Exhibit 11 illustrates the difference between the 7- and 10-year proof pressure requalification timeframes. Please note, this supplemental analysis relays these abstract scenarios for analysis purposes only; one must refer to the regulatory text of the proposed rule to understand actual regulatory changes and effects.

Exhibit 11 illustrates the effects of the proposal to allow a 3-year deferral of subsequent requalification by proof pressure test. In 2019, under the 7-year requirement, industry would requalify cylinders manufactured in 2000 and initially requalified using proof pressure in 2012; that same set of cylinders would need to be subsequently requalified 7 years later in 2019. In contrast, under the 10-year requirement, industry could defer requalifying those same cylinders until 2022. By 2022, although the timeframe has shifted, industry is back to a more normal condition where subsequent requalification needs to be performed annually.

The potential value of these cost savings is less certain than the cost savings estimates in the primary analysis, because it is not clear what proportion of requalification tests are performed using proof pressure testing (and therefore what number of cylinders would be affected).^[35] Due to this uncertainty, we do not incorporate proof pressure-related cost savings into our primary analysis and its estimation of requalification cost savings. However, by adopting some assumptions similar to those used in our primary analysis, it is possible to provide an approximate measure of these cost savings.

Based on NPGA's estimate, the primary analysis assumed that 5 million cylinders would be affected by the changes to the volumetric expansion timeframes. These 5 million affected cylinders came from two different vintages of cylinders. Assuming there are 2.5 million affected cylinders per vintage, there would be 7.5 million cylinders potentially affected by the 3-year deferral of subsequent proof pressure requalification requirements. Absent information on the frequency with which proof pressure testing is used, we assume a range of 5 percent to 15 percent of these cylinders were initially requalified using proof pressure testing. This suggests an estimate of approximately 0.38-1.13 million potentially affected cylinders during 2019 to 2021 (7,500,000 * 0.05 = 375,000; 7,500,000 * 0.15 = 1,125,000). We adopt the same prior assumptions regarding the allocation of cylinders between residential and commercial customers (75 percent residential and 25 percent commercial), the labor rate for employees performing the requalification tests ($46.23), and the time required to perform a requalification (0.33 hours for each residential cylinder and 0.5 hours for each commercial cylinder). Please note, the amount of time required to complete a requalification may vary between volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing.

This approach results in total potentially avoided requalification costs of $6.46-$19.38 million dollars, as presented in Exhibit 12.

Exhibit 12—Estimate of Potentially Avoided Requalification Costs Associated With the HM-233F Proof Pressure Test Provision

Cylinder type	Number of affected cylinders 36 (million)	Hours to requalify 37	Labor rate for fuel dealer inspectors 38	Avoided requalification cost (million)
Residential	0.281-0.844	0.33	$46.23	$4.29-$12.88
Commercial	0.094-0.281	0.50	$46.23	$2.17-$6.50
Total				$6.46-$19.38
36 Exhibit 4: Affected Cylinders.
37 This is based on the NPGA's estimate.
38 U.S. BLS wage rate is based on 2015 Occupational and Employment Statistics Survey (OES) for NAICS 454310 (https://www.bls.gov/​oes/​current/​naics4_​454300.htm). Total labor rate also includes other costs of employee compensation (i.e., benefits) based on BLS' Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary, which indicates that private industry labor rates are, overall, comprised of wages/salaries (68.6%) and benefits (30.2%), https://www.bls.gov/​news.release/​ecec.nr0.htm.

In its petition, NPGA appears to recommend maintaining the status quo (pre-HM-233F conditions), that is, a 7-year requirement for proof pressure testing after initial requalification, while foregoing the possible cost savings suggested by this supplemental analysis and proposed rule. This supplemental analysis gives some indication that the combined net effect of both provisions would remain beneficial to the petitioner; specifically, the incremental costs that are avoided by NPGA's petition are expected to be larger than the cost savings foregone by its petition. By this logic, the gains of avoiding the acceleration of volumetric expansion requalification testing should outweigh the gains of deferring subsequent proof pressure requalification testing. Quantitatively, within this framework, the value of foregone cost savings begins to exceed the value of avoided costs if one assumes that approximately 67 percent or more of cylinders are requalified using the proof pressure test. This is simply an abstract comparison between the primary analysis' estimation of cost savings at initial requalification (assuming use of volumetric expansion) and the supplemental analysis' estimation of cost savings at subsequent qualifications (assuming use of proof pressure). Many other factors could affect whether NPGA's recommendations in P-1696 will yield net cost savings, such as there being a different cost to perform the different tests.

In summation, based on this supplemental analysis, PHMSA's proposal in this NPRM might lead to overall cost savings that exceed the estimates specified in the primary analysis. The primary analysis yielded net cost savings of $163.83 million (undiscounted), whereas this supplemental analysis estimated an additional $6.46-$19.38 million in cost savings. Thus, if the two effects affect separate cylinder cohorts and are combined, adoption of this rulemaking might result in approximately $170.29-$183.21 million in total net cost savings (undiscounted). Again, we have not incorporated the findings of this supplemental analysis into our primary analysis' findings because of the substantial uncertainty that surrounds the extent of proof pressure cylinder requalification testing. Please refer to the above section, “Summary of preliminary findings,” for the net cost savings estimates of our primary analysis.

C. Executive Order 13771

This proposed rulemaking is expected to be an Executive Order 13771 deregulatory action. Details on the estimated cost savings of this proposed rule can be found above in “Section III.B. Execuitve Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures.”

D. Executive Order 13132

This rulemaking was analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 (“Federalism”) and the President's memorandum (“Preemption”) that was published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2009 [74 FR 24693]. Executive Order 13132 requires agencies to assure meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that may have “substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.” This rulemaking will preempt State, local, and Tribal requirements but does not propose any regulation that has substantial direct effects on the States, the relationship between the national government and the States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, the consultation and funding requirements of Executive Order 13132 do not apply.

The Federal hazmat law, 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, contains an express preemption provision [49 U.S.C. 5125 (b)] that preempts State, local, and Indian tribal requirements on the following subjects:

(1) The designation, description, and classification of hazardous materials;

(2) The packing, repacking, handling, labeling, marking, and placarding of hazardous materials;

(3) The preparation, execution, and use of shipping documents related to hazardous materials and requirements related to the number, contents, and placement of those documents;

(4) The written notification, recording, and reporting of the unintentional release in transportation of hazardous material; and

(5) The design, manufacture, fabrication, marking, maintenance, recondition, repair, or testing of a packaging or container represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material.

This proposed rule addresses covered subject item (5) above and preempts State, local, and Indian tribe requirements not meeting the “substantively the same” standard. This proposed rule is necessary to provide cost savings and regulatory flexibility to the propane industry. If the proposed changes are not adopted, propane industry members likely will incur substantial costs related to the accelerated requalification schedule when using the volumetric expansion test. PHMSA invites those with an interest in the issues presented in this NPRM to comment on the effect the adoption of specific proposals may have on State or local governments.

E. Executive Order 13175

This rulemaking was analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13175 (“Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments”). Executive Order 13175 requires agencies to assure meaningful and timely input from Indian tribal government representatives in the development of rules that significantly or uniquely affect Tribal communities by imposing “substantial direct compliance costs” or “substantial direct effects” on such communities or the relationship and distribution of power between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. This rulemaking does not have tribal implications. Therefore, the funding and consultation requirements of Executive Order 13175 do not apply.

However, we invite Indian tribal governments to provide comments on the costs and effects that this or a future rulemaking could potentially have on Tribal communities.

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Order 13272, and DOT Policies and Procedures

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires agencies to review regulations to assess their impact on a substantial number of small entities unless the agency determines that a rulemaking is not expected to have significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. This proposed rule provides cost savings and regulatory flexibility to the propane industry, as previously discussed. The proposed changes are generally intended to provide relief to members of the propane industry, including small entities, by easing requirements with no anticipated reduction in safety.

Consideration of alternative proposals for small businesses. The Regulatory Flexibility Act directs agencies to establish exceptions and differing compliance standards for small businesses, where it is possible to do so and still meet the objectives of applicable regulatory statutes.

The impact of this proposed rule is not expected to be significant. The proposed changes are generally intended to provide regulatory flexibility and cost savings to industry members.

This proposed rule has been developed in accordance with Executive Order 13272 (“Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking”) and DOT's procedures and policies to promote compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act to ensure that potential impacts of draft rules on small entities are properly considered.

G. Paperwork Reduction Act

While this NPRM proposes to address the requalification of certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders, we do not anticipate that it will affect the burden for this or any other information collection. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no person is required to respond to any information collection unless it has been approved by OMB and displays a valid OMB control number. Section 1320.8(d) of 5 CFR requires that PHMSA provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information and recordkeeping requests. PHMSA specifically solicits comment on the information collection and recordkeeping burdens associated with developing, implementing, and maintaining these proposed requirements. Address written comments to the Dockets Unit as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this rulemaking. We must receive comments regarding information collection burdens prior to the close of the comment period as identified in the DATES section of this rulemaking. In addition, you may submit comments specifically related to the information collection burden to the PHMSA Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, at fax number 202-395-6974. Requests for a copy of this information collection should be directed to Steven Andrews or Shelby Geller, Standards and Rulemaking Division (PHH-10), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

H. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

A regulation identifier number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. The RIN contained in the heading of this document can be used to cross-reference this action with the Unified Agenda.

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

This rulemaking does not impose unfunded mandates under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. It does not result in costs of $155 million or more to either State, local, or Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector and is the least burdensome alternative that achieves the objective of the rulemaking. Further, in compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, PHMSA will evaluate any regulatory action that might be proposed in subsequent stages of the proceeding to assess the effects on State, local, and Tribal governments and the private sector.

J. Environmental Assessment

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to consider the consequences of major Federal actions and prepare a detailed statement on actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) implementing regulations (40 CFR part 1500) require Federal agencies to conduct an environmental review considering (1) the need for the action, (2) alternatives to the action, (3) probable environmental impacts of the action and alternatives, and (4) the agencies and persons consulted during the consideration process (see 40 CFR 1508.9(b)).

1. Need for the Action

The purpose of this NPRM is to amend the HMR through revisions to the requalification period for certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive gas service. This proposed action is intended to provide regulatory relief. If the changes in this proposed rule are not adopted in the HMR, PHMSA would forgo the opportunity to provide regulatory relief.

2. Alternatives Considered

Transportation of hazardous materials in commerce is subject to requirements in the HMR, issued under authority of Federal hazmat law, codified at 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. To facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of hazardous materials in international commerce, the HMR provide that both domestic and international shipment of hazardous materials may be offered for transportation and transported under provisions of the international regulations.

In proposing this rulemaking, PHMSA is considering the following alternatives:

Alternative 1: No Action Alternative

The No Action Alternative does not incorporate the regulatory changes proposed in this NPRM. If PHMSA were to select this alternative, it would not proceed with any rulemaking on this subject and the current regulatory standards would remain in effect. If the current regulatory standards remain in effect, § 108.209(e) would not be amended, and the requalification period for volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing would remain at a 10-year period. This alternative would not address NPGA's petition for rulemaking. The requalification period for the volumetric expansion test would not be extended to a 12-year period and the requalification period for the proof pressure test would not be extended to an initial 12-year period followed by a 10-year period.

Alternative 2: Preferred Alternative

The Preferred Alternative is the current proposal as it appears in the NPRM, applying to transportation of hazardous materials by various modes (highway, rail, vessel, and aircraft). The proposed amendments encompassed in this alternative are more fully addressed in the preamble and regulatory text sections. However, the general amendment in this NPRM is to revise the requalification period in § 180.209(e) for DOT 4-series specification cylinders to allow for a 12-year period for volumetric expansion testing and an initial 12-year period followed by a 10-year requalification period for proof pressure testing.

3. Environmental impacts

Alternative 1: No Action Alternative

If PHMSA were to select the No Action Alternative, current regulations would remain in place and no new provisions would be added. This alternative would not address NPGA's petition for rulemaking. The current regulatory requirements, with shorter requalification intervals for volumetric expansion testing, are more conservative and, assuming 100% compliance, there would be more opportunities to identify cylinders with defects so that they could be repaired or removed from service. The failure of a DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, or 4E specification cylinder results in a large release of energy, which can result in destruction to property, injury, and death. Nonetheless, PHMSA believes that prior cylinder requalification intervals, both under HM-233F standards and the standards prior to that change, were unnecessarily burdensome.

Alternative 2: Preferred Alternative

PHMSA proposes that amending the requalification period for DOT 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive gas service will result in decreased regulatory and economic burden. PHMSA does not anticipate that increased cylinder failures will occur because PHMSA believes that prior standards were unnecessarily conservative. The proposed change clarifies and broadens regulatory requalification periods, ensuring consistency with training programs developed within the industry. There are no anticipated significant impacts in the release of environmental pollutants under either alternative. However, fewer trips transporting cylinders for retest may result in minor reductions to air pollutants, including greenhouse gases.

4. Agencies Consulted

PHMSA has coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard in the development of this proposed rule. PHMSA will consider the views expressed in comments to the NPRM submitted by members of the public, State and local governments, and industry.

5. Conclusion

PHMSA proposes to find that no significant environmental impact will result from this proposed rule. PHMSA welcomes any views, data, or information related to safety or environmental impacts that may result if the proposed requirements are adopted, as well as possible alternatives and their environmental impacts.

K. Privacy Act

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov,, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at http://www.dot.gov/​privacy.

L. Executive Order 13609 and International Trade Analysis

Under Executive Order 13609, “Promoting International Regulatory Cooperation,” agencies must consider whether the impacts associated with significant variations between domestic and international regulatory approaches are unnecessary or may impair the ability of American business to export and compete internationally. See 77 FR 26413 (May 4, 2012). In meeting shared challenges involving health, safety, labor, security, environmental, and other issues, international regulatory cooperation can identify approaches that are at least as protective as those that are or would be adopted in the absence of such cooperation. International regulatory cooperation can also reduce, eliminate, or prevent unnecessary differences in regulatory requirements. This rulemaking does not impact international trade.

M. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs Federal agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless doing so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specification of materials, test methods, or performance requirements) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. This rulemaking makes revisions to the requalification periods for DOT 4-series specification cylinder consistent with current Federal statute and guidance and PHMSA policies and procedures; it does not involve use of voluntary consensus standards.

N. Executive Order 13211

Executive Order 13211 (“Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use”) [66 FR 28355; May 22, 2001] requires Federal agencies to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for any “significant energy action.” Under the executive order, a “significant energy action” is defined as any action by an agency (normally published in the Federal Register) that promulgates, or is expected to lead to the promulgation of, a final rule or regulation (including a notice of inquiry, ANPRM, and NPRM) that (1)(i) is a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 or any successor order and (ii) is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy; or (2) is designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. PHMSA welcomes any data or information related to energy impacts that may result from this NPRM, as well as possible alternatives and their energy impacts. Please describe the impacts and the basis for the comment.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 180

• Hazardous materials transportation
• Motor carriers
• Motor vehicle safety
• Packaging and containers
• Railroad safety
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

In consideration of the foregoing, PHMSA proposes to amend 49 CFR chapter I as follows:

PART 180—CONTINUING QUALIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PACKAGINGS

1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128; 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97.

2. In § 180.209:

a. Revise Table 1—Requalification of Cylinders in paragraph (a); and

b. Revise paragraph (e).

The revisions read as follows.

§ 180.209

Requirements for requalification of specification cylinders.

(a) * * *

Table 1—Requalification of Cylinders ¹

Specification under which cylinder was made	Minimum test pressure (psig) 2	Requalification period (years)
3	3,000 psig	5.
3A, 3AA	5/3 times service pressure, except non-corrosive service (see § 180.209(g))	5, 10, or 12 (see § 180.209(b), (f), (h), and (j)).
3AL	5/3 times service pressure	5 or 12 (see § 180.209(j) and (m)3).
3AX, 3AAX	5/3 times service pressure	5.
3B, 3BN	2 times service pressure (see § 180.209(g))	5 or 10 (see § 180.209(f)).
3E	Test not required.
3HT	5/3 times service pressure	3 (see §§ 180.209(k) and 180.213(c)).
3T	5/3 times service pressure	5.
4AA480	2 times service pressure (see § 180.209(g))	5 or 10 (see § 180.209(h)).
4B, 4BA, 4BW, 4B-240ET	2 times service pressure, except non-corrosive service (see § 180.209(g))	5, 7, 10, or 12 (see § 180.209(e), (f), and (j)).
4D, 4DA, 4DS	2 times service pressure	5.
4E	2 times service pressure, except non-corrosive service (see § 180.209(g))	5, 10, or 12 (See § 180.209(e)).
4L	Test not required.
8, 8AL		10 or 20 (see § 180.209(i)).
Exemption or special permit cylinder	See current exemption or special permit	See current exemption or special permit.
Foreign cylinder (see § 173.301(j) of this subchapter for restrictions on use)	As marked on cylinder, but not less than 5/3 of any service or working pressure marking	5 (see §§ 180.209(l) and 180.213(d)(2)).
1 Any cylinder not exceeding 2 inches outside diameter and less than 2 feet in length is excepted from volumetric expansion test.
2 For cylinders not marked with a service pressure, see § 173.301a(b) of this subchapter.
3 This provision does not apply to cylinders used for carbon dioxide, fire extinguisher or other industrial gas service.

* * * * *

(e) Cylinders in non-corrosive gas service. A cylinder made in conformance with DOT Specifications 4B, 4BA, 4BW, or 4E protected externally by a suitable corrosion-resistant coating and used exclusively for non-corrosive gas that is commercially free from corroding components may be requalified by volumetric expansion testing every 12 years instead of every 5 years. As an alternative, the cylinder may be subjected to a proof pressure test at least two times the marked service pressure, but this latter type of test must be repeated every 10 years after expiration of the initial 12-year period. When subjected to a proof pressure test, the cylinder must be carefully examined under test pressure and removed from service if a leak or defect is found.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2019, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.

William S. Schoonover,

Associate Administrator of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Footnotes

1.  https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/​approvals-and-permits/​hazmat/​file-serve/​offer/​SP12084.pdf/​offerserver/​SP12084.

2.  See P-1696: https://www.regulations.gov/​docket?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0019.

3.  This is voluntary industry practice and not required by the HMR.

4.  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's Notice Regarding the Requalification Period for Department of Transportation (DOT) Specification Cylinders, issued May 17, 2017, available at: https://www.regulations.gov/​document?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0083-0001.

5.  See 58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993 for Executive Order 12866

6.  See 5 U.S.C. 553.

7.  Due to rounding, these estimates and findings may differ slightly from those expressed elsewhere in this analysis. Net cost savings is defined as cost savings minus costs, but in Exhibit 1, it is presented equivalently as the sum of (net) cost savings. Year-one effects are undiscounted. Effects related to years two through ten are discounted at 7%. Total effects, covering the 10-year time period of analysis, include an undiscounted, year-one value, which is added to values discounted at 7% for years two through ten.

8.  The perpetual, annualized cost savings were calculated by discounting the net present value of cost savings ($209,342,894.57) by one year using a 7% discount rate. This is equivalent to multiplying the net present value of cost savings by 0.07. $209,342,894.57 * 0.07 = $14,654,002.62.

9.  See P-1696: https://www.regulations.gov/​docket?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0019.

10.  NPGA does not provide any supporting documentation or other information describing the basis for these estimates.

11.  National Propane Gas Association, “RE: Supplement to January 13, 2017 NPGA Petition for Rulemaking and Emergency Stay,” February 13, 2017 [hereinafter NPGA Supplement]: https://www.regulations.gov/​document?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0083-0003.

12.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. The classification framework is updated periodically, and most Federal statistical agencies currently report data using the 2012 version of the NAICS. The NAICS version—2012—is not related to the year for which statistical data are being published.

13.  https://www.census.gov/​cgi-bin/​sssd/​naics/​naicsrch?​code=​454310&​search=​2012%20NAICS%20Search.

14.  Ibid.

15.  https://www.census.gov/​cgi-bin/​sssd/​naics/​naicsrch?​code=​332420&​search=​2012%20NAICS%20Search.

16.  U.S. Census Bureau. “2014 County Business Patterns.” American Fact Finder, April 21, 2016. https://factfinder.census.gov/​faces/​nav/​jsf/​pages/​searchresults.xhtml?​refresh=​t.

17.  See P-1696, pg. 7: https://www.regulations.gov/​docket?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0019.

18.  U.S. Census Bureau. “2014 County Business Patterns.” American Fact Finder, April 21, 2016. https://factfinder.census.gov/​faces/​nav/​jsf/​pages/​searchresults.xhtml?​refresh=​t.

19.  See NPGA Supplement, Appendix A, for estimates of labor-hours to requalify residential and commercial cylinders: https://www.regulations.gov/​document?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0083-0003.

20.  May 2015 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates NAICS 454300—Direct Selling Establishments; available at: https://www.bls.gov/​oes/​current/​naics4_​454300.htm.

21.  There may be additional costs, aside from labor, particularly to the extent that the temporary increased volume of testing increases wear-and-tear of hydrostatic test equipment and associated maintenance costs.

22.  See Exhibit 4: Affected Cylinders.

23.  See NPGA Supplement: https://www.regulations.gov/​document?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0083-0003.

24.  U.S. BLS wage rate is based on 2015 Occupational and Employment Statistics Survey (OES) for NAICS 454310 (https://www.bls.gov/​oes/​current/​naics4_​454300.htm). Total labor rate also includes other costs of employee compensation (i.e., benefits) based on BLS' Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary, which indicates that private industry labor rates are, overall, comprised of wages/salaries (68.6%) and benefits (30.2%), https://www.bls.gov/​news.release/​ecec.nr0.htm.

25.  $86,103,375/2 = $43,051,688. $43,051,688 * 0.2 = $8,610,337.60.

26.  $86,103,375 * 0.10 = $8,610,337.5

27.  See P-1696: https://www.regulations.gov/​docket?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0019.

28.  Ibid.

29.  U.S. BLS wage rate is based on 2015 Occupational and Employment Statistics Survey (OES) for NAICS 332420. Total labor rate also includes other costs of employee compensation (i.e., benefits) based on BLS' Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary; available at: https://www.bls.gov/​news.release/​ecec.nr0.htm.

30.  CB1400A11: Geography Area Series: County Business Patterns 2014 Business Patterns.

31.  U.S. BLS wage rate is based on 2015 Occupational and Employment Statistics Survey (OES) for NAICS 454310 and 332420. Total labor rate also includes other costs of employee compensation (i.e., benefits) based on BLS' Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary, available at: https://www.bls.gov/​news.release/​ecec.nr0.htm.

32.  A value in parenthesis indicates a cost, or a “negative cost savings.”

33.  See § 180.205(c).

34.  See P-1696: https://www.regulations.gov/​docket?​D=​PHMSA-2017-0019.

35.  It is also somewhat further complicated by the fact that the provision applies not just to a second requalification, but any requalification that follows a prior requalification performed using the proof-pressure test (third, fourth, etc.).