(a) This subpart prescribes procedures for—

(1) A person who seeks approval to be an independent inspection agency to perform tests, inspections, verifications and certifications of DOT specification cylinders or UN pressure receptacles as required by parts 178 and 180 of this chapter;

(2) A person who seeks approval to engage in the requalification (e.g. inspection, testing, or certification), rebuilding, or repair of a cylinder manufactured in accordance with a DOT specification or a pressure receptacle in accordance with a UN standard under subchapter C of this chapter or under the terms of a special permit issued under this part, or a cylinder or tube manufactured in accordance with a TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC specification under the Transport Canada TDG Regulations (IBR; see § 171.7 of this chapter);

(3) A person who seeks approval to perform the manufacturing chemical analyses and tests of DOT specification cylinders, special permit cylinders, or UN pressure receptacles outside the United States.

(b) No person may engage in a function identified in paragraph (a) of this section unless approved by the Associate Administrator in accordance with the provisions of this subpart. Each person must comply with the applicable requirements in this subpart. In addition, the procedural requirements in subpart H of this part apply to the filing, processing, and termination of an approval issued under this subpart.

(a) General. Prior to performing cylinder inspections and verifications required by parts 178 and 180 of this chapter, a person must apply to the Associate Administrator for an approval as an independent inspection agency. A person approved as an independent inspection agency is not an PHMSA agent or representative.

(b) Criteria. No applicant for approval as an independent inspection agency may be engaged in the manufacture of cylinders for use in the transportation of hazardous materials, or be directly or indirectly controlled by, or have a financial involvement with, any entity that manufactures cylinders for use in the transportation of hazardous materials, except for providing services as an independent inspector.

(c) Application information. Each applicant must submit an application in conformance with § 107.705 containing the information prescribed in § 107.705(a). In addition, the application must contain the following information:

(1) Name and address of each facility where tests and inspections are to be performed.

(2) Detailed description of the inspection and testing facilities to be used by the applicant.

(3) Detailed description of the applicant's qualifications and ability to perform the inspections and to verify the inspections required by parts 178 and 180 of this chapter; or those required under the terms of a special permit issued under this part.

(4) Name, address, and principal business activity of each person having any direct or indirect ownership interest in the applicant greater than three percent and any direct or indirect ownership interest in each subsidiary or division of the applicant.

(5) Name of each individual whom the applicant proposes to employ as an inspector and who will be responsible for certifying inspection and test results, and a statement of that person's qualifications.

(6) An identification or qualification number assigned to each inspector who is supervised by a certifying inspector identified in paragraph (c)(5) of this section.

(7) A statement that the applicant will perform its functions independent of the manufacturers and owners of the cylinders.

(8) If the applicant's principal place of business is in a country other than the United States, the Associate Administrator may approve the applicant on the basis of an approval issued by the Competent Authority of the country of manufacture. The Competent Authority must maintain a current listing of approved IIAs and their identification marks. The applicant must provide a copy of the designation from the Competent Authority of that country delegating to the applicant an approval or designated agency authority for the type of packaging for which a DOT or UN designation is sought; and

(9) The signature of the person certifying the approval application and the date on which it was signed.

(d) Facility inspection. Upon the request of the Associate Administrator, the applicant must allow the Associate Administrator or the Associate Administrator's designee to inspect the applicant's facilities and records. The person seeking approval must bear the cost of the inspection.

(e) After approval, the Associate Administrator may authorize, upon request, the independent inspection agency to perform other inspections and functions for which the Associate Administrator finds the applicant to be qualified. Such additional authorizations will be noted on each inspection agency's approval documents.

(a) General. A person must meet the requirements of this section to be approved to inspect, test, certify, repair, or rebuild a cylinder in accordance with a DOT specification or a UN pressure receptacle under subpart C of part 178 or subpart C of part 180 of this chapter, or under the terms of a special permit issued under this part, or a TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC specification cylinder or tube manufactured in accordance with the TDG Regulations (IBR, see § 171.7 of this chapter).

(b) Independent Inspection Agency Review. Each applicant must arrange for an independent inspection agency, approved by the Associate Administrator pursuant to this subpart, to perform a review of its inspection or requalification operation. The person seeking approval must bear the cost of the inspection. A list of approved independent inspection agencies is available from the Associate Administrator at the address listed in § 107.705. Assistance in obtaining an approval is available from the same address.

(c) Application for approval. If the inspection performed by an independent inspection agency is completed with satisfactory results, the applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from the independent inspection agency, an inspection report, and an application containing the information prescribed in § 107.705(a). In addition, the application must contain—

(1) The name of the facility manager;

(2) The types of DOT specification or special permit cylinders, UN pressure receptacles, or TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC specification cylinders or tubes that will be inspected, tested, repaired, or rebuilt at the facility;

(3) A certification that the facility will operate in compliance with the applicable requirements of subchapter C of this chapter;

(4) The signature of the person making the certification and the date on which it was signed; and

(5) For a mobile unit operation (as defined in § 180.203 of subchapter C of this chapter), the type of equipment to be used, the specific vehicles to be used, the geographic area the applicant is requesting to operate within, and any differences between the mobile operation and the facility operation as described under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(d) Issuance of requalifier identification number (RIN). The Associate Administrator issues a RIN as evidence of approval to requalify DOT specification or special permit cylinders, or TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC specification cylinders or tubes, or UN pressure receptacles if it is determined, based on the applicant's submission and other available information, that the applicant's qualifications and, when applicable, facility are adequate to perform the requested functions in accordance with the criteria prescribed in subpart C of part 180 of this subchapter or TDG Regulations, as applicable.

(e) Expiration of RIN. Unless otherwise provided in the issuance letter, an approval expires five years from the date of issuance, provided the applicant's facility and qualifications are maintained at or above the level observed at the time of inspection by the independent inspection agency, or at the date of the certification in the application for approval for requalifiers only performing inspections made under § 180.209(g) of this chapter.

(f) Exceptions. The requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section do not apply to:

(1) A person who only performs inspections in accordance with § 180.209(g) of this chapter provided the application contains the following, in addition to the information prescribed in § 107.705(a): Identifies the DOT specification/special permit cylinders to be inspected; certifies the requalifier will operate in compliance with the applicable requirements of subchapter C of this chapter; certifies the persons performing inspections have been trained and have the information contained in each applicable CGA publication incorporated by reference in § 171.7 of this chapter applicable to the requalifiers' activities; and includes the signature of the person making the certification and the date on which it was signed. Each person must comply with the applicable requirements in this subpart. In addition, the procedural requirements in subpart H of this part apply to the filing, processing and termination of an approval issued under this subpart; or

(2) A person holding a DOT-issued RIN to perform the requalification (inspect, test, certify), repair, or rebuild of DOT specification cylinders, that wishes to perform any of these actions on corresponding TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC cylinders or tubes may submit an application that, in addition to the information prescribed in § 107.705(a): Identifies the TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC specification cylinder(s) or tube(s) to be inspected; certifies the requalifier will operate in compliance with the applicable TDG Regulations; certifies the persons performing requalification have been trained in the functions applicable to the requalifiers' activities; and includes the signature of the person making the certification and the date on which it was signed. In addition, the procedural requirements in subpart H of this part apply to the filing, processing and termination of an approval issued under this subpart.

(3) A person holding a certificate of registration issued by Transport Canada in accordance with the TDG Regulations to perform the requalification (inspect, test, certify), repair, or rebuild of a TC, CTC, CRC, or BTC cylinder who performs any of these actions on corresponding DOT specification cylinders.

(g) Each holder of a current RIN shall report in writing any change in its name, address, ownership, testing equipment, or management or personnel performing any function under this section, to the Associate Administrator (PHH-32) within 20 days of the change.

(a) General. A person who seeks to manufacture DOT specification or special permit cylinders outside the United States must seek an approval from the Associate Administrator to perform the chemical analyses and tests of those cylinders outside the United States.

(b) Application for approval. Each applicant must submit an application containing the information prescribed in § 107.705(a). In addition, the application must contain—

(1) The name, address, and a description of each facility at which cylinders are to be manufactured and chemical analyses and tests are to be performed;

(2) Complete details concerning the dimensions, materials of construction, wall thickness, water capacity, shape, type of joints, location and size of openings and other pertinent physical characteristics of each specification or special permit cylinder for which approval is being requested, including calculations for cylinder wall stress and wall thickness, which may be shown on a drawing or on separate sheets attached to a descriptive drawing;

(3) The name of the independent inspection agency to be used to certify the analyses and tests and a statement from the agency indicating that it is independent of and not owned by a cylinder manufacturer, owner, or distributor; and

(4) The signature of the person making the certification and the date on which it was signed.

(c) Facility inspections. Upon the request of the Associate Administrator, the applicant must allow the Associate Administrator or the Associate Administrator's designee to inspect the applicant's cylinder manufacturing and testing facilities and records, and must provide such materials and cylinders for analyses and tests as the Associate Administrator may specify. The applicant or holder must bear the cost of the initial and subsequent inspections, analyses, and tests.

(a) Each approval issued under this subpart contains the following conditions:

(1) Upon the request of the Associate Administrator, the applicant or holder must allow the Associate Administrator or the Associate Administrator's designee to inspect the applicant's pressure receptacle manufacturing and testing facilities and records, and must provide such materials and pressure receptacles for analyses and tests as the Associate Administrator may specify. The applicant or holder must bear the cost of the initial and subsequent inspections, analyses, and tests.

(2) Each holder must comply with all of the terms and conditions stated in the approval letter issued under this subpart.

(b) In addition to the conditions specified in § 107.713, an approval may be denied or if issued, suspended or terminated if the Competent Authority of the country of manufacture fails to initiate, maintain or recognize an IIA approved under this subpart; fails to recognize UN standard packagings manufactured in accordance with this subchapter; or implements a condition or limitation on United States citizens or organizations that is not required of its own citizenry.