Restriction on gas cans?

[KBCraig]

I was looking through the new Cheaper than Dirt catalog, and they've got the Swiss 5 gallon steel gas cans in stock again. I plan to order some, so I checked online to see if they're available. They are, but a big red "RESTRICTED" flashes on the page, saying they can't be shipped to California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey or New Hampshire.

CTD is infamous for refusing to ship to certain areas based on bad interpretations of the law. The only thing I can find in the RSAs about gasoline containers is this:

153:16-a Sale of Plastic Containers Prohibited. ? No person shall sell or offer for sale any plastic container designed or intended for the storage of gasoline or other flammable liquids unless such container conforms to existing federal standards and has been approved by the state fire marshal. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person, or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person.

Anyone heard of anything like this before in NH? Or can you buy regular gas cans like everyone else, and CTD is yet again full of crap?

Kevin

[Spencer]

I found your answer (it took forever to wade through all of the crap):

Relatively new adminstrative rules appear to mirror those of California (that bastion of progressive, caring people) -- you can download them in PDF format here.

But here are some gems:

Env-A 4001.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by requiring new portable fuel containers to meet performance standards as required by NH Laws of 2004, 175:1, I.

Env-A 4001.02 Applicability. Except as provided in Env-A 4001.03, this chapter shall apply to any person who sells, supplies, offers for sale, or manufactures for sale in New Hampshire any portable fuel container or spout, or both, for use in New Hampshire.

***

Env-A 4003.01 Performance Standards for Portable Fuel Containers and Spill-Proof Systems.
(a) Except as provided in Env-A 4001.03, beginning March 1, 2006, no person shall sell, supply, offer for sale, or manufacture for sale in New Hampshire any portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout which, at the time of sale or manufacture, does not meet all of the performance standards for spill-proof systems specified in (b) through (g), below.
(b) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall have an automatic shut-off that stops the fuel flow before the target fuel tank overflows.
(c) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall automatically close and seal when removed from the target fuel tank and remain completely closed when not dispensing fuel.
(d) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall have only one opening for both filling and pouring.
(e) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall provide a fuel flow rate and fill level of:
(1) Not less than 0.5 gallon per minute if:
a. The portable fuel container has a nominal capacity of less than or equal to 1.5 gallons and fills to a level less than or equal to one inch below the top of the target fuel tank opening; or
b. The portable fuel container:
1. Has a nominal capacity greater than 1.5 gallons but less than or equal to 2.5 gallons and fills to a level less than or equal to one inch below the top of the target fuel tank opening; and
2. Clearly displays the phrase "Low Flow Rate" in type of 34 point or greater on each spill-proof system, or label affixed thereto, and on the accompanying package, if any; or
(2) Not less than one gallon per minute for portable fuel containers with a nominal capacity greater than 1.5 gallons but less than or equal to 2.5 gallons which fills to a level less than or equal to 1.25 inches below the top of the target fuel tank opening; or
(3) Not less than 2 gallons per minute for portable fuel containers with a nominal capacity greater than 2.5 gallons.
(f) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall not exceed a permeation rate of 0.4 grams per gallon per day.
(g) The portable fuel container or portable fuel container and spout shall be warranted by the manufacturer for a period of not less than one year against defects in materials and workmanship.

Env-A 4003.03 Determining Compliance with Performance Standards.
(a) Prior to allowing the portable fuel container or spout, or both, to be offered for sale in New Hampshire, the manufacturer shall:
(1) Test the portable fuel container or spout, or both, using the procedures specified in Env-A 4005.01; and
(2) Demonstrate compliance with the applicable performance standard specified in Env-A 4003.
(b) The manufacturer shall maintain records of the compliance tests specified in (a), above, for as long as the product is available for sale in New Hampshire and shall make those test results available to the department within 60 days of request.
(c) Compliance with the performance standards in Env-A 4003 shall not exempt spill-proof systems or spill-proof spouts from compliance with other applicable federal and state statutes and regulations such as state fire codes, safety codes, and other safety regulations.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Env-A 4003.01 and Env-A 4003.02, a portable fuel container or spout, or both, manufactured before March 1, 2006, may be sold, supplied, or offered for sale until March 1, 2007, if the date of manufacture or a date code representing the date of manufacture is clearly displayed on the portable fuel container or spout.

I'm so glad that NH bureaucrats care so much about protecting us from surplus five gallon fuel containers.

[KBCraig]

Oh, jeezy creezy! 

Don'tcha just love it when legislation isn't needed, just "rules" made by a bureaucracy?

Thanks for digging, Spencer.

[KBCraig]

This reminds me of the last couple of gas cans I bought, which have those "automatic shutoff" nozzles. You have to press down on them before they'll flow.

Small print said, "not for motor vehicle use". Big deal, thought I... until I tried putting gas in my truck with one, and found out the nozzle wouldn't fit!

Time to stock up on the milsurp gas cans, it seems!

[polyanarch]

Harbor freight has some really nice mil-spec NEW 5-gal (jerry can) gas cans with the newer-type plasticized spout/caps.  These look pretty well painted and will last for years if taken care of.

Bad news is they are $40/can.  But they really are nice if you want a metal can.  Otherwise there are some really low-cost good/sturdy plastic cans out there.  Wally-world sells them for about $5/can for 

[aries]

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-5911601-5612860?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=5+gallon+gasoline&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-5911601-5612860?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=5+gallon+kerosene&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-5911601-5612860?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=5+gallon+gas&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

I dont think they discriminate with shipping 

[NC2NH]

I've noticed at Wal-Mart in NH these gas cans are around double the cost of the same capacity non-spillproof cans from the same manufacturer in other states.

[KBCraig]

I did manage to score a genuine military jerry can at a garage sale the other day, in good condition. Paid three whole bucks for it. 

[Pat K]

Het let Jerry out of the can, he is sufficating.

[citizen_142002]

You could ask Roger Grant if they can be delivered to his place in Vt., and then pick them up.

[KBCraig]

When I first posted this, I waited too long, and CTD was out of stock. They are back in stock now, and I ordered 5 cans and two nozzles today. (With my plastic cans and my USGI jerry can, that will give me 40+ gallons of storage for generator season.)

Sportsman's Guide offers the same cans and nozzles, but they're about $15 instead of $10, and SG loves to make extra profit on "shipping". They don't list a shipping restriction, which is funny, because SG is notorious for being "overly cautious". For years, they wouldn't ship bayonets or knives over 5.5" to Texas, because they misunderstood the "illegal knife" statute.

Oh, and a bit of warning about the nozzles: they reportedly don't always seal reliably. Plus, they don't have an air vent, so a very slow "glurg-slurp, glurg-slurp" should be expected. I plan to add my own air vent with a length of tubing through the nozzle.

Kevin