PHMSA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS
Today, in an effort to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with international standards, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed to amend the HMR to include changes to proper shipping names, hazard es, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements.
In addition to incorporating by reference the newest versions of various international hazardous materials standards, PHMSA proposed the following:
- To update references to the Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations to include Amendments 8-10.
- To adopt updated International Standards Organization (ISO) standards.
- To allow wood as a material of package construction for certain explosives.
- To authorize use of metal other than steel or aluminum for drums and boxes.
- To permit use of non-removable head drums where removable head drums are otherwise authorized.
- To revise vessel stowage location requirements for explosives by reducing the number of explosive stowage categories from 15 to 5 in column 10A of the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT). Explosive stowage categories 6-15 will be eliminated.
- To modify vessel stowage codes listed in column 10B of the HMT.
- To incorporate a new packaging definition, operational controls, performance-oriented standards, and testing requirements for Flexible Bulk Containers (FBCs).
- To revise the HMT to include entries for chemical under pressure, including packaging requirements, segregation requirements, and quantity limitations and filling limits.
- To add specific size requirements for identification number markings for non-bulk packages.
- To modify the definitions for “Articles, explosive, extremely insensitive” and “Cartridges, blank.”
- To replace the definition for “Explosive, extremely insensitive detonating substances” with a new definition for “Explosive, extremely insensitive substances.”
- To add a definition for “Auxiliary explosive component, isolated.”
- To add an internationally recognized proper shipping name and identification number UN3506, Mercury contained in manufactured articles, and Division 6.1 (toxic) subsidiary hazard risk to UN2809, Mercury.
Additional amendments to international regulations not proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) include security provisions for high consequence dangerous goods, requirements for lithium batteries, notification to the Pilot-In-Command, requirements for salvage pressure receptacles, fireworks ification references, criteria for exclusion from 1, and others.
Comments are due on or before October 15, 2012. If you have any questions regarding the amendments or need assistance in preparation or submission of comments, please contact our office.