FAA fines Indiana chemical shipper for hazmat violations

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $227,500 civil penalty against AmplaChem of Carmel, Ind.    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $227,500 civil penalty against AmplaChem of Carmel, Ind., for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials regulations.
   The FAA alleges that on April 10, 2013, AmplaChem “knowingly offered an undeclared hazardous material shipment” to express carrier FedEx for air transport from Carmel to Vietnam. The shipment included boron tribromide, a corrosive material and toxic inhalation hazard that is prohibited from being transported aboard any commercial aircraft, and two other corrosive substances.
   According to the FAA, the shipment was found smoldering and burning as it was being unloaded from the plane in Vietnam, and FedEx notified the agency.
   The FAA alleges the shipment was “not accompanied by shipping papers to indicate the hazardous nature of its contents and was not properly marked, labeled or packaged” in compliance with the hazmat regulations. In addition, the FAA alleges that AmplaChem did not provide emergency response information with the shipment and its employees lacked hazardous materials training.
   AmplaChem will meet with the FAA in mid-June to discuss the case, the agency said.