FAA PROPOSES $562,000 IN FINES FOR HAZMAT VIOLATIONS

FAA PROPOSES $562,000 IN FINES FOR HAZMAT VIOLATIONS    The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to assess civil penalties against five companies totaling $562,000 for allegedly violating Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations.
   The companies, alleged violations and proposed fines are:
   * Cummins Eastern Canada, Dartmouth, Canada, for improperly offering a fiberboard box containing a fuel pump filled with diesel fuel to UPS for air transport, $51,000.
   * Wiginton Fire Sprinklers, of Longwood, Fla., for improperly offering a fiberboard box containing one one-gallon can of flammable lacquer paint to Federal Express for air transport, $70,000.
* Ecolab Inc., of Huntington, Ind., for improperly offering a fiberboard box containing a container of a flammable liquid to UPS for air transport, $63,000.
   * Aerobal SA, Toluca, Mexico, improperly offering a fiberboard box containing plastic containers of ethanol solution, a flammable liquid, to UPS for air transport, $95,000.
   * Merial Select of Gainesville, Ga., improperly offering a fireboard box containing “70 percent isopropyl alcohol,”'a flammable liquid, to Federal Express for air transport, $165,000.
   * Cummins Engine Co., Columbus, Ind., improperly offering fiberboard boxes containing machinery coated with diesel fuel, a flammable liquid, to UPS for air transport, $118,000.
   FAA alleged that the companies had offered hazardous materials for transportation when they were not packaged, labeled, marked, classed, described documented or in condition for shipment required by regulations. The FAA said the companies failed to ensure that employees were trained to properly package and handle hazardous materials, and did not make available at all times the required emergency response information.
   The companies have 30 days from receipt of the FAA notice to submit a reply to the agency.