COSTHA opposes DOT’s special permit modification

COSTHA opposes DOTÆs special permit modification    The Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles has filed a petition opposing the U.S. Transportation Department's Special Permit 9275 modification that will require two package markings, namely 'company name' and 'Contains Ethyl Alcohol, exempted quantity.'
   Special Permit 9275 has been used by U.S. industry for more than 25 years. The permit allows the shipment of beverages, foods, cosmetics and medicines, medical screening solutions, and concentrates containing ethyl alcohol classed as a flammable liquid or as solids containing a flammable liquid containing ethyl alcohol without having to meet some of the more burdensome hazardous materials transportation regulations, such as package markings.
   'Many of the COSTHA member companies and others would be adversely impacted by this decision and we have launched an initiative to prevent this potentially burdensome modification,' the council said.
   COSTHA has contracted with a laboratory to conduct product-packaging tests in compliance with DOT's package performance standards to verify that an equivalent level of safety is provided and has filed a petition for rulemaking to codify the provisions of Special Permit 9275 in the federal hazmat transportation regulations.