FAA PROPOSES $809,500 IN FINES FOR ALLEGED HAZMAT VIOLATIONS

FAA PROPOSES $809,500 IN FINES FOR ALLEGED HAZMAT VIOLATIONS    The Federal Aviation Authority has proposed to assess $809,500 in fines against two airlines, a Miami freight forwarders and two shippers for alleged violations of Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations.
   The largest fines were levied against Brazilian airline Viacao Aerea Sao Paulo (VASP), for $440,000, and U.S. shipper Valvoline Inc., for $192,500.
   The FAA alleges that VASP improperly accepted for transportation by air packages containing hazardous materials, including two 22.7-kilogram fiber drums containing ammonium persulphate, an oxidizer; 33 19-liter plastic jerricans of chlorite solution, a corrosive; a 16.33-kilogram fiberboard box containing a toxic solid poison; and 10 19-liter plastic drums containing flavoring liquid extract, a flammable liquid.
   The packages were not correctly labeled and prepared for shipment. VASP employees were not trained to properly package and handle hazardous materials, the FAA said.
   The FAA discovered the hazardous materials during an inspection of VASP's Miami cargo facility. Though the carrier agreed to cease accepting, storing and transporting hazardous materials, the FAA found the airline in violation on two follow-up inspections.
   Lexington, Ky.-based Valvoline improperly offered a fiberboard box containing four one-gallon plastic containers of tire dressing, a flammable liquid, to United Parcel Service for transportation by air. Employees at a UPS ground-handling facility discovered the contents of the shipment had leaked, the FAA said.
   The FAA proposed assessing a $70,000 fine against Miami International Airport Cargo Facilities & Services, a freight forwarder. MIA-CFS allegedly offered 15 fiberboard boxes of flammable perfume to Grupo Taca Airlines for transportation by air. The FAA review found the company's employees were not trained in hazardous materials handling.
   Northwest Airlines was assessed a $55,000 penalty for allegedly transporting a container of compressed hydrogen on two passenger flights.
   The FAA said Northwest transported a 50-pound container of hydrogen from Guam to California for Lynden Air Freight Co. on passenger planes, though it was marked 'flammable' and for transportation on cargo aircraft only.
   Kinetics Group, based in Santa Clara, Calif., was assessed a $52,500 penalty for offering a fiberboard box containing six dry chemical fire extinguishers and two two-gallon plastic bottles of isopropyl alcohol to Federal Express for transportation by air.