U.S. DOT PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS

U.S. DOT PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS    The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration has proposed amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to align them with revised international standards.
   The Research and Special Programs Administration, or RSPA, would incorporate changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provision, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements, as well as revise the requirements for intermediate bulk containers and UN portable tanks for allignment with international requirements.
   The revisions would bring the DOT in line with recent changes to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods By Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
   “The continually increasing amount of hazardous materials transported in international commerce warrants the harmonization of domestic and international requirements to the greatest extent possible,” the DOT said.
   The department will take comments from the industry through Dec. 22. For more information, contact Joan McIntyre, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, at (202) 366-8553, or Bob Richard, assistant international standards coordinator, at (202) 366-0656.