PHMSA Eases Some Hazardous Materials Rules
Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration amended the Hazardous Materials Regulations as a result of administrative appeals. The change also addresses recent actions taken by the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel on lithium ion battery-powered mobility aids (e.g., wheelchairs, travel scooters) offered by passengers for air transport and passenger notification of hazardous materials restrictions by operators. The changes were effective Jan. 1, PHMSA said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Jan. 7.
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Among the changes were:
- PHMSA revised the HMR to phase out its system of reclassing and transporting limited quantity material as other regulated material (ORM-D). Under this system, a limited quantity of hazardous material that also meets the definition of a "consumer commodity" may be reclassed as ORM-D and is eligible for additional exceptions from regulation.
- It extended authorization of the ORM-D classification and the use of packagings marked "Consumer commodity, ORM-D" until Dec. 31, 2020 for domestic highway, rail, and vessel transportation.
- Markings on overpacks containing limited quantity or ORM-D material must be visible where modified to become consistent with United Nations Model Regulations. For use of the square-on-point and ID number limited quantity marking, the transition period was extended to Jan. 1, 2015.
- It denied Lilliputian's administrative appeal that requests the HMR be revised to allow spare Division 2.1 fuel cell cartridges in checked baggage.
Further information: Michael Stevens, 202-366-8553.