A sampling of what you've missed in the January/February 2006 issue of HAZMAT Packager & Shipper...

As a Subscriber, you would have learned ....

where the UN Dangerous Goods Sub-Committee stands on several issues as a result of its December 2005 meeting which topics include IBCs, portable tanks, excepted quantities, classification changes, UN and IAEA radioactive materials regulations alignment, format variations with UN labels and markings, and the subject of a World Convention. Discussions will continue on changes which are subject to further review by the Subcommittee at subsequent sessions, until final review and ultimate approval is given at the December 2006 full Committee meeting.

that DOT, in a very significant and high-impact interpretation letter, insists its packaging closure notification rule (49 CFR 178.2(c)) applies to shippers when in the shipment of a package, a shipper assumes or requires return of packaging in which may be found hazardous material or residue.

that the nomenclature for DOT “Exemptions” has been changed back to “Special Permits” as they were called many years ago, that the maximum renewal period for special permits has been extended from 2 to 4 years, that shipping papers must now be retained for 2 years, and that the DOT definitions for “hazmat employer” and “hazmat employee” have been changed.

that, on January 12, 2006, the Department of Justice, representing the Department of Transportation, submitted a brief before the US Court of Appeals for the District Circuit, in relation to a Petition for Review submitted by industry associations in relation to HM-223.

that DGAC recently convened a workshop on infectious substances at GlaxoSmithKline’s headquarters in Philadelphia, PA about recent amendments to the infectious substances requirements as they will appear in the 2007-08 edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO TI) and the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) as they are expected to be amended by DOT Docket HM-226A.

that final rules in DOT Docket HM-240, expected to be a simple implementation of the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Act of 2005, have come under fire and industry has strongly demanded changes through the filing of several appeals.

that final rules in DOT Docket HM-240 have been published and that there are some important matters relative to certain definitions, shipping papers and special permit (exemption) markings, to be considered that could be troublesome in their implementation and future policies followed by DOT in its enforcement implementation.