A sampling of what you've missed in the July/August 2005 issue of HAZMAT Packager & Shipper...

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

that a new consolidated DOT exemption has been issued for the offloading of hazardous materials liquids from IBCs fixed on a motor vehicle, which will impose differing and more severe equipment and operational requirements. IBC Offloading Exemptions

that beginning September 16, 2005, for international shipments, wood packaging , dunnage including pallets, boxes, crates and wood used as cargo blocking, bracing or dunnage must comply with certain International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Standards. The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will prevent unmarked wood packaging materials and dunnage from entering the country. Special Report -- Untreated Wood Packaging and Dunnage

that Docket No. HM-215G final rules adopted new criteria for the classification of aerosols to reflect the revised criteria in the UN Recommendations (based on GHS criteria). An aerosol with more than 85% by mass flammable components and a heat of combustion of 30 kJ/g or more is required to be assigned to Division 2.1 (flammable), whereas an aerosol with 1% or less by mass of flammable components and a heat of combustion of less than 20 kJ/g is to be assigned to Division 2.2 (non-flammable). All other aerosols must be subjected to a series of tests in the UN Manual of Tests or Criteria in order to determine whether they must be classified in Division 2.1 or Division 2.2. HM-215G Final Rule Corrections

that in DOT Docket HM-218C, some of the DOT rules regarding repair of DOT-3 series specification cylinders have been changed. Miscellaneous Amendments

that DOT in Docket HM-218C announced that it does not consider the outside packaging for certain cylinders to be an overpack, and therefore, that this outer packaging must be marked to indicate that the inner packagings comply with prescribed specifications. Miscellaneous Amendments

that there are compliance issues when the owner of an older cargo tank prepares a DOT-type manufacturer’s certificate based on specification markings placed on the cargo tank by a person who manufactured the cargo tank motor vehicle (CTMV) and was not registered with DOT. HAZMAT Tip

that the UN is thinking of making some serious changes to specification requirements for certain rigid and composite IBCs. UN Decisions

details about what has been harmonized to date and the work that remains to be done in the harmonization of limited quantity and excepted quantity UN Model Regulations so that they may present less problems for U.S. shippers. Limited Quantities

about a new change in how limited quantity shipments moving under the 500 kg exception in the Canadian regulations must be transported in this country under DOT’s more restrictive limited quantity regulations, 49 CFR Part 171. Miscellaneous Amendments

that new wording adopted under the recent HM-215G DOT corrections notice clarifies that damaged, defective or leaking packages may be transported in salvage drums under the specified conditions irrespective of whether such packages are discovered before or after having been placed in transportation. The article also clarifies rules in the use of salvage packaging for hazardous materials that have spilled or leaked in and out of transportation and clarifies “non-conforming packages” salvage drum usage. HM-215G Final Rule Corrections

that DOT, in the Docket HM-215G correction notice, finally corrected the errors for the a number of organometallic substance entries covered by the 49 CFR HM Table, so that DOT rules coincide with the UN Model Regulations. HM-215G Final Rule

how to treat objects that may be slightly or barely contaminated with Class 6.1 material to assure that these are shipped correctly under the DOT regulations. HAZMAT Tip