By Gordon Rousseau, Senior Technical Advisor    January, 2008

DOT Docket HM-215I (FR 12/29/06, page 78596), made numerous changes to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The vast majority of these changes became effective January 1, 2008. This article summarizes the docket. Prepared exclusively for our subscribers, it facilitates and greatly simplifies a last minute “quick scan” review of the changes, with the intention of helping our readers catch possible oversights.

DOT Docket HM-215I (FR 12/29/06, page 78596), made numerous changes to the Hazardous Materials Regulations.  The vast majority of these changes became effective January 1, 2008. 

This article summarizes the docket.  Prepared exclusively for our subscribers, it facilitates and greatly simplifies a last minute “quick scan” review of the change.  It was prepared especially to help catch possible oversights.  This review does not include changes made to Parts 174, 175, 176 and 177.

Changes to The Hazardous Materials Table can be viewed at the end of this report

If any question arises about the content of a regulation, however, be sure to refer to the regulation itself.  The October 1, 2007 issue of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 100-185 is where all these changes are found.  Otherwise, you need to refer to the December 29, 2006, Federal Register. The final rule is also found in the Past Hazmat Alerts HazMat Reference Gateway under alert number 2006-27. Andy Altemos initially reported on these final rules in the January/February 2007 issue. P. 7, titled “PHMSA Publishes Final Rule to Align With International Regulations”. This report also is posted our HazMat Reference Gateway under DOT Rules and Rulemaking Reports.   Highlights of the changes are as follows.  The final rule:

Requires a single shipping paper description sequence - identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, packing group.

Requires identification of the net quantity of hazardous material per package on a shipping paper when transported by aircraft.

Amends the Hazardous Materials(HM) Table by adding, revising, or removing shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, bulk packaging requirements, passenger and cargo aircraft maximum quantity limitations and vessel stowage provisions.

Revises the ORGANIC PEROXIDE label and placard.  Except for highway, old label and placard authorized until January 1, 2011.  For highway, old placard authorized until January 1, 2014.

Revises the classification criteria for PG III flammable liquids.   Old criteria and packing group may be used until January 1, 2012.

Revises the classification criteria and packing group assignments for Division 6.1 materials.  Old criteria and packing group may be used until January 1, 2012.

Adds requirements for the transportation of fuel cells containing flammable liquid.

Revises the lower limit for classing a material as a combustible liquid from 60.5º C (141º F) to 60ºC (140º F).

Revises the vessel stowage provisions in Column (10B) of the HM Table by adding Segregation Code ‘‘52’’ (Stow ‘‘Separated from’’ acids) to certain entries. For the affected entries see the listing of materials in the Federal Register of December 29, 2006, at page 78599 of Docket HM-215I.


Special Provisions
Special Provision 47 revised to specify that, in addition to sealed packets, articles containing less than 10 mL of a Class 3 Packing Group II or III liquid absorbed into a solid material are excepted from the HMR provided there is no free liquid in the packet or article.

This article, in its entirety,  is archived in HAZMAT Packager & Shipper's HazMat Database, an optional feature to subscribers. Information on obtaining a subscription to HAZMAT Packager & Shipper and its associated features can be found here.