A sampling of what you've missed in the March / April 2009 issue of HAZMAT Packager & Shipper...

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

    about exclusive new information from the Transportation Security Agency relative to its rail security final rules issued on November 26, 2008.  The requirements become effective on April 1, 2009.  The regulation provides for strict control of rail security sensitive materials.  On its website, TSA had already addressed frequently asked questions about these new rules.  Further, it has now responded to a series of additional questions from The Journal of HazMat Transportation.

    about a helpful, unintended consequence of the implementation of criteria for Environmentally Hazardous Substances (EHS) in the new edition of the IMDG Code.  It will eliminate some nagging problems that have existed for shippers, importers and ocean transporters alike, when readying certain combustible liquids for sea transport.

        new details about PHMSA’s enforcement  approach in addressing timeliness in training relative to regulation changes, variations between facilities in final testing results, uniformity and consistency in the inspection process and other matters.

        about the status of the federal chemical facility anti-terrorism standards (CFATS).  This is THE report if you want to know where this issue stands, regulatory-wise and with the Congress.  In October 2006, Congress authorized the Secretary of DHS to establish standards for security at high-risk chemical facilities, authority that expires in October of this year. Contentious political issues continue to affect the efforts to extend the effective date of those standards.

    about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Highway and Motor Carrier Division’s new hazmat motor carrier and shipper industry training program.  Learn how it is collecting information from an estimated 50,000 carrier and shipper employees to guide it in assessing the effectiveness of the new training program.  The training program addresses the security awareness training required by 49 CFR §172.704, the requirements for security plans under 49 CFR § 172.800 and the voluntary Security Action Items (SAI) developed by TSA.

    about a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rail-pertinent letter response clarifying rules for transferring chain of custody for railroad security-sensitive materials (RSSM), refused RSSM shipments, and inspector guidance documents.

    that on March 30, 2009, IATA posted its Addendum II to the 50th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.  The IATA changes frequently stem from similar changes provided in a separate ICAO Addendum.  This report contains a rundown on some of the more significant changes.

    that transporting lithium batteries has become considerably more confusing since January 1, 2009.  These new requirements stem from amendments to the UN Model Regulations 15th revised edition and changes included in the 2009 – 2010 ICAO Technical Instructions (2009 IATA DGR).  To complicate matters, the recent DOT rulemaking, HM-215J/HM-224D, did not harmonize the HMR with the new international requirements.  This is a MUST READ article for any shippers and carriers of lithium batteries.

    about an incident that occurred on May 20, 2008, on pier 30, Port Everglades Florida, the tragic circumstances of which are still reverberating in the hazmat community.  During routine loading of a 20-foot ISO portable storage tank containing refrigerated argon, on the cargo vessel “Madeleine”, three crew members were asphyxiated in a hold containing the tank.  As a result PHMSA issued a Notice of Probable Violation (NOPV) against the shipper Airgas South Inc.