On April 10, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials and Pipeline Safety Administration(PHMSA) issued a final rule to harmonize the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with international standards (HM-215Q). The final rule formally adopts various amendments to the HMR, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements.
Notably, the final rule includes the following modifications:
- Removal of the phaseout date from the transport provisions for polymerizing substances to allow for continued use of the provisions for these Division 4.1 (flammable solid) entries.
- Addition of a new entry to the HMT for “UN3550 Cobalt dihydroxide powder, containing not less than 10% respirable particles” and its corresponding packaging provisions.
- Amendments to the HMT to add, revise, or remove certain proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, bulk packaging requirements, and passenger & cargo-only aircraft maximum quantity limits.
The final rule is effective on May 10, 2024, and the delayed compliance date is April 10, 2025.
According to PHMSA, its final amendments are expected to maintain the HMR’s high safety standard for the public and the environment. PHMSA also anticipates additional safety benefits to be derived from improved compliance related to consistency amongst domestic and international regulations.
The Federal Register notice is available here.
Contact ACA’s Rhett Cash for more information.