Search

The article reports on the imposition of the finalized rules of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to harmonize domestic hazardous materials transport regulations with international standards in the U.S.

The article discusses a court case wherein the plaintiff accused Haulier, Nicholson's Transport for the leakage of liquid wood preservative, Wolmanit CX 8, from one of its truck, in the tributary at Shotton Beck in Sedgefield, England. The Darlington Magistrates' Court, examined the regulation for environmental offences. The court reviewed the issue and fined Nicholson's 10,000 pound and order them to pay 1,875 pound to Environment Agency of Great Britain.

The article reports that the U.S. Surface Transportation Board will form the Toxic by Inhalation Hazard Common Carrier Transportation Advisory Committee to study and suggest ways to safely and cost-effectively move toxic cargo such as anhydrous ammonia and chlorine.

The article focuses on the revision of the security plan requirements on handling hazardous wastes by the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). It states that the revision was done to accord PHMSA's security plan requirements with the high-consequence dangerous goods. It mentions the changes in the rule, such as the elimination of the security plan requirements for Class 9 materials and narrowing down the scope of Class 8.

The article reports on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) meeting, which study the needs associated with the electronic documentation of hazardous material shipping papers. It states that the meeting was conducted to hear feedbacks of responders, forwarders, and agencies regarding the risks with the electronic switch. Meanwhile, the electronic switch program will offer better and immediate communication that will maximize efforts of first responders.

The article reports on the decision made by Surface Transportation Board (STB) on the request made by the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to set limits to the transportation of chlorine in railroads in the U.S. Because of the risk involved in transporting chlorine, the firm asked STB to put limits on the shipment of chlorine. In response, the STB ruled that the company is obliged to transport chlorine despite the risk involved if accident occurs in a populated urban area.

The article reports that drivers traveling by ferry have been warned by the Maritime & Coastguard Ageny (MCA) to report the dangerous goods that they are carrying. It is stated that this warning has been issued in the wake of two incidences where the lorry drivers flouted the rules. In the first incident, driver Janusz Gauden was fined for not declaring dangerous goods to a ferry operator. The second incident involved driver Loan Tanasoaie, who attempted to use the Channel Tunnel in England.

The article focuses on a final rule devised to improve the crashworthiness of railroad tank cars used to transport poison inhalation hazards (PIHs) issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in January 2009. The rule requires tank cars to have enhanced puncture resistance. A 50-mile-per-hour maximum speed restriction for loaded PIH tank cars is also imposed under the rule. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters stated that the final rule seeks to increase safety over existing rail hazardous material (hazmat) tank car designs.

The article reports that a Polish driver, Janusz Gauden, who boarded a cross-Channel ferry and failed to declare dangerous goods, has been fined £ 2,000. He was also ordered to pay £ 3,75798 in costs after pleading guilty. Gauden had boarded a SeaFrance ferry in Calais, France with 228 people on board. His truck was carrying 338 kilograms of methyl methacrylate monomer.

The article reports that U.S. Federal Railroad Administration has increased civil penalties for the violation of rail road safety rules which involve hazardous substances. It notes that the final rule on the civil penalties shall be effective on March 2, 2009. The minimum civil penalty per violation was raised to $650, while ordinary maximum fine was raised to $25,000. It states that the increase is in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.

The article reports that the U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule that will exclude certain wastes from federal regulatory requirements governing the storage, transportation, and burning of hazardous waste. The changes to the exclusion rule will allow emission comparable fuels (ECF) to be burned for energy recovery in industrial boilers. ECFs are fuels that meet certain EPA specifications but are not subject to haz-waste disposal laws because their emissions are no more dangerous than emissions from traditional fuels.

The article provides the comments from companies and interest groups in the U.S. concerning the package inspection rule. It mentions that the proposed rule will allow the Department of Transportation inspectors to open packages which are suspected to contain hazardous materials. According to the submitted comments, the proposed rule is unclear and could put inspectors and shippers in danger.

The article reports on the new rule concerning the rail carriers in the U.S. which transports hazardous materials. It mentions that the rule requires the rail carriers which are transporting hazardous materials to assess the safest routes for their shipments. It notes that the imposition of the new rule by the Transportation Security Administration aims to enhance rail safety and security.

The article highlights the conference of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council held in the U.S. on November 6, 2008. According to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) hazardous materials enforcement director Ryan Posten, the agency uses a variety of enforcement methods and focuses its efforts on minimizing risk, not imposing fines for each and every infraction. He added that PHMSA will continue its focus on working to mitigate risks using an expanding arrays of data.

The article highlights the annual conference of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council held in the U.S. on November 6, 2008. An official from the National Transportation Safety Board stressed the transportation of dangerous goods is safer than it was 30 years ago but improvements still must be made. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a proposed rule that would align regulations on battery shipments with international standards.

The article focuses on the request made by the panelists who testify at a Surface Transportation Board hearing in requiring shippers of toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) materials to share in the costs of liability insurance in the U.S. Representatives of rail companies depicted that a single rail car accident involving the release of TIH materials has the potential to put a railroad company out of business. Rail companies and trade groups emphasized that they were seeking a way to balance the risk.

The article reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has requested public comments on the problems of packaging and air transportation of nonbulk hazardous liquid containers. PHMSA asks for solutions that would help prevent the leakages and failures of packaging. The agency stresses that failures of packages could possibly result to catastrophic consequences.

The article offers news briefs related to the transportation industry. According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), livestock hauliers might find a business opportunity to record sheep movements in Great Britain. Wincanton PLC hosted its third driver of the year award ceremony at Rockingham Speedway, Northants. The consultation document on COG 2009, setting out proposals to implement the European Directive relating to the carriage of dangerous goods is open for comments until October 10, 2008.

Information about several topics discussed at the Chemical Day symposium hosted by shipper A. Duie Pyle Inc., held on April 23, 2008 is presented. Topics include the safety issues associated with storage and transportation of hazardous chemicals. The symposium featured several officials from the chemical industry, American Chemistry Council, and law enforcement agencies including Pete Dannecker and Joe Evans.

The article reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has proposed increasing the registration fee paid by large companies that transport hazardous materials. The fee program funds the Hazardous Materials and Emergency Preparedness grants program and helps in the collection of information about the transport of hazardous materials.

The article reports on the call of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Transportation Safety Board for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to make DOT recommended practices for preventing spills of hazardous materials during bulk loading and unloading mandatory. The board stresses that the practices will have little effect unless they are included into regulations. The call is in response to the notice of PHMSA on its prosed practices. But respondents said that the practices are unnecessary.

The article reports on a new standard, C 1671 or the Practice for Qualification and Acceptance of Boron Based Metallic Neutron Absorbers for Nuclear Criticality Control for Dry Cask Storage Systems and Transportation Packaging, that was developed by the ASTM International's Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle. The standard will be primarily used by manufacturers of neutron absorber materials, canister designers, utility end users, regulators and testing organizations.

The article presents the outlook of Lion Technology Inc. on the trends in the hazardous materials shipping sector for 2008. The rise in imports and exports has brought additional challenges for hazardous materials shippers. They must have well-qualified logistics managers who can navigate multiple, complex, and diverse hazardous materials rules to find the most expeditious means to move trans-border shipments. The growth of technology has introduced new transportation hazards. Training also continues to be a challenge for shippers.

The article reports on the final "Appendix A" list of chemicals regulated under federal plant security rules released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The final list contains several changes, including removal of acetone and urea from the rules, and the addition of concentrated hydrogen peroxide and concentrated nitric acid. DHS has also changed the threshold amounts for chlorine and propane, including regulation of smaller containers of chlorine that could be transported or hidden by terrorists.

The article discusses drylock dry disconnect couplers made by OPW Engineered Systems. The couplers claim to help significantly reduce volatile organic compound emissions, improve worker safety, and improve efficiency during loading and unloading of railcars when transferring hazardous, corrosive, and volatile liquids. Railroad workers can connect the loading arm to the railcar by the turn of a handle without the need for any other tools.

This article reports on the possibility that British hauliers might be stripped of their work on dangerous goods transportation after the European Parliament voted to allow member states to prescribe specific modes of transport for dangerous goods. Roland Meister, vice-president of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) expert group on dangerous goods, says the prescribing of modes and routes will deprive operators of freedom of choice, and may force the chemical industry to produce outside the European Union (EU), resulting in job losses.

The article offers information on the risks associated with shipment of dangerous goods in containers. It is mentioned that the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code lays down a comprehensive set of rules for the safe carriage of packaged dangerous goods in containers but there have been frequent incidences of ignorance or disregard of codes. It is mentioned that the chemical calcium hypochlorite had been a cause of various explosions at ships.

The article provides information on the report "Hazardous Substances Released During Rail Transit--18 States, 2002-200," from the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). According to the report, about 1.8 million rail carloads of hazardous substances are shipped each year in the U.S. ATSDR said there is a need for all stakeholders in rail safety to develop a system to monitor rail event releases, identify vulnerabilities and promote safer practices and technology.

The article reports that the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Chlorine Institute and The Fertilizer Institute are protesting against a special freight tariff that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) plans to impose at the beginning of 2008. BNSF said that toxic inhalation hazardous (TIH) materials will be assessed for an unspecified additional fee unless the shipper uses tank cars that meet new construction and safety standards drawn up by the American Association of Railroads.

The article focuses on issues related to a report issued by the U.S. National Capital Planning Commission regarding the controversy over freight trains hauling hazardous cargoes through downtown Washington D.C. According to the article, the Planning Commission's report can influence the District of Columbia government and the U.S. Congress, which could have a lot to say about the kind of cargo being carried on its railroad tracks.

The article offers news briefs on various transport legislation in Great Britain. The Passenger and Goods Vehicles Regulations 2007 increase fees for the approval of tachograph fitters and workshops by 5.5%. The International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 2007 increase fees for the approval and certification of vehicles for the carriage of dangerous goods. The Goods Vehicles Regulations 2007 increase goods vehicle operator licensing fees.

The article reports that DHL is the first company in Great Britain to submit a sustainability report on its operations using guidelines for the logistics and transport sector under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). It cites the advantages of using the reporting guideline. The sustainability report includes information on managing health and safety and the handling of hazardous goods.

The article reports on the cooperation between the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration and Dow Chemical, along with other rail transit interests, in developing a federal safety standard for hazardous material tank cars. The agreement is a recognition that the safe transportation of hazardous substances is a shared responsibility among shippers, railroads and the government. Design improvements would likely involve thermal protection against fires and coupler modifications.

The article focuses on a contract in Barry, South Wales awarded to bulk chemical operator Groupe Samat. The hazardous goods specialist is keeping tight-lipped about the nature of the new work, but general manager Steve Reid says it will start in a couple of months. Samat is advertising for experienced ADR drivers, driver trainers, traffic planners, co-ordinators and trainees to service the contract.

The article presents a calendar of events related to the commercial motor industry in Great Britain as of December 2006. The Driver Training Academy will be offering a regulations for international movements of hazardous goods by road course on December 11. EP Training will conduct a seminar on digital tachographs for drivers on December 16. A course on digital tachograph for managers will be offered by Novadata from December 18 to 19.

The article presents a calendar of events related to the commercial vehicles industry in Great Britain from October to November 2006. The Freight Transport Association Dangerous Goods seminar will be held in Scotland. The Road Haulage Association Security seminar will be held in Towcester, England. EP Training regulations for international movements of hazardous goods by road will be held in Surrey, England.

The article reports on the estimated $880,000 grant provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation in fiscal year 2006 to the National Academies to begin a cooperative research program on hazardous materials transportation issues. An overview of the contract awarded by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the department to the Transportation Research Board is offered.

The article reports on the plan of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise the list of hazardous materials for which shippers and carriers are required to have security plans. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration explains the importance of reassessing the list after three years experience of the industry and government in identifying security risks associated with transporting specific hazardous materials.

The article reports on the functions and use of salvage drums and overpacks containers for hazardous materials. Overpack means an enclosure that is used by a single consignor to provide protection or convenience in handling of a package or to consolidate two or more packages. A salvage drum as defined in U.S. DOT regulations at 49 CFR 173 must meet or exceed UN performance requirements and be marked for Packing Group III or higher.

The article reports on a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation which will require large companies that offer and transport hazardous materials to pay additional fee in 2008 to register with the federal government. A fee of $1,975 will be paid by large businesses for the 2007-2008 registration year, and a fee of $2,975 for the 2008-2009 registration year.

The article reports on the announcement by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration that commercial drivers in Canada and Mexico who want to transport placarded hazardous materials into the U.S. must have Free and Secure Trade accreditation. Under the rule, which became effective on August 10, 2006, explosives came under the broader definition of hazardous materials.

The article presents a calendar of training courses for the commercial vehicle industry in England from September to November 2006. The dangerous goods for transport managers of the Freight Transport Association will be held in Warrington on September 6. The Certificate of Professional Competence National seminar of the Driver Training Academy will be held in Selby on November 20. The digital tachographs training organised by the Road Haulage Association will be held in Worcester on September 8.

The article reports that the National Propane Gas Association is opposing an amendment to the 2007 United States Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would budget $50 million to implement satellite tracking of trucks carrying hazardous materials. The association is opposed to the bill, which was sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, because of the industry's random normal delivery schedule and there is no single common thread among all delivery fleets.

The article reports that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration withdrew a rule that would have established the requirement of fully draining the pipes used in loading and unloading after a pickup or delivery in the United States. The agency decided that the requirement would not produce the level of benefits it had anticipated. The agency will work with industry groups to increase awareness of the dangers of unprotected wetlines.

The article focuses on the challenges facing British haulage firms in classifying dangerous goods according to Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Peter Armstrong. It is important for haulage firms to know the laws that goods should be carried under.

The article reports on the request of railroads from the U.S. Congress to limit their liability risk in transporting hazardous materials. According to Edward Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, the environment for shipping highly hazardous materials by rail is untenable. The association's request received criticisms from American Chemistry Council, which told the panel that the legal system appropriately places liability on the party or parties that are responsible for an accident involving hazardous materials, and that railroads, shippers, and other entities should continue to bear liability. Other issues raised at the hearing include tank car design and standards, a subject that was also debated at a Department of Transportation meeting on hazardous material rail safety.

Reports on the notice released by the legal office of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that they will determine whether federal hazardous materials laws preempt state and local hazmat requirements in the U.S. Decision to transfer the decision making function to the chief counsel.

The article reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration held a meeting with rail shippers and carriers in May 2006. The meeting provided an opportunity for industry representatives to share their views on improving the safety of tank cars which carry hazardous materials.

Presents news briefs related to environmental law in the U.S. as of April 24, 2004. Decision of Robison-Prezioso Inc. to pay the fine to settle charges of hazardous waste disposal and transportation rules violation on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California; Imposition of prison sentence on John Chiapperino, owner of Bronx Auto Venture Corp. for his role in an incident where an employee was overcome by petroleum waste fumes inside an underground storage tank.