Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing a final rule to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain consistency with international regulations and standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements.
These revisions are necessary to harmonize the HMR with recent changes made to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations. Additionally, PHMSA is adopting several amendments to the HMR that result from coordination with Canada under the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council.
Hazardous Materials Table (HMT)
PHMSA amends the § 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) consistent with recent changes in the Dangerous Goods List of the 19th Revised Edition of the UN Model Regulations, the IMDG Code, and the ICAO Technical Instructions. Specifically, amendments to the HMT aim to add, revise, or remove certain proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, bulk packaging requirements, and passenger and cargo aircraft maximum quantity limits.
Hazard Communication Requirements for Lithium Batteries
PHMSA revises hazard communication requirements for shipments of lithium batteries consistent with changes adopted in the 19th Revised Edition of the UN Model Regulations. Specifically, PHMSA adopts a new lithium battery label in place of the existing Class 9 label; amends the existing marking requirements for small lithium battery shipments in § 173.185(c) to incorporate a new standard lithium battery mark for use across all modes; 1 removes the documentation requirement in § 173.185(c) for shipments of small lithium cells and batteries; and requires the lithium battery mark be applied to each package containing small lithium cells or batteries contained in equipment when there are more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries installed in the equipment or where there are more than two packages in the consignment
Modification of the Marine Pollutant List
PHMSA modifies the list of marine pollutants in appendix B to § 172.101. The HMR maintain this list as the basis for regulating substances toxic to the aquatic environment and allow use of the criteria in the IMDG Code if a listed material does not meet the criteria for a marine pollutant. PHMSA periodically updates this list based on changes to the IMDG Code and evaluation of listed materials.
Source: PHMSA