Rules to be enforced on sending hazardous materials Because mishandling of oxygen canisters is implicated in the recent ValuJet crash, several federal agencies and private carriers are upgrading enforcement of regulations covering shipment of hazardous materials. There are stringent requirements for biological, chemical and radioactive materials. To complicate matters further, Ms. Guyer said, materials that are considered hazardous by one agency may not be by another. Materials that are acceptable in the US may be contraband elsewhere. To ease MIT's compliance with the many regulations, the managers of MIT's shipping rooms have recently completed training in the requirements of the federal agencies.
Individual shippers are subject to additional fines personally.
Everyone planning to ship or mail a chemical, biological or radioactive substance should call Mail Services, x3-6000, for information and assistance.