Source: https://www.hcblive.com/us-get-out-of-that/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 10:21:17+00:00

Document:
WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 10367 [post_author] => 34 [post_date] => 2018-11-26 12:33:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-11-26 12:33:55 [post_content] => Those subject to the US Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) have had a quiet couple of years, with the current presidential administration hostile to the imposition of additional regulatory burdens. However, on 7 November, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a wide-ranging final rule that has resulted in changes throughout HMR. The final rule, issued under docket HM-219A, came in response to 19 petitions for rulemaking to update, clarify, streamline, or provide relief from miscellaneous regulatory requirements. Adoption of the changes therefore allows more efficient and effective ways of transporting hazardous materials in commerce, achieving current political goals, while maintaining an equivalent level of safety. While a number of the amendments are editorial in nature or update references to other publications, several provide a substantive degree of change.
Revisions to §§172.519(f) and 172.407(f) allow for the use of labels and placards conforming to the specifications in the UN Recommendations, ICAO Technical Instructions, IMDG Code, or TDG Regulations. Additionally, the word “approximately” is inserted in §172.407(c) to allow for tolerance in the size of the inner border on labels, with a similar change in §172.519(c) for placards.
Revision of §172.205 to allow the use of electronic signatures when completing EPA forms 8700-22 and 8700-22A.
There will no longer need to be an emergency response number shown on shipping papers for excepted quantities of hazardous materials.
A revision to §173.24a allows packages tested with a liquid material to be filled with a solid material of the equivalent packing group.
Reference to a 20-year service life for rail tank cars used to transport materials that are poisonous by inhalation in §173.31(e)(2)(iii) has been removed.
A revision to §173.156(b)(2)(iii) allows pallets used for limited quantities and ORM-D material to be made of metal, plastic or composite materials in addition to wood.
A revision to §176.415 removes the requirement for the Captain of the Port to be informed in writing ahead of the loading or unloading of Division 1.5 ammonium nitrates when shipped in limited quantities.

References: §172
 §172
 §172
 §173
 §173
 §173
 §176