Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/03/18/2014-05630/hazardous-materials-adoption-of-certain-special-permits-and-competent-authorities-into-regulations
Timestamp: 2016-07-23 09:15:40
Document Index: 98396658

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 107', 'art 107', '§ 107', 'art 107', '§ 107', '§ 172', '§ 173', '§ 172', '§ 172', '§ 173', '§ 172', 'art 178', '§ 173', '§ 173', '§ 172', '§ 172', '§ 172', '§ 172', '§ 175', '§ 178', '§ 178', '§ 178', '§ 178', '§ 173', 'art 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', 'art 171', '§ 171', '§ 171', 'art 172', '§ 172', '§ 172', 'art 178', '§ 173', '§ 173', '§ 172', '§ 172', '§ 172', 'art 173', '§ 173', '§ 173', 'art 175', '§ 175', '§ 175', 'art 178', '§ 178', '§ 178']

Federal Register | Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Certain Special Permits and Competent Authorities Into Regulations
-15046 (14 pages)
Document Number: 2014-05630
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-05630 Related Topics
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to adopt provisions contained in certain widely used or longstanding special permits and certain competent authority approvals (“approvals”) that have established safety records. Special permits allow a company or individual to package or ship a hazardous material in a manner that varies from the regulations provided an equivalent level of safety is maintained. An approval is a written consent (document) required under an international standard (i.e., International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO TI)), or is specifically provided for in the HMR, and is issued by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety. These revisions are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in special permits and approvals and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests, reducing paperwork burdens and facilitating commerce while maintaining an appropriate level of safety.
A. Consumer Products Containing Liquids and Solids Containing Ethyl Alcohol
G. Adoption of Oxygen Generator Special Permits to Harmonize With FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012
L. Revision of § 107.705(c) for Renewing Approvals
B. Executive Order 12866, 13563, 13610 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
Table II.3—HVAC Certification Report Requirements
In addition to general positive economic impacts noted above, this final rule will eliminate the need for numerous party-to applications and renewal requests. PHMSA estimates that the adoption of these special permits and competent authority approvals will result in 140 fewer responses per year.
PHMSA is amending the HMR to adopt certain requirements based on existing special permits (SPs) issued by PHMSA under 49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B (§§ 107.101 to 107.127) and certain approvals issued under 49 CFR Part 107, Subpart D (§§ 107.401 to 107.405). A special permit sets forth alternative requirements—or a variance—to the requirements in the HMR in a way that achieves a safety level at least equal to the safety level required under the regulations or that is consistent with the public interest. See 49 CFR 107.105(d). Congress expressly authorized DOT to issue these variances in the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (US Code: 49 U.S.C. 5109-5127) as amended. An approval is a written consent (document) required under an international standard (i.e., IMDG Code, ICAO TI), or is authorized in a specific section of the HMR and is issued by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
Section 171.7 provides a listing of all standards incorporated by reference into the HMR. For this rulemaking, PHMSA is revising the entry for the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Pamphlet C-6, Standards for Visual Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas Cylinders, 1993 to add a reference to § 172.102, (Special Provisions). This standard has a well-established and documented safety history; its revision will maintain the high safety standard currently achieved under the HMR.
III. Overview of Amendments Back to Top
PHMSA would like to note that SP 13124 was accidently mentioned in this section in the NPRM. It was not PHMSA's intention to mention this special permit in this rulemaking. Special permit 13124 is no longer needed based on a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2003 [68 FR 44992] under docket number RSPA-2002-13658 (HM-215E). The special permits and competent authorities mentioned in this rulemaking are available for viewing on PHMSA's Web site at http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/permits-approvals. In this Final Rule, PHMSA is revising the HMR by adopting the following special permits and competent authority approvals:
DOT-SP 9275—Authorization for the transportation in commerce of certain limited quantities of liquids and solids containing ethyl alcohol and exempt these shipments from the provisions of the HMR. PHMSA is modifying this adoption to limit containers using this exception to 8 fluid ounces and eliminating the need for marking the words “contains ethyl alcohol on the package.” Packages shipping between 8 fluid ounces and 1 gallon under this section are required to place the words “contains ethyl alcohol” on the package.
DOT-SP 12134—Authorization of exceptions for spent bleaching earth (Division 4.2 PG III)
DOT-SP 12825—Authorization to transport Life-saving appliances, self-inflating, containing non-specification steel cylinders between a vessel and an authorized facility for servicing.
Special Permits for Harmonization with the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012”—PHMSA is adding an exception to the HMR for Oxygen cylinders and other Oxidizing cylinders transported aboard aircraft within the state of Alaska. This language will make several existing special permits no longer necessary.
IV. List of Commenters Back to Top
In response to the NPRM, PHMSA received 36 comments. A majority of these commenters were in support of the Fibre Box Associations comments to increase the packaging variation of +/− 5% to +/− 10%. Other commenters mostly supported modifying the proposed adoption of SP 9275 to not include the requirement to mark packages with “contains ethyl alcohol.” The commenters and the docket number were the comments are located are listed below:
Table II.3—HVAC Certification Report Requirements Back to Top
PHMSA-2011-0158-0019
PHMSA-2011-0158-0031
PHMSA-2011-0158-0037
PHMSA-2011-0158-0012
PHMSA-2011-0158-0011
PHMSA-2011-0158-0034
PHMSA-2011-0158-0025
PHMSA-2011-0158-0029
PHMSA-2011-0158-0030
PHMSA-2011-0158-0009
PHMSA-2011-0158-0004
PHMSA-2011-0158-0022
PHMSA-2011-0158-0006
PHMSA-2011-0158-0008
Greif, LLC
PHMSA-2011-0158-0017
PHMSA-2011-0158-0028
PHMSA-2011-0158-0014
PHMSA-2011-0158-0010
International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association Inc (IVODGA)
PHMSA-2011-0158-0026
PHMSA-2011-0158-0036
PHMSA-2011-0158-0015
PHMSA-2011-0158-0002
Mall City Containers
PHMSA-2011-0158-0021
PHMSA-2011-0158-0032
PHMSA-2011-0158-0027
PHMSA-2011-0158-0020
PHMSA-2011-0158-0024
PHMSA-2011-0158-0005
Paper Shipping Sack Manufacturers' Association (PSSMA)
PHMSA-2011-0158-0018
Porto Packaging
PHMSA-2011-0158-0016
Pro-Pack Testing
PHMSA-2011-0158-0007
PHMSA-2011-0158-0023
PHMSA-2011-0158-0003
PHMSA-2011-0158-0033
PHMSA-2011-0158-0013
Werthan Packaging Inc.
PHMSA-2011-0158-0035
V. Summary Review of Amendments and Response to Comments Back to Top
In response to the NPRM, PHMSA received several comments on how to adopt this special permit. Several commenters opposed the requirement for the shipments under the proposed section to require the words “contains ethyl alcohol” on the outside of the package. After careful consideration of these comments, PHMSA is adopting the special permit without requiring the words “contains ethyl alcohol” for shipments of ethyl alcohol in quantities not exceeding 8 fluid ounces in glass containers and not exceeding 16 fluid ounces in non-glass containers. For shipments of ethyl alcohol (not more than 70% concentration) in quantities greater than 8 fluid ounces in glass containers and greater than 16 ounces in non-glass containers, the words “contains ethyl alcohol” are required on the outside of the package. Shipments of ethyl alcohol in quantities of 8 ounces or less are not required to be marked with the words `contains ethyl alcohol'.” (This would apply to both greater than and less than 70% concentration.)
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of SP 9275 as revised on August 18, 2011 with modification. PHMSA is adopting this special permit to allow certain limited quantities of ethyl alcohol to be excepted from the applicable provisions of the HMR that require the packages to be marked with the words “Contains Ethyl Alcohol.” PHMSA is adding § 173.150(g) to allow for the shipment of limited quantities of ethyl alcohol of not exceeding 8 fluid ounces in glass containers and not exceeding 16 fluid ounces for non-glass containers without the term “contains ethyl alcohol” marked on the outside of the package. Packages containing 8 fluid ounces to 1 gallon shipped under this section require the marking “contains ethyl alcohol” on the outside of the package.
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of DOT-SP 11263 into the HMR by amending the entry in § 172.101, The Hazardous Materials Table (HMT), for Environmentally hazardous substances, solids, n.o.s., UN 3077, by adding a new Special Provision N91 in Column 7. In addition, in § 172.102 new Special Provision N91 is added in appropriate sequence specifically authorizing the use of a non-DOT specification sift-proof, non-bulk, metal can with or without lid, or a non-DOT specification sift-proof, non-bulk fiber drum, with or without lid. The fiber drum is required to be fabricated with a three ply wall, as a minimum. The coal tar pitch compound must remain in a solid mass during transportation.
DOT-SP 11836 authorizes the transportation of specific ammonia solutions in specification UN1H1 drums, UN3H1 jerricans, and UN6HA1 composite packagings that do not meet the provisions in §§ 173.24(g) and 173.24a(b)(2). Specific operational controls are required in lieu of compliance with these two requirements. This special permit has been in effect since 1997 and has been utilized by at least 61 holders with an acceptable safety performance. In addition, PHMSA has no reported incidents over the past 10 years involving this special permit. American Trucking Association (ATA) supports adoption of this special permit in response to the NPRM. The National Association of Chemical Distributors supports adoption of this special permit into the HMR. PHMSA received no negative comments regarding this special permit in the NPRM.
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of DOT-SP 11836 into the HMR by amending the entry in the HMT for “Ammonia solutions, relative density between 0.880 and 0.957 at 15 degrees C in water, with more than 10 percent but not more than 35 percent ammonia, UN 2672”, by adding a new Special Provision 336 in Column 7. In addition, in § 172.102 new Special Provision 336 is added in appropriate sequence specifically authorizing the use of DOT UN1H1 drums, UN3H1 jerricans, and UN6HA1 composite packagings which meet the requirements of Part 178 of the HMR at the Packing Group I or II performance level except that the packagings do not meet the venting requirements in § 173.24(g) and the hydrostatic pressure test marking specified in § 173.24a(b)(4). Transportation of these packages also requires the door of each van trailer to be marked with “Warning trailer may contain chemical vapor. Do not enter until vapors have dissipated.” The driver of the transport vehicle and the consignee(s) must be trained not to enter the transport vehicle until the ammonia vapors have dissipated, and the emergency response information on the hazardous materials shipping paper must indicate that the vehicle may contain ammonia vapors.
DOT-SP 12134 authorizes the transportation of spent bleaching earth as a Division 4.2, solid, PG III, exempt from the provisions of the HMR, except as specifically required by the special permit. Packagings authorized under the special permit are non-specification, sift-proof dump or hopper type vehicles, and sift-proof roll-on/roll-off bulk bins. All authorized packaging must be covered by a tarpaulin, metal cover, or equivalent means during transportation. The special permit also includes specific operational controls, including: the temperature of the spent bleaching earth may not exceed 55 °C at the time it is offered for transportation and any time during transportation; drivers must be specifically trained in handling and responding to emergency incidents involving the spent bleaching earth; and transport vehicles must be marked in accordance with § 172.302(a). This special permit has been in effect since 1999 and has been utilized by at least 27 holders with an acceptable safety performance. In addition, PHMSA has no reported incidents over the past 10 years involving this special permit. PHMSA received no comments regarding this special permit in the NPRM.
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of DOT-SP 12134 into the HMR by amending the entry in the HMT for “self-heating solid, organic, n.o.s. (spent bleaching earth), UN 3088”, by adding a new Special Provision, B116 in Column 7. In addition, in § 172.102 new Special Provision B116 is added in appropriate sequence specifically authorizing the use of non-specification, sift-proof dump or hopper type motor vehicles, and sift-proof roll-on/roll-off bulk bins, which must be covered by a tarpaulin, metal cover, or equivalent means. The material also is subject to operational controls, including not exceeding a temperature of 55°C (130 °F) during transportation, not exceeding a transportation time of 24 hours, and drivers transporting spent bleaching earth must be trained in the properties and hazards of the spent bleaching earth and the actions required to mitigate the self-heating properties of the material that may occur during the transportation.
DOT-SP 12825 authorizes the transport between a vessel and a U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life raft servicing facility of life-saving appliances, self- inflating, containing non-DOT specification steel cylinders for the purpose of the servicing of such life-saving appliances. Specific operational controls are specified in the below listed Special Provision. This special permit has been in effect since 2001 and has been utilized by at least 54 holders with acceptable safety performance. In addition, PHMSA has no reported incidents since 2001 involving this special permit. PHMSA received a comment from the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association, Inc. (IVODGA) supporting adoption of SP 12825 into the HMR. PHMSA did not receive any negative comments in response to the NPRM.
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of DOT-SP 12825 into the HMR by revising the entry in the HMT for Life-saving appliances, self-inflating, UN 2990, by adding a new Special Provision 338 in Column 7. In addition, in § 172.102, new Special Provision 338 is added in appropriate sequence requiring that Life-saving appliances, self-inflating, UN 2990 being shipped between a vessel and a U.S. Coast Guard approved life raft servicing facility only be subject to the requirements of this special provision. A material meeting the requirements of this special provision is not otherwise be subject to the HMR.
DOT-SP 14479 authorizes the continued use of regulated medical waste containers manufactured before October 1, 2006 and marked with an alternative shipping name for UN 3291, “Regulated medical waste, n.o.s.” It also allows for orientation arrows that deviate from the prescribed color specification in the HMR. This special permit has been in effect since 2007 and has been utilized by at least 22 holders. In addition, PHMSA has no reported incidents since 2007 involving this special permit. PHMSA received comments from the Healthcare Waste Institute and Stericycle Inc. supporting adoption of this special permit. PHMSA received no negative comments regarding adoption of this special permit.
Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of DOT-SP 14479 into the HMR by amending the entry in the HMT for Regulated Medical Waste, n.o.s., UN 3088, by adding a new Special Provision, 337 in Column 7. Special Provision 337 allows for the use of regulated waste containers marked with the alternative shipping name of Regulated medical waste, UN3291 and black or white orientation arrows that deviate from the prescribed specifications in § 172.312(a)(2).
Section 824 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 includes a provision that allows for exceptions for cylinders of compressed oxygen or other oxidizing gases transported in the State of Alaska aboard aircraft. By adopting this statutory exception into the HMR, the following special permits will no longer be necessary: 14903, 14908, 15062, 15075, 15076, 15077, 15078, 15079, 15092, 15094, 15095, and 15143. These special permits all provide exceptions for the transportation of Oxygen and other Division 2.2 Oxidizing gases for transportation aboard aircraft in the State of Alaska. PHMSA received no comments regarding this special permit in the NPRM. Therefore, PHSMA is adopting the terms of these special permits in § 175.34.
This approval authorizes the manufacturing, marking, and selling of UN4G combination packagings with outer fiberboard boxes and with inner fiberboard components that have basis weights that vary by not more than plus or minus 5% from the measured basis weight in the initial design qualification test report. This approval was issued in 2009 and has demonstrated an acceptable safety performance. PHMSA has no reported incidents involving this approval. PHMSA received several comments in support of comments made by the Fibre Box Association to increase the variation from plus or minus 5% to plus or minus 10%. However, PHMSA does not have the historical data to support an increase in this variation to plus or minus 10%. Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of CA2005120010 as proposed into the HMR in § 178.516(b)(7).
This approval authorizes the manufacture, mark, and sale of UN5M1 and UN5M2 multi-wall paper bags with individual paper wall basis weights that vary by not more than plus or minus 5% from the nominal basis weights reported in the initial design qualification test report. This approval was issued in 2009 and has demonstrated an acceptable safety performance. PHMSA has no reported incidents involving this approval. PHMSA received several comments in support of comments made by the Fibre Box Association to increase the variation from plus or minus 5% to plus or minus 10%. However, PHMSA does not have the historical data to support an increase in this variation to plus or minus 10%. Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of CA2006060005 in § 178.521(b)(4).
This approval authorizes the manufacture, mark, and sale of UN4G combination packagings with outer fiberboard components that have individual containerboard basis weights that vary by not more than plus or minus 5% from the nominal basis weight reported in the initial design. This approval was issued in 2009 and has demonstrated an acceptable safety performance. PHMSA received several comments in support of comments made by the Fibre Box Association to increase the variation from plus or minus 5% to plus or minus 10%. However, PHMSA does not have the historical data to support an increase in this variation to plus or minus 10%. Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of CA2006060006 in § 178.516(b)(7).
This competent authority authorizes the manufacture, mark, and sale of UN4G combination packagings with outer fiberboard boxes and with inner fiberboard components that have individual containerboard basis weight that vary by not more than plus or minus 5% from the nominal basis weight reported in the initial design qualification test report. This approval was issued in 2006 and has demonstrated an acceptable safety performance. PHMSA received several comments in support of comments made by the Fibre Box Association to increase the variation from plus or minus 5% to plus or minus 10%. However, PHMSA does not have the historical data to support an increase in this variation to plus or minus 10%. Therefore, PHMSA is adopting the terms of CA2006010012 in § 178.516(b)(7).
This final rule is considered a non-significant regulatory action under section 3(f) and was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This final rule is considered a non-significant rule under the Regulatory Policies and Procedures order issued by the Department of Transportation [44 FR 11034]. Executive Order 13563 is supplemental to and reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review that were established in Executive Order 12866 Regulatory Planning and Review of September 30, 1993. By building off of each other, these two Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 require agencies to regulate in the “most cost-effective manner,” to make a “reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs,” and to develop regulations that “impose the least burden on society.”
The impact of this final rule is presumed to be minor as no new costs are imposed upon any stakeholders and those that currently hold special permits and CAs will find some relief from regulatory review for current practices. This final rule makes provisions that are currently approved in certain special permits available to all businesses operating in the U.S. without needing to submit party-to special permit applications to PHMSA, and current permit holders will no longer need renewals. Over the past decade, approximately 464 companies have applied for and/or renewed the special permits included in this final rule. Many of these special permits have had positive economic impacts by allowing companies to be accepted from requirements in the HMR when shipping certain quantities/types of materials or by allowing the use of less expensive non-specification packages when certain provisions are met. It is difficult to quantify the savings these special permits have allowed, but it should be noted that these savings are extended to other firms that would make use of the provisions once adopted into regulations. PHMSA calculates that this rulemaking results in a paperwork reduction that, on average, saves each applicant $39.50. PHMSA estimates that over a 10-year period there will be an estimated benefit total totaling $18,328 affecting approximately 140 entities. In accordance with the Federal hazardous materials law (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.), initial issuances of special permits are for two years and can be renewed for four years thereafter. Thus, over 10 years, a special permit would on average be renewed twice for a total benefit of between $43,000 and $47,000. These figures are discounted annually by 3 and 7 percent to reflect the time value of money.
This final rule was analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 (“Federalism”). This final rule preempts state, local and Indian tribe requirements but does not create any regulation that has substantial direct effects on the states, the relationship between the national government and the states, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of governments. Therefore, the consultation and funding requirements of Executive Order 13132 do not apply. Federal hazardous material transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, contains an express preemption provision (49 U.S.C. 5125(b)) preempting state, local and Indian tribe requirements on certain covered subjects. Covered subjects are:
This final rule addresses covered subject items (2), (3), and (5) and would preempt any State, local, or Indian tribe requirements not meeting the “substantively the same” standard. Federal hazardous materials transportation law provides at 49 U.S.C. 5125(b)(2) that if PHMSA issues a regulation concerning any of the covered subjects, PHMSA must determine and publish in the Federal Register the effective date of Federal preemption. The effective date may not be earlier than the 90th day following the date of issuance of the final rule and not later than two years after the date of issuance. The effective date of federal preemption will be 90 days from publication of this final rule in this matter in the Federal Register.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires an agency to review regulations to assess their impact on small entities. An agency must conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis unless it determines and certifies that a rule is not expected to have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. This final rule adopts into the HMR certain widely used special permits. Adoption of these special permits into regulations of general applicability provides shippers and carriers with additional flexibility to comply with established safety requirements, thereby reducing transportation costs and increasing productivity. Entities affected by the final rule conceivably include all persons—shippers, carriers, and others—who offer and/or transport in commerce hazardous materials. The specific focus of the rule is on the adoption of special permits into the HMR. In a review of the companies using the identified special permits, PHMSA identified a combination of small and large businesses that are affected positively by this rulemaking. For example, the final rule accepts certain shipments from the specific documentation requirements of the HMR; these exceptions will increase shipping options and reduce shipment costs. Overall, this final rule reduces the compliance burden on the regulated industries, such as small businesses that dispose of medical waste, transporters of consumer products containing ethyl alcohol, and airlines transporting oxygen generators, without compromising transportation safety and should provide a slight positive economic benefit (i.e., reduced compliance burden) for those small entities. Therefore, we certify that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. For example, special permit 9275 will no longer require businesses to apply for a special permit in order to ship common retail items such as cosmetics that would normally be shipped as a class 3 material.
PHMSA has an approved information collection under OMB Control Number 2137-0051, “Rulemaking, Special Permits, and Preemption Requirements.” This final rule results in a decrease in the annual burden and costs under this information collection due to the changes that adopts provisions contained in certain widely used or longstanding special permits that have an established safety record.
OMB Control No. 2137-0051 Back to Top
Net Decrease in Annual Number of Respondents
Net Decrease in Annual Responses
Net Decrease in Annual Burden Hours
Net Decrease in Annual Burden Costs
Special Permit 12825 authorizes the transportation of life-saving appliances, self-inflating, that contain non-DOT specification steel cylinders for the purpose of movement between a vessel and a U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life raft servicing facility in conjunction with the servicing of such life-saving appliances. Adoption of this Special Permit is needed to ensure that these life-saving appliances are serviced without delay. During a review of long standing Special Permits, PHMSA found that this Special Permit had an adequate safety record and provided an equivalent level of safety to the HMR.
Information about benefits of this final rulemaking action can be found in the preamble (i.e., “Overview of Proposed Amendments) to this rulemaking. The alternatives considered in the analysis include (1) the proposed action, that is, adoption of the proposed special permits as amendments to the HMR; (2) adoption of some subset of the proposed special permits (i.e., only some of the proposed special permits) as amendments to the HMR; and (3) the “no action” alternative, meaning that none of the proposed special permits would be adopted into the HMR.
The adoption of this Special Permit will allow for “UN 3291, Regulated medical waste, n.o.s.,” to be shipped using alternative shipping names and marking requirements for regulated medical wastes. Use of this alternative shipping name and marking requirements is not expected to have any negative effects on safety or the environment.
The adoption of this Special Permit allows for the shipment of non-flammable compressed gases in non-DOT specification steel cylinders for use in life-saving appliances. Allowing the uses of non-DOT specification cylinders in life saving appliances is not expected to have any effects on safety or the environment.
The adoption of this Special Permit allows “UN3077, coal tar pitch compounds” to be shipped in non-specification open-top or closed-top sift proof metal cans or fiber drums. The use of this alternative package for the shipment of coal tar pitch compounds is not expected to have any negative effect on safety or the environment.
The adoption of this Special Permit allows “UN 3088, spent bleaching earth” to be exempt from the requirements of the HMR when shipped in non-specification, sift-proof dump or hopper type vehicles. Exempting these materials from the HMR when shipped in these alternative packages is not expected to have any negative effect on safety or the environment.
The adoption of this Special Permit allows “UN 2672, ammonia solutions” to be shipped in UN1HI drums, UN3H1 jerricans, and UN6HA1 composite packages that do not meet provision in §§ 173.24 and 173.24a. Allowing shipments of these materials in these packages is not expected to have any negative effects on safety or the environment.
PHMSA considered a wide array of special permits for adoption. It also considered adopting a smaller subset of special permits.” However, the full benefits would not be realized as some permits would not be adopted.
“UN 3291, Regulated medical waste, n.o.s.,”—PHMSA considered whether alternative markings would be sufficient in providing adequate hazardous communication. The package described in this special permit does not differ from packages currently allowed under the HMR with the exception of the allowed markings and thus will not impose any addition risk to the environment. Medical waste transportation is regulated to avoid risk of injury, infection, and contamination. In addition, as described above, PHMSA has no report of incidents under this special permit and thus expects there will be no impact to the environment.
Non-flammable gasses shipped in non-DOT specification steel cylinders for use in life-saving appliances—PHMSA considered whether the limited use of non-DOT specification cylinders between U.S. Coast Guard ships and servicing facilities would pose a risk to the environment. The cylinders used in this special permit contain inert gases which if released would pose little to no risk to the environment. The regulation of compressed gas cylinders requires testing to ensure integrity and functionality of the cylinder. Cylinder rupture or failure can cause serious injury or death. In addition, as described above, PHMSA has no reports of incidents under this special permit and thus expects there will be no impact to the environment.
Beverages, food, cosmetics and medicines, medical screening solutions, and concentrates classed as a flammable liquid or flammable solid containing ethyl alcohol—PHMSA considered whether the shipment of these low hazard consumer products containing ethyl alcohol would pose a risk to the environment. These packages contain ethyl alcohol which is a flammable liquid. A release from one of these containers would pose little risk to safety or the environment due to the very limited quantity in each container. In addition, as described above, PHMSA has no reports of incidents under this special permit and thus expect there will be no impact to the environment.
“UN3077, coal tar pitch compounds”—PHMSA considered whether the shipment of coal tar pitch compounds in open-top and closed-top sift-proof metal cans or fiber drums would pose a risk to the environment. Coal tar pitch is a black or dark-brown amorphous residue produced by the distillation or heat treatment of coal tar. Coal tar pitch compounds contain various chemical vapors that become airborne during the heating of coal tar pitch. Coal tar pitch is a flammable liquid and a known carcinogen. An accidental release of “coal tar pitch compounds” could result in contamination of surrounding environmental medium (air, water, soil). However, as described above, PHMSA has no reports of incidents under this special permit and thus expects there will be no impact to the environment.
“UN 3088, spent bleaching earth”—PHMSA considered whether the shipment of spent bleaching earth in non-specification, sift-proof dump or hopper type vehicles would pose a risk to the environment. These packages contain “spent bleaching earth” which is a solid waste from the edible oil industry. Spent bleaching earth can be flammable, as it contains oil residue. An accidental release of “spent bleaching earth” could result in possible contamination of surrounding environmental medium (air, water, soil). However as described above, PHMSA has no reports of incidents under this special permit and thus expects there will be no impact to the environment.
“UN 2672, ammonia solutions”—PHMSA considered whether the shipment of ammonia solutions in UN1H1 and UN6HA1 drums would pose a risk to the environment. Ammonia can cause irritation and damage to mucous membranes and lungs, depending on concentration. An accidental release of Ammonia solutions could result in possible contamination of surrounding environmental mediums (air, water, soil). However, as described above, PHMSA has no reports of incidents under this special permit and thus expects there will be no impact to the environment.
This final rule would affect some PHMSA stakeholders, including hazardous materials shippers and carriers by air, highway, rail and vessel. PHMSA sought comment on the environmental assessment contained in the October 22, 2012, NPRM published under Docket PHMSA-2011-0158 [77 FR 64450] (HM-233C) however, PHMSA did not receive any comments on the environmental assessment contained in that rulemaking. In addition, PHMSA sought comment from the following modal partners:
1.The authority citation for part 107 continues to read as follows: Authority:
2.In § 107.705, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows: § 107.705 Registrations, reports, and applications for approval.
3.The authority citation for part 171 continues to read as follows: Authority:
4.In § 171.7, revise paragraph (n)(3) to read as follows: § 171.7 Reference material.
5.The authority citation for part 172 continues to read as follows: Authority:
6.In § 172.101, revise following entries in the Hazardous Materials Table to read as follows: § 172.101 Purpose and use of hazardous materials table.
Environmentally hazardous substances, solid, n.o.s
8,146, 335, A112, B54, B120, IB8, IP3, N20, N91, T1, TP33
Self-heating solid, organic, n.o.s
IB8, IP3, T1, TP33. B116
7.Section 172.102 is amended: a. In paragraph (c)(1), Special provisions 336, 337, and 338 are added;
336The use of UN1H1 drums, UN3H1 jerricans, and UN6HA1 composite packagings which meet the requirements of Part 178 of the HMR at the Packing Group I or II performance level. These packagings are not required to: (1.) meet the venting requirements in § 173.24(g) or (2.) be marked with the hydrostatic pressure test marking specified in § 173.24a(b)(4). Shipment of packages under this special provision must be made by private or contract motor carrier. Transportation of these packages also requires the door of each van trailer to be marked with “Warning trailer may contain chemical vapor. Do not enter until vapors have dissipated.” The driver of the transport vehicle and the consignee(s) must be trained not to enter the transport vehicle until the ammonia vapors have dissipated, and the emergency response information on the shipping paper must indicate that the vehicle contains ammonia vapors. This training must be documented in training records required by § 172.704(d). Transport vehicles must be vented to prevent accumulation of vapors at a poisonous or flammable concentration.
337Authorizes the use of regulated waste containers manufactured prior to October 1, 2006 to be marked with the alternative shipping name of Regulated medical waste, UN3291 and arrows that deviate as prescribed in § 172.312(a)(2) in that they may be black or white.
338Life Saving appliances, self-inflating transported between an U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life raft servicing facility and a vessel are only subject to the following requirements:
B116The use of non specification, sift-proof dump or hopper type vehicles, and sift-proof roll-on/roll-off bulk bins, which must be covered by a tarpaulin, metal cover, or equivalent means is authorized for the transportation of spent bleaching earth by motor vehicle. The material is also be subject to operational controls which include not exceeding a temperature of 55C (130F) at the time it is offered or during transportation, not exceeding a transportation time of 24 hours, and drivers transporting spent bleaching earth must be trained in the properties and hazards of the spent bleaching earth. This training must be documented in training records required by § 172.704(d).
8.The authority citation for part 173 continues to read as follows: Authority:
9.In § 173.150, paragraph (g) is added to read as follows. § 173.150 Exceptions for Class 3 (flammable and combustible liquids).
(C) Solids containing ethyl alcohol may be packaged in glass inner packagings not exceeding1/2pound;
(D) For weight greater than1/2pound up to 1 pound the company name and the words “Contains Ethyl Alcohol” are marked on the package.
(2) Beverages, food, cosmetics and medicines, medical screening solutions, and concentrates sold as retail products containing ethyl alcohol classed as a flammable liquid or flammable solid containing more than 70% ethyl alcohol by volume, by weight for solids are excepted from the HMR provided that: (i) For inner packagings containing liquids the volume does not exceed 8 fluid ounces in capacity;
(ii) Solids containing ethyl alcohol are not packed in inner packagings exceeding1/2pound in weight;
10.The authority citation for part 175 continues to read as follows: Authority:
49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, 44701; 49 CFR 1.45 and 1.53
11.Add § 175.34 to read as follows: § 175.34 Exceptions for Cylinders of Compressed Oxygen or Other Oxidizing Gases Transported Within the State of Alaska.
12.The authority citation for part 178 continues to read as follows: Authority:
13.In 178.516, paragraph (b)(7) is added to read as follows: § 178.516 Standards for fiberboard boxes.
14.In 178.521, paragraph (b)(4) is added to read as follows: § 178.521 Standards for paper bags.