Introduction

As a general matter, changes to U.S. federal regulations (such as the HMR) are first published in a "proposed" form in the Federal Register for public comment. Once the promulgating agency (e.g., RSPA) receives and addresses public comment on the proposed rule, a "final" version is then published in the Federal Register. The following entries include final and proposed versions from the last few months, as well as some international regulatory developments.

Final Hazmat Regulations Recently Published by the U.S. Government:

July 2004

• Minor Editorial Corrections to Hazardous Materials Table -- RSPA-2004-18575 (HM-189X).

June 2004

• Hazardous Materials Safety Permits -- Docket FMCSA-97-2180. (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's national safety permit program for motor carriers that transport certain hazardous materials in interstate or intrastate commerce.)
  
  
• Harmonization With UN Recommendations, IMO's Dangerous Goods Code, and ICAO's Technical Instructions -- RSPA-2003-13658 (HM-215E). (RSPA's amendment to last year's effort to harmonize the HRM with international hazmat and dangerous goods transportation standards.)

May 2004

• Hazardous Materials: Applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations to Loading, Unloading, and Storage -- RSPA-98-4952 (HM-223). (RSPA is delaying the effective date of its clarification rule regarding the applicability of the HMR to loading, unloading, and storage operations from October 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005.)
  
  
• Revisions to Incident Reporting Requirements and the Hazardous Materials Incident Report Form -- RSPA-99-5013 (HM-229). (Minor corrections and edits to RSPA's revised incident reporting rule; effective date delayed until January 1, 2005.)

April 2004

• Harmonization With the UN Recommendations, IMO's Dangerous Goods Code, and ICAO's Technical Instructions -- RSPA-03-13658 (HM-215E). (Extension of the compliance date of the recently adopted air eligibility marking requirement from October 1, 2004 to October 1, 2006.)

Recently Proposed Hazmat Regulations by the U.S. Government:

June 2004

• Proposed Harmonization With the UN Recommendations, IMO's Dangerous Goods Code, and ICAO's Technical Instructions -- RSPA-04-17036 (HM-215G). (Proposal to amend the HMR to maintain alignment with international standards, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements.)

May 2004

• Withdrawal of Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Cargo Tank Rollover Damage Protection Requirements -- RSPA-99-5921 (HM-213A).
  
  
• Transportation of Compressed Oxygen, Other Oxidizing Gases and Chemical Oxygen Generators on Aircraft -- RSPA-04-17664 (HM-224B). (Joint proposal between RSPA and FAA to require that cylinders of compressed oxygen and packages of chemical oxygen generators be placed in an outer packaging that meets certain flame penetration and thermal resistance requirements when transported aboard an aircraft.)

International Regulatory Developments:

• Summary of Major Changes to IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations (45th edition).

  © 2004 Cramer Law Group PLLC