USPS Updates Publication 52
On July 21, 2016, the USPS posted notice in the Federal Register that USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail will be revised effective August 4, 2016, to include revised standards for its hazardous materials Small Quantity Provision and will also add a new Excepted Quantity Provision.
These updates align with changes that PHMSA made back in 2009 to the Hazardous Materials Regulations when international standards for small and excepted quantities were incorporated into 49 CFR 173.4. The Small Quantity Provision will be updated to make it applicable to surface mail products only; the Excepted Quantity Provision added will require use of the “E” marking (see below) on hazardous material packages shipped under the Excepted Quantity rules. The USPS expressly prohibits hazard classes 1, 2, 4 and 7 as Excepted Quantities.
The full notice appearing in the FR can be viewed here. The exact revisions to Publication 52 summarized in the FR notice will be published in Postal Bulletin 22447 on August 4, 2016.
EPA Issues Correction to EPCRA Chemical Reporting Rules
On July 21, 2016, the EPA made a technical correction appearing in the FR to correct the recent final rule impacting the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The correction amends the final rule changes that appeared in the FR on June 13, 2016. A copy of the July 21st FR posting can be viewed here.
The EPA requires chemical manufacturers and importers to report their inventory of toxic chemicals and releases of toxic chemicals under EPCRA. More information about the reporting requirements under EPCRA can be found here.
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