The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which would establish a new nationwide database for reporting and tracking drug and alcohol related citations and test results for operators of commercial vehicles (CMV) holding Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL). The proposal was published in the Federal…
BNSF Railway Becomes First US Rail Carrier to Purchase Newly Compliant Tank Cars for Crude Oil Transport
Unprecendented order for 5000 cars On Thursday, February 20th, BNSF Railway, owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway investment group and thus the only fully privately held Class I railroad in North America, announced that it would purchase a fleet of some five thousand new tank cars to carry crude oil.
EPA’s Final Rule on Solvent-Contaminated Wipes
2013 Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Final Rule Used in combination with solvents, “wipes” are typically used for cleaning and other industrial applications by a variety of manufacturing facilities. Large quantities of both reusable wipes and disposable wipes are used daily and generators are faced with costly management issues once the wipes have reached the end of their…
Chemical Fire in Iowa may involve Hazardous Materials
A reported fire and potential hazardous materials release near an airport in a small Iowa town is in the news today. Major news organizations reported Thursday morning that local emergency responders were engaged in fighting a fire which may involve the release of hazardous materials including sulfuric acid at a fertilizer plant at or near…
FAA safety advisories/rule changes impact US air regulations
The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently took two steps to increase safety aboard commercial aircraft, one impacting the flight crew and the other affecting the general flying public.
OSHA Letter of Interpretation limits small container labeling options
Manufacturers and Distributors who face a quandary over how to display required GHS based Hazard Communication (Hazcom) labeling on their small containers will find little to cheer about in a June 4, 2013 Letter of Interpretation recently made public by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). In the missive, directed to the National Institute…
Crude Shippers face fallout from “Operation Classification”
Shippers of crude oil have now faced the initial fallout from the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT)/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency’s (PHMSA)/Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) new “Operation Classification,” a spot inspection regimen designed to verify the accuracy of petroleum product classification and to try to increase the safety of crude shipments, particularly (but…
FedEx Dangerous Goods Shipping Regulations Updated
On May 01, 2014 a significant change will take effect for shipping dangerous goods by air with FedEx Express. In December 2013 FedEx issued an addendum to their Operator Variations which included the elimination of FX-12 and revision of FX-18.
Transport Canada Proposes TDG Changes to Impact Railway Tank Cars/DG Classification
On the 11th January 2014, Transport Canada’s regulatory arm proposed changes to the regulations governing the construction of railway tank cars in Canada, as well as for the cars operating there which may not have been constructed in country (i.e., primarily US built cars).
Transport Canada Proposes TDG Changes to Impact Railway Tank Cars/DG Classification
On the 11th January 2014, Transport Canada’s regulatory arm proposed changes to the regulations governing the construction of railway tank cars in Canada, as well as for the cars operating there which may not have been constructed in country (i.e., primarily US built cars).