New Hazmat Limited Quantity Exception Effective Feb. 22

In January, US DOT gave hazmat shippers more flexibility by incorporating 96 hazmat special permits into the text of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). In doing so, it allowed all hazmat shippers to capitalize on exceptions and reliefs previously reserved for those approved to use these special permits.

Among the special permits incorporated into the HMR is an exception to DOT marking requirements for limited quantity hazmat ground shipments in Packing Groups II and III, which takes effect on February 22, 2016. Previously known as SP 11197 and now found at 49 CFR 172.315(a)(3), the “new” exception reads as follows:

(3) Except for Class 1 and 7, and Division 6.1 and 6.2 materials, for highway transportation by private motor carrier, the limited quantity marking is not required to be displayed on a package containing materials assigned to Packing Group II and III prepared in accordance with the limited quantity requirements in subpart B of part 173 of this subchapter provided:

(i) Inner packagings for liquid hazardous materials do not exceed 1.0 L (0.3 gallons) net capacity each;
(ii) Inner packagings for solid hazardous materials do not exceed 1.0 kg (2.2 pounds) net capacity each;

(iii) No more than 2 L (0.6 gallons) or 2 kg (4.4 pounds) aggregate net quantity of any one hazardous material is transported per vehicle;

(iv) The total gross weight of all the limited quantity packages per vehicle does not exceed 60 kg (132 pounds); and

(v) Each package is marked with the name and address of the offeror, a 24-hour emergency response telephone number and the statement “Contains Chemicals” in letters at least 25 mm (one-inch) high on a contrasting background.

Required under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act (MAP-21) and originally proposed in January 2015, the incorporation of many longstanding hazmat special permits with proven safety records is part of DOT’s effort to modernize its hazmat rules. For shippers, the inclusion of special permits in the regulations provides universal access to the flexibility offered by these special permits and relief from the paperwork burden of applying and renewing special permit requests.

Keep Your Hazmat Limited Quantity Shipments in Compliance  

Learn the latest rules and exclusions available for shipping limited quantities of hazardous materials by ground, air, and ocean! The Shipping Limited Quantities and Consumer Commodities online course covers the 49 CFR, IATA, and IMDG rules your personnel must know to prepare limited quantity shipments for transport by any mode. 

Tags: 49, CFR, DOT, hazmat shipping, limited quantities