| U.S./MEXICO Cross-Border Dangerous Goods Seminar -
The Dangerous Goods Advisory Council will conduct a two day seminar
in San Antonio, Texas on October 25-26, 2004. The seminar will
focus on the differences between the U.S. HAZMAT Regulations
and the Mexican NOMS (Normas Para el Transporte Terrestre de
Materiales y Residuous Peligrosos). The event will be held at
Wyndham St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio.
Additional information and registration forms will be available
shortly on the DGAC Website - www.dgac.org
The program will cover all modes of transportation. Representatives
of both governments and a large number of business entities will
be in attendance. If you are experiencing delays and frustration
this is your opportunity to straighten out problems on cross-border
shipments in both directions. We suggest that you might want to
have your Mexican or American business partners attend with you
as well as a representative of your forwarder or customs broker.
U.S. D.O.T., RSPA HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT REPORT
The Research and Special Programs Administration of the U.S. Dept.
Of Transportation revised the Hazmat Incident Report (F-5800.1)
on 26 May 2004. If you are registered with the U.S. D.O.T. you
should have received a copy of the new report and explanatory
information on when and how to complete the form. Included in
the report is a method for reporting undeclared dangerous goods.
If you have not received a copy in the mail you can download the
comments and the form directly from the D.O.T. HAZMAT WEBSITE:
- RSPA-99-5013 (HM-229); Hazardous Materials: Revisions to
Incident Reporting Requirements and the Hazardous Materials Incident
Report Form; Correction; Final Rule, response to appeals and
correction; Published 5/26/2004; Effective Date 1/1/2005; 69
FR 30113.
Security Concerns vs. World Trade -
Only 37% of the world's large merchant vessels and 16% of ports
have complied with the IMO Ship and Port Security Code according
to the Financial Times. 1 July 2004 was the mandatory compliance
date. The U.S. Coast Guard will require full compliance as of
this date and this will lead to extensive delays or absolute
refusal for vessels that are non-compliant.
|
In
the United States, Placards lead to other responsibilities -
Truckers and drivers and shippers ought to understand that placards are required
on trucks carrying any amount of certain dangerous goods and when carrying over
1000 lbs. of other types of dangerous cargo. A failure to placard the vehicle
when required can trigger a fairly stiff fine.
When placards are required, the driver must have a Hazardous Materials
Endorsement on his commercial driver's license (CDL).
Shipments that require placards also initiate a requirement to
be registered under the U.S. D.O.T., RSPA HAZMAT Registration Program
for both the trucking company and the shipper.
Added to those possibilities, the trucker and the shipper will
both have a requirement for formal Hazmat Transportation Security
programs that will also require formal training responsibilities
in addition to the regular hazmat training requirements.
Happy Birthday, Vince!
Vincent Vitollo, President & Publisher of Hazmat Packager & Shipper,
a technical journal for all modes of transportation, has just started his fifteenth
year of publishing this valuable resource. We are proud to add that we were
one of his early subscribers. HAZMAT PACKAGER & SHIPPER has set
the standard for keeping their subscribers current on regulatory changes throughout
the world. You can reach their website through our "Links" in the
light blue box on the left hand side on the opening page of this website.
If you ship oxygen cylinders, oxidizing gases, or chemical oxygen
generators there is a good briefing by Susan Murphy on U.S. RSPA
proposed rules for shipping those dangerous goods by air in the
May/June 2004 edition. Susan also wrote an article about the new
Incident Reporting Requirements (accidents and spills) in the same
issue.
There is also an informative article by Andy Altemos concerning
the U.N. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling
of Chemicals (GHS).
Important Dates -
September 1 and 2
Quarterly Meeting, Alexandria, VA
DGAC Members only
October 25 and 26
US/Mexico Seminar, San Antonio, TX
sponsored by DGAC - open to the public (fee)
November 17 – 19, 2004
DGAC Board and Committee Meetings
DGAC Annual Conference and Hazardous Materials Transportation Exposition, St.
Louis, MO
Open to the public (fee)
March 17 and 18, 2005
DGAC Global Conference, Antwerp, Belgium
Focus on International Dangerous Goods Issues - All Modes
Open to the public (fee) |
