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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

International performance-oriented packaging standards adopted in the United States: Status and impact reports

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10185484

On January 1, 1991, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) initiated a transition to adopting a modified version of current international standards for packaging and transporting hazardous materials and hazardous wastes. This transition permits a 5-year phase-in period that will impact all phases of hazardous material transportation including material classification and description, packaging for shipment, and hazard communication standards. These changes are being enacted through the DOT Federal Docket HM-181, ``Performance-Oriented Packaging Standards.`` These regulatory standards will have dramatic impact on nearly 5 billion tons of hazardous materials transported within the United States each year. This paper summarizes the principle elements of the new DOT regulations, the latest implementation schedule, impacts on US shipping activities, and discusses outstanding issues that remain to be solved through the next 5 years.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-87RL10930
OSTI ID:
10185484
Report Number(s):
WHC-SA--1574; CONF-920905--36; ON: DE93001478
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English