Hazardous Materials: Revision of Requirements for Carriage by Aircraft

Summary: RSPA is extending until March 18, 2005, the period for interested persons to submit comments on the November 10, 2004 notice of proposed rulemaking in response to a request by the Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA). In the November 10, 2004 NPRM, we proposed to amend the requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) for the transportation of hazardous materials by aircraft. The proposed changes include clarifying the applicability of part 175; excepting cargo aircraft from the quantity limits in Sec. 175.75; reformatting the exceptions in Sec. 175.10 into three sections based on applicability; and providing new separation distances for the shipment of radioactive materials by cargo aircraft. These changes are being proposed in order to clarify requirements to promote safer transportation practices; promote compliance and enforcement; eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements; convert certain exemptions into regulations of general applicability; finalize outstanding petitions for rulemaking; facilitate international commerce; and make these requirements easier to understand.