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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   RSPA 01-97
Wednesday, January 8, 1997              Contact: Bill Vincent
                                                Patricia Klinger
                                        Telephone: (202) 366-4831
        
(Historical Information:  Source of federal Authority)

DOT Extends Hazardous Materials
Regulations to Intrastate Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation s Research and Programs Administration (RSPA) today issued
a final rule that will improve transportation safety by extending regulations for transporting hazardous materials (hazmat) to intrastate transportation. The regulations previously applied only to hazmat transportation crossing state lines.

Reflecting President Clinton s and Transportation Secretary Federico Peņa s commitment to safety
and innovative regulatory reform, the final rule includes certain exceptions that provide regulatory
relief to farmers, individuals and small businesses. In addition, the rule rules provide for a gradual
transition, which will enable small businesses to comply more easily with the new regulations.

This rule improves safety while providing common sense regulatory exceptions to reduce the costs of compliance for individuals and small businesses, said Research and Special Programs Administrator Dr. D. K. Sharma. Uniform national standards for hazardous materials transportation make it easier for people to comply with the rules.

The exceptions are for certain types and quantities of hazardous materials transported and used as
materials-of-trade by carriers in the conduct of business such as welding, plumbing and lawn service. For example, plumbers who carry drain cleaners or propane stoves will be able to continue so long as they comply with state regulations.

The final rule generally allows farmers to continue complying with existing state law. However, it contains requirements that will enable emergency responders to recognize the presence of hazardous materials in the event of an incident.

In addition, temporary exceptions are provided for continued use in some states of certain cargo tank motor vehicles, which have capacities of less than 3,500 gallons, and which are used exclusively for intrastate transportation of flammable liquid petroleum products.

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An electronic version of this document can be obtained
via the World Wide Web at:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/index.htm