HM-232F Final Rule Updates Security Requirements

March 12, 2010 - PRLog -- The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in consultation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has modified some of the requirements for hazardous materials security plans found in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of 49 CFR. These changes can be seen in Final Rule HM-232F, as announced March 9, 2010.


Recorded Webinars »One main goal of this amendment is to focus the requirements for security plans more on goods considered to be "high-consequence" if stolen or used for terrorist purposes. The original regulation required, for most classes, a written security plan whenever shipments were in placardable amounts (for most classes, over 1,000 pounds). The new rule has adjusted this requirement upwards for some classes, such as Class 3, to apply only the goods are transported in "large bulk packagings" (packagings larger than 3,000 Liters each). For other classes, such as Packing Group I materials in Class 8 and Division 6.1, the threshold has been lowered from "when in placardable quantities" to "any amount".

Training is also a focus of this amendment, with changes to Subpart G of Part 172 clarifying the requirements for in-depth security training, and the time-frame for recurrent training. For example, the regulations will now specify that if a security plan has been revised during the normal three-year recurrent training cycle, affected personal must be updated within 90 days fo the implementation of the revised plan.

Finally, section 172.802 regarding the components of a security plan has been expanded to include a requirement for identification of company officers responsible for the plan, a requirement to deal with site-specific or location-specific risks, and clarification of the document retention requirements for those who must develop and implement the plan.

This ruling has an effective date of October 1, 2010. However, you may begin voluntary compliance starting April 8, 2010.



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