Although Amendment 8 was published in Gazette I in May 2009, Transport Canada (Dangerous Goods Directorate) has made changes due to comments received since May 2009.
Some of the changes are:
Part 16 Inspectors is revoked
Part 7 Emergency Response Assistance Plans (ERAP):
7.1(1) – now specifies a single means of containment, regardless of the size of the means of containment
7.1(2) – has had "small" deleted from means of containment and is the total quantity in all the means of containment
7.1(3) – the 10% rule is revoked and it is now back to the accumulation of large means of containment
7.1(5) – deals with Class 2 Gases where the means of containment is greater than 225 L and where there is more than 1 and interconnected and permanently mounted on a structural frame for transport
7.1(6) – changed to 17 rail cars that are interconnected and each rail car is filled to 70% or more
7.1(9) – now allows the use of another’s ERAP provided the shipper gets permission in writing to use that plan and the holder of the plan agrees to do the emergency response
7.1(10) – where permission is given to use another’s ERAP, the holder of the ERAP must notify the Director General that permission has been given and again when the permission is rescinded
7.1(11) – although a shipper has permission to use another’s ERAP, the shipper is still responsible for the emergency response assistance
Comments are to be sent no later than April 2, 2010 to:
Linda Hume-Sastre
Director, Legislation and Regulations
Transport Dangerous Goods Directorate (ASDC), Transport Canada
By one of the following options: Email: linda.hume-sastre@tc.gc.ca Fax: 613-993-5925 Surface mail: Place de Ville, Tower C, 330 Sparks Street 9th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0N5
General Spring Weight Load Restriction Bulletin #3
Effective 8:00 AM, Monday, March 15, 2010 weight restrictions will be lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border, north to and including I-94. State trunkline highways typically carry M, I, or US designations.
In the restricted area the following will apply:
On routes designated as "All Season Routes" (green and gold on MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
On routes designated as "Seasonal" (solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be weight reduction of 25% for rigid pavements and 35% for flexible pavements.
Extended permits will be valid for oversize only in the weight restricted area. Single trip permits will not be issued for overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet or in width or 11 axles in the weight restricted areas.
Weight restriction information and updates may be obtained by calling 1-800-787-8960. For companies located in Canada or New Jersey, information may be obtained by calling: 517-373-6256. Detailed weight restriction information may be obtained by linking to www.michigan.gov/truckers or by calling: 517-373-2121. Refer to the MDOT Truck Operator Map for route designations.
General Spring Weight Load Restriction Bulletin #1
Effective 8:00 AM, Monday, March 8, 2010 weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the State of Michigan from the southern Michigan border, north to and including the Mackinac Bridge. State trunkline highways typically carry M, I, or US designations.
In the restricted area the following will apply:
On routes designated as "All Season Routes" (green and gold on MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
On routes designated as "Seasonal" (solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be weight reduction of 25% for rigid pavements and 35% for flexible pavements.
Extended permits will be valid for oversize only in the weight restricted area. Single trip permits will not be issued for overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width in the weight restricted areas.
Weight restriction information and updates may be obtained by calling 1-800-787-8960. For companies located in Canada or New Jersey, information may be obtained by calling: 517-373-6256. Detailed weight restriction information may be obtained by visiting www.michigan.gov/truckers or by calling: 517-373-2121. Refer to the MDOT Truck Operator Map for route designations.
Canada Gazette, Part II, EXTRA Vol.143, No. 3 is the proclamation proroguing Parliament to March 3, 2010. As a result of this proclamation, the Government of Canada virtually comes to a standstill: Parliament does not meet, committees are suspended, etc. In other words, TDG Amendment 8 is delayed yet again.
I often get the impression the international community is beginning to look at Canada as a banana republic. Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations is at the 11th Edition of the UN Recommendations and everyone else is working on the 15th Edition. And we are not making any headway.
If you received a shipment marked UN3471 and looked it up in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations, you will notice that it is not listed. Do you know where to go to see if it is a valid UN number?
So, Prime Minister—once Parliament resumes on March 3, what are your plans to get the government working? Are you going to direct the Minister of Transport, John Baird, to get the lead out and publish Amendment 8? Will Minister Baird direct Marie-France Dagenais to expedite amendments to fix Amendment 6 and bring Canada into line with the international community, i.e. 15th Edition of the UN Recommendations? Why is this so hard?
Prime Minister—New Year’s resolution for you: I’m sure you have heard of Mike Holmes’ slogan, "Make It Right"; how about for the Government of Canada: "Make It Work".
An errata and corrigenda has been published by the IMO for the 2008 Edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. This errata makes a number of changes to the Code:
reference changes
minor word changes, i.e. "this data" changes to "these data"
deletion of single words
punctuation corrections
the marine pollutant mark has changed (the fins on the fish are gone)
several paragraph rewrites
seven column 16 corrections
A copy of this errata and corrigenda can be downloaded from the IMO website at. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.
Posted by
Jim Henry on
December 24, 2009
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Filed under: Jim's Blog
It’s that time of year again and WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH PEOPLE OUT THERE??????
From the news yesterday morning: Toronto Police have stopped almost 7,000 more vehicles than at this time last year. They submitted over 1,200 drivers to the roadside breath test and have charged 84 this year versus 65 last year with impaired driving. That is a 129% increase. Toronto Police also stated that they are receiving more calls from concerned motorists reporting perceived drunk drivers.
In the regions of Durham, York and Peel, the numbers are up as well. Comparative numbers against last year were not available.
Don’t people realize that from a legal viewpoint, you could be fined up to $50,000 and/or lose your licence for 12 months on a first offence?
Let’s look at it from another point of view—is your child’s life worth it when you drink and drive? If you are going to drink, then arrange for a taxi or other means of transport, so that you arrive alive. In Brampton, make arrangements with St. John Ambulance for a ride home and they will drive your car home as well. Check around in your community to see if there is a charitable agency doing the same. Keep in mind that the transit system of some municipalities will be offering free rides on New Year’s Eve.
But above all, if you are going to drink, don’t drive! Remember, that in Ontario, a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of between 0.05 to 0.08 will face an immediate suspension of 3 to 30 days!
Posted by
Jim Henry on
December 4, 2009
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Filed under: Jim's Blog
Shipping lithium batteries has become a confusing issue. Let’s start by asking "what is a lithium battery?". There are two types of lithium batteries – metal and ion (polymer). The lithium metal battery is also termed "primary" which means non-rechargeable. Typically you find these batteries in watches, calculators, cameras, etc. Lithium ion (and polymer) are "secondary" or rechargeable batteries. These are found in mobile phones, laptop computers, satellite navigation units, etc.
Posted by
Jim Henry on
December 3, 2009
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Filed under: Jim's Blog
The CACD (Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors) office in Oakville received a telephone call from a dangerous goods inspector regarding cargo tanks. Two of the member companies had been inspected and the inspector indicated that for loading and unloading cargo tanks, the weakest link is the transfer hose.
Under the TDG Regulations in Part 5 Means of Containment, specifically 5.14 Large Means of Containment (MoC), to transport dangerous goods by ground, the large MoC must be manufactured, selected and used in accordance with the CSA standard B621 Selection and Use of Highway Tanks, Portable Tanks, Cargo Compartments, and Containers for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, and 9.
What is it? Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) is a program being rolled out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to improve truck and bus safety. The aim is to reduce commercial vehicle incidents, injuries and fatalities.
Posted by
Jim Henry on
November 30, 2009
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Filed under: Jim's Blog
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Julian Fantino was interviewed on the radio during the drive in this morning. The law banning the use of electronic handheld devices while driving came into force one month ago. The OPP have issued over 1,100 warnings to drivers who have used an electronic device while driving. Twenty-two (22) citations have been issued to drivers who were flagrantly breaking other rules of the road while on the phone, texting or checking email. These included speeding, weaving in the lane, crossing the centre line, etc.
And these are just from the highways that the OPP patrol! In the greater Toronto area I have not seen a decrease in the use of these devices.
