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the holder of the ERAP must notify the Director General that permission has been given and again when the permission is rescinded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
• Schedule 1:
  • UN0083 has special provision 1 added
  • UN1978 has special provision 88 added

Transport Canada is looking for comments on these changes to Amendment 8. For the complete outline of changes, please go to: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/clear–modifications–amendment8–1083.htm

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

Transport Canada has posted an Amendment 8 proposal on its website.

Here are some of the proposed changes:

• Take the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations to the 15th Edition of the UN Recommendations (model regulations), not including Chapter 1.4 (Security Provisions) and provision 7.2.4 (Security provisions for transport by road, rail and inland waterway). (about time)
• Several changes to Part 3 Documentation and Part 4 Dangerous Goods Safety Marks in relation to Special Provision 23 where "Toxic Inhalation Hazard" must be added.
• New Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides safety mark of the red top half and yellow bottom half will now be permitted with the safety mark becoming mandatory January 1, 2011. Continue reading »