Billing Code - PHMSA - Department of Transportation

and international commerce. When considering the adoption of international standards
under the HMR, we review and consider each amendment on its own merit and assess the
likely impact on transportation safety and the environment. It is our conclusion that the
provisions in this final rule will not have either a substantial positive or adverse effect on
the environment. In this final rule PHMSA is adopting the following noteworthy
amendments to the HMR:
Chemicals under pressure. Manufacturers in the United Kingdom, the United
States, Australia, Canada, and other countries are supplying pressurized products contained
and transported in gas cylinders. The products are liquids or solids such as adhesives,
coatings and cleaners combined with a gas or gas mixtures in pressure receptacles under
sufficient pressure to expel the contents. These mixtures are typically expelled from the
pressurized cylinders as foams, streams or thick sprays. Currently the HMR does not
comprehensively address chemicals under pressure. Because of the substantial packaging
integrity inherent in pressure vessel designs, PHMSA believes the chemical under pressure
amendments in this rule will result in a positive environmental impact.
Flexible Bulk Containers (FBCs). Incorporate a new packaging definition,
operational controls, performance-oriented standards, and testing requirements for Flexible
Bulk Containers (FBCs). FBCs are flexible bulk packages with a capacity over the
currently authorized maximum volumetric capacity for flexible IBCs, but not exceeding 15
cubic meters. FBCs provide shippers the opportunity to utilize a reusable flexible
packaging for bulk shipments of certain authorized low-hazard commodities, all of which
are currently authorized in non-specification bulk bins. Because of the inherent integrity of
a specification packaging design when compared to a non-specification packaging design,
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