Page 460 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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Hazardous Waste Transportation 431
13.3.3.2 The Hazardous Materials Table
The HMT, found in 49 CFR §172.101, lists those materials designated by DOT as hazardous for
transportation. This table provides most of the information that is needed to prepare hazardous
materials for transport. The table identifies the shipping names, hazard classifications, United
Nations or North American identification numbers, and references for labeling, packaging, mark-
ing, placarding, and shipping procedures. It also compiles regulations into an index that generators
use to determine the appropriate procedures for waste transport.
For each hazardous material listed, the HMT identifies the hazard class or specifies that the mate-
rial is forbidden in transportation, and gives the proper shipping name. In addition, the table specifies
requirements pertaining to labeling, packaging, quantity limits aboard aircraft, and stowage of hazardous
materials aboard vessels. A portion of the HMT appears in Figure 13.2. The specific columns are:
1. Notes (symbols) regarding requirements for shipping modes (e.g., water, air)
2. Materials descriptions and proper shipping names
3. Hazard classes and divisions
4. Identification numbers
5. Packing groups
6. Labels required
7. Special provisions
8. Packaging requirements
9. Quantity limitations
10. Requirements specifically for water shipments (e.g., vessel stowage requirements)

13.3.3.3 Hazardous Material Classes
DOT considers hazardous wastes to be a subset of the larger universe of hazardous materials. Thus, to
apply the HMT for hazardous waste management, such a waste will be considered by DOT as a haz-
ardous material subject to additional requirements. Hazardous materials are defined by DOT under 49
CFR §171.8 as products that “are capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and prop-
erty when transported.” A material is deemed hazardous under one of the following conditions:

● It meets one or more hazard class definitions (see below)
● It is a hazardous substance, hazardous waste, marine pollutant, or elevated-temperature
material
Regardless of the above hazards, these materials can still be transported. Safe transportation is facil-
itated when these materials are properly classified. Classification dictates the correct handling,
packaging, and emergency response actions. The DOT has established various classes of hazardous
materials, established placarding and marking requirements for containers and packages, and cre-
ated an international numbering system for cargo. Hazardous materials are classified for trans-
portation into the categories shown below.
Class 1 — Explosives. An explosive is defined by DOT as “any substance or article which is
designed to function by explosion (i.e., an extremely rapid release of gas and heat).” Explosives in
Class 1 are divided into six divisions:
Division 1.1 — explosives that have a mass explosion hazard. A mass explosion is one that
affects almost the entire load instantaneously. These explosives are among the most powerful and
include bombs, mines, torpedoes, and ammunition used by the military, high explosives such as
nitroglycerin and dynamite, blasting caps, detonating fuses, and rocket propellants.
Division 1.2 — explosives that have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard. These
substances are generally less powerful and typically function by rapid combustion rather than det-
onation. This class includes fireworks, flash powders, liquid or solid propellants, some smokeless
powders, and certain types of ammunition.