Effective August 6, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, chapters 3 and 7, and Appendices. These Publication 52 revisions will supplement the August 6, 2012, changes made to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.10.8, in response to the Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) revisions to 49 Code of Federal Regulations.
The comprehensive rulemaking by the PHMSA, published in the January 19, 2011, Federal Register notice
(76 FR 3308–3389), provided amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) that aligned general domestic standards with international standards, and incorporated changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, and limited quantities for surface and air.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
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3 Hazardous Materials
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32 General
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325 DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels
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Exhibit 325a DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels: PROHIBITED IN THE MAIL
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[Add new footnotes below the hazardous warning labels for hazard classes 5, 8, and 9 as follows:]
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Exhibit 325b DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels: PERMITTED FOR MAILABLE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
[Insert new DOT square-on-point markings, including footnotes, as follows:]
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[Insert a new Exhibit 325c as follows:]
Exhibit 325c DOT Hazardous Material Warning Labels — Permitted for Mailable Limited Quantities Only:
(Must only be used in conjunction with DOT limited quantity markings and only when permitted for the applicable hazard class. See 34, Mailability by Hazard Class.)
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34 Mailability by Hazard Class
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342 Gases (Hazard Class 2)
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342.4 Marking and Documentation
[Revise 342.4 by adding a new introductory paragraph as follows:]
Parcels containing mailable gases must be marked as follows:
[Reformat the current first and second paragraphs 342.4 as the new items 4a and 4b respectively, and add a new 4c as follows:]
c. Optionally, mailable ORM-D material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer Commodity” and identification number “ID8000.” Each mailpiece must also bear an approved DOT Class 9 hazardous material warning label (see Exhibit 325c).
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343 Flammable and Combustible Liquids
(Hazard Class 3)
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343.3 Marking and Documentation
[Revise 343.3 by adding a new introductory paragraph as follows:]
Parcels containing mailable flammable or combustible liquids must be marked as follows:
[Reformat the current first two paragraphs of 343.3 as the new items 3a and 3b respectively, and the current last two paragraphs as the new items 3d and 3e respectively, and add a new 3c as follows:]
c. Optionally, mailable ORM-D material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer Commodity” and identification number “ID8000.” Each mailpiece must also bear an approved DOT Class 9 hazardous material warning label (see Exhibit 325c).
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344 Flammable Solids (Hazard Class 4)
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344.3 Packaging, Marking, and Documentation
The following conditions apply:
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[Add a new 344.3c as follows:]
c. Optionally, mailable limited quantity (ORM-D) material may be marked with an approved surface transportation DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). Mailable surface shipments bearing the plain square-on-point marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number. The following also applies:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. The top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background.
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345 Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides (Hazard Class 5)
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345.3 Packaging, Marking, and Documentation
[Revise 345.3 by adding a new introductory paragraph as follows:]
Parcels containing mailable oxidizing substances or organic peroxides must be marked as follows:
[Reformat the current three paragraphs of 345.3 as the new items 3a through 3c respectively, and add a new 3d as follows:]
d. Optionally, mailable limited quantity (ORM-D) material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name and identification number, and must also display an approved DOT class 5.1 or 5.2 hazardous material warning label, as appropriate (see Exhibit 325c).
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346 Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances (Hazard Class 6)
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346.3 Packaging, Marking, Labeling, and Documentation
346.3.1 Division 6.1, Toxic Substances
Mailable toxic substances must be prepared as follows:
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[Renumber the current 3.1b as the new 3.1c and add a new 3.1b as follows:]
b. Optionally, mailable ORM-D material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer Commodity” and identification number “ID8000.” Each mailpiece must also bear an approved DOT Class 9 hazardous material warning label (see Exhibit 325c).
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348 Corrosives (Hazard Class 8)
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348.4 Marking and Documentation
[Revise 348.4 by adding a new introductory paragraph as follows:]
Parcels containing mailable corrosive material must be marked as follows:
[Reformat the current first and second paragraphs 348.4 as the new items 4a and 4b respectively, and add a new 4c as follows:]
c. Optionally, mailable limited quantity (ORM-D) material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name and identification number, and must also display an approved DOT class 8 hazardous material warning label (see Exhibit 325c).
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349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)
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349.2 Mailability
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[Revise the first sentence of 349.2b and add a new second sentence as follows:]
b. Domestic Mail. A miscellaneous hazardous material that can be reclassed as an ORM–D material and renamed as a consumer commodity (ID8000) is permitted. Only UN3077, UN3082, UN3175, UN 3334, and UN3335 class 9 materials are mailable by air transportation; mailpieces including eligible quantities of these materials must be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer Commodity.”***
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349.4 Marking and Documentation
[Revise 349.4 by adding a new introductory paragraph as follows:]
Parcels containing mailable class 9 material must be marked as follows:
[Reformat the current first two paragraphs of 349.4 as the new items 4a and 4b respectively, and the current last paragraph as the new item 4d, and add a new 4c as follows:]
c. Optionally, mailable limited quantity (ORM-D) material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air and containing eligible limited quantity material of DOT Classes 2, 3, and 6.1, or eligible hazard class 9 limited quantity material categorized in UN3077, UN3082, UN3175, UN3334, or UN3335, must be marked with the proper shipping name “Consumer Commodity” and identification number “ID8000.” Shipments must display an approved DOT Class 9 hazardous material warning label (see Exhibit 325c).
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7 Air Transportation Requirements
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72 Hazardous Materials: Air Transportation
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725 Mailer Responsibility
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725.2 Warning Labels and Marking Requirements
[Reformat the first paragraph of current 725.2 as the new introductory paragraph and add a new last sentence as follows:]
***The following also apply:
[Reformat the second paragraph of 725.2 as the new 2a, revise the last sentence of the new 2a, and add a new 2b as follows:]
a. ***Mailable ORM-D materials sent as Standard Mail, Parcel Select, or Package Services must also be marked on the address side as “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only.”
b. Optionally, mailable limited quantity or mailable ORM-D material may be marked with an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325b). The plain square-on-point marking is used for shipments sent by surface transportation, and the square-on-point marking including the symbol “Y” superimposed in the center is used for shipments sent by air transportation. The following also apply:
1. Markings must be durable, legible, and readily visible.
2. The marking must be applied on at least one side or one end of the outer packaging. The border forming the square-on-point must be at least 2 mm in width, and the minimum dimension of each side must be 100 mm, unless the package size requires a reduced size marking of no less than 50 mm on each side.
3. For surface transportation, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. Surface shipments containing qualifying ORM-D material bearing the square-on-point limited quantity marking are not required to be marked with the shipping name and identification number.
4. For transportation by aircraft, the top and bottom portions of the square-on-point and the border forming the square-on-point must be black, and the center must be white or of a suitable contrasting background. The symbol ‘‘Y’’ must be black, located in the center of the square-on-point, and clearly visible. Mailpieces intended for transport by air must also be marked with the proper shipping name and identification number, and must also display the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label (only when required for the hazard class shipped, see Exhibit 325c).
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Appendix A Hazardous Materials Table: Postal Service Mailability Guide
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[Revise columns e through g for hazardous materials, UN3077 and UN3082 as follows:]
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Appendix C USPS Packaging Instructions for Mailable Hazardous Materials
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USPS Packaging Instruction 2A (Flammable Gases)
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Required Packaging
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Marking
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[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new second bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, the address side of the outer packaging may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (see Exhibit 325c), designating surface transportation, prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D marking.
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USPS Packaging Instruction 2B (Nonflammable Gases)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
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[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packing Instruction 2C (Fire Extinguishers)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 2D (Foodstuffs and Soap Products)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, each mailpiece may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking, designating surface transportation, prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 2E (Audible Fire Alarm Systems)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new second bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, each mailpiece may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking, designating surface transportation, prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 2F (Biological Products or Medical Preparations)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new second bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, each mailpiece may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking, designating surface transportation, prepared under 342.4c, instead of an ORM-D marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 3A (Flammable Liquids)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new second bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, each mailpiece may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking, designating surface transportation, prepared under 343.3c, instead of an ORM-D marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 3B (Combustible Liquids)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 343.3c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 4A (Flammable Solids)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current first and second bullets, add a new second bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally, each mailpiece may bear an approved DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking, designating surface transportation, prepared under 344.3d, instead of an ORM-D marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 5A (Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 345.3d, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 6A (Toxic Substances)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 346.3.1b, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 8A (Corrosives)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
Separate packaging requirements apply for liquids and solids.
n For Mailable Liquid Corrosives:
* * * * *
n Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 348.4c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
n For Mailable Solid Corrosives:
* * * * *
n Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required for air shipments), prepared under 348.4c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
USPS Packaging Instruction 9C (Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials)
* * * * *
Required Packaging
* * * * *
Marking
* * * * *
[Between the current second and third bullets, add a new third bulleted item as follows:]
n Optionally each mailpiece may bear the appropriate DOT limited quantity square-on-point marking (including the appropriate DOT hazardous material warning label when required), prepared under 349.4c, instead of an ORM-D or ORM-D AIR marking.
* * * * *
We will incorporate these revisions into the online Publication 52, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 7-12-12
