Mistakes made with oil spill cleanup do not endanger populated areas and 

 generally only result in greater dirtying of a larger area than necessary. 

 While the environment may suffer, oil spills do not especially endanger pro- 

 perty or people. 



HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS 



Spills of hazardous chemicals do, however, endanger property and people. 

 Additionally some hazardous chemicals present a far greater risk to the 

 aquatic environment than oil. 



What are hazardous chemicals? The definition which the Coast Guard has 

 adopted includes all those materials in marine transportation which if re- 

 leased could hurt people, property, and/or the environment. Note that this 

 definition includes "oil," and this is reasonable, since oil is a chemical. 

 Oil j_s considered a hazardous chemical, but will not be discussed further. 



In a regulatory fashion, hazardous chemicals can be divided into four 

 major groups, based upon how and by whom the material is regulated by an 

 agency of the Federal Government. Unfortunately, a material can appear in 

 all four groups. These four groups are: hazardous materials, bulk liquefied 

 gases, bulk chemicals, and hazardous substances. 



Hazardous Materials 



These are "packaged" or intermodally transported materials meeting 

 specific definitions established by the Materials Transportation Bureau in 

 the U.S. Department of Transportation. Regulations cover hazard classes and 

 include packaging, labeling, stowage, and the like. Quantity of the package 

 may be from a few grams or ounces to a small package to a 40,000 gallon rail 

 tank car. Specific regulations are found in 49 CFR 170 to 179. The major 

 hazard classes consist of: (1) radioactive material, (2) poison material, 

 (3) compressed gas, (4) flammables, (5) oxidizers, (6) flammable solids, 

 (7) corrosive material, and (8) explosives. 



Bulk Liquid Chemicals 



These are liquid chemicals transported in a vessel's own tanks. The 

 products are specifically listed in 46 CFR 153 for self-propelled vessels and 

 in 46 CFR 151 for nonself-propel led barges. Quantities may range from 30,000 

 to 40,000 barrels and more. The U.S. Coast Guard writes and enforces these 

 regulations. 



Bulk Liquefied Gases 



These are bulk quantities of liquefied gases transported in a vessel's 

 own tanks. The products are specifically listed in 46 CFR 154 (Proposed) 

 for self-propelled vessels and 46 CFR 151 for nonself-propelled barges. 



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