New placards in use
In a proposed rulemaking change reported by the FEDERAL REGISTER, the Materials Transportation Bureau (MTB) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) said that empty cargo tanks and those that contain a residue of hazardous material should be required to carry placards stating “Residual” instead of “Empty.” The placards indicate a warning of the material’s potential hazard.
Under current MTB regulations, empty tank cars with a residue of hazardous material must be labeled with an “Empty” placard. But the MTB has received petitions from some emergency response personnel stating that the “Empty” placards cause confusion over the possible presence of hazardous residue in tank cars.
