This should be important to all of us and we should be writing a lot of letters!! TFrom another source I learned that the bureacrat in charge wants the U.S. to align with the rest of the world and have the same regulations. Where is the logic in this? We do not have to copy the rest of the world. This stikes at the heart of why America is unique, has been great, and has been a leader. We do it our way and not copy everyone else. I do not want to be part of one-world! 😡
Sat, Oct 01, 2011
DOT Moves To Change Shipping Designation For Model Rocket Motors
Retailers, Hobbyists Urge Department To Reverse Its Decision
The model rocket world is feeling threatened by a DOT decision that model rocket motors do mot meet the criteria for exclusion for shipment as explosives, which would result in the termination of a special permit allowing their shipment to hobby stores and elsewhere in the U.S. as "flammable solids."
A letter from Estes, which is a leading manufacturer of the small rocket motors, to its vendors calls for retailers and hobbyists alike to contact the DOT and lobby for a reinstatement of the special permit allowing their shipment under the "flammable solid" designation. The Show Cause letter from the DOT indicates that regardless of the outcome of testing on the motors, it was proposing to terminate that permit, which has been in place since 1978 and covers rocket motors and igniters.
Estes points out that the rocket motors are shipped to more than just hobby stores. They go to educators, youth group leaders, and families for educational and recreational purposes. They say the risk is exaggerated, and that the components will not ignite spontaneously. They further contend that shipping the components as "explosive" rather then "flammable solid" will cause more concern among such groups a as school administrators and OSHA.
In a letter from Tower Hobbies which was e-mailed to ANN, the company urges hobbyists of all stripes to assist in an effort to reverse the DOT decision.
"The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently advised that they propose to terminate a special permit under which model rocket motors and igniters have been shipped for the last 33 years," the letter states. "If the permit is terminated model rocket motors and igniters will no longer be able to be shipped as "Flammable Solids" and will instead have to be shipped as "Explosives."
"In 33 years there have been no incidents involved in the shipping and transporting of model rocket motors and igniters.
"Hobbyists need your support. We believe that shipping model rocket motors and igniters as "Explosives" would only cause unnecessary concern for hobby shops, educators, youth group leaders and families using model rockets for educational and recreational purposes.
"If you believe as we do, please send an e-mail to the Department of Transportation no later than October 10, 2011."
The e-mail should reference DOT-SP 7887.
FMI: www.dot.gov, www.estesrockets.com
Perusing the DOT web site, it is unclear to me exactly where to send the mail. I used their generic contact form at http://ntl.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ntl.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
I sent the following message and will post here when i recieve a response.
Subject: DOT-SP 7887 - model rocket motor shipping regulations
Please let me know which agency to contact regarding DOT-SP 7887. I understand that DOT intends to revoke the special permits for model rocket motor manufacturers and distributors to ship their product as "flammable solids".
Speaking for myself and other hobbyists, we believe that model rocketry is a crucial avenue for getting kids interested in aerospace and other science careers. Model rocketry is reasonably affordable, and the existing regulations under NFPA 1127 and DOT-SP 7887 have been working well for many years. Please do not encumber this hobby and learning experience with unneccessary regulation of model rocket motor shipments, which increases costs without providing a demonstrable benefit.
Thank you,
Bryan Schmidt
Member National Association of Rocketry
Here's what i got back. Too bad my name is Schmidt...
Response Via Email (US DOT Reference Service) 10/04/2011 03:56 PM
Dear Mr Smith,The PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Special Permits and Approvals has the primary responsibility for the issuance of DOT Exemptions and Approvals to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).
Current and frequently requested exemptions (by number): http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a
If you have any questions, either contact the Office of Hazardous Materials Exemptions and Approvals by telephone at (202) 366-4535, by using the web form at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/phmsa-ext/feedback/specialPermitsQuestionsForm.jsp .
Sincerely,
Reference Services
National Transportation Library
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
I guess I will go there and lodge my opinion.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!
Just another reason to start pouring your own motors, its cheaper and once you get the chemicals theirs nothing stopping you.
This is interesting, but maybe I am just not thinking clearly.
As I understand the issue, DOT wants to classify A thru G motors as hazardous goods. If you order such motors, then the seller will have to go through Dangerous Goods training along with all their employees who wil handle these motors, they will have to use FEDEX or UPS almost exclusively, or some other motor carrier other than the USPS that ships dangerous goods, shipping fees for any shipment will then have to have an additional $30.00 or more added to the cost, the vendor will have to use more time to do this, using only special UN approved packaging (which costs more also, because they have to have special labeling on the packages to show that they are the correct UN approved packaging; with all the correct labels and the exact documentation and all the incidental paper work required, (I used to do this for a living, except it was real dangerous goods, explosives, jet fuel, etc.) therefore less profit for them, unless they jack up the prices and can still stay in business. And the laughable part is that it will not make shipping these motors any safer, it will do nothing but add un-needed paperwork, and a lot of kids that may order from someone like Apogee or Giant Leap to get mail order supplies, will be priced out of the hobby.
Now if I pour my own motors in the A thru G categories, this can be done, but I will only be able to fly on research days and I cannot let my grandchildren fly those things. And, more of my time will be spent building motors instead of building rockets. There is always the same amount of time, just more diversions.
So why is DOT wanting to do this when more than 60 million of these motors have been shipped without incident in the last 50 years? Why it is to make the U.S. like all the rest of the nations in the world and to bring about consistency within the International regulations. What a bunch of HOGWASH! It seems to me that we need to get every person we can educated on the merits and then flood the DOT with letters, e-mails, faxes, post cards, and law suits, so that a new decision is made that comes to the proper conclusions.
One other possibility is to talk to the motor manufacturers into packaging motors in case lots and to only sell in case lots, and only sell to consumers or rocket vendors who then ship the motors in case lots to you and me; and maybe a case is defined as three motors or something to that effect and then the motors could be classified like spray paint or hair spray, or cigarette lighters. That classification is the consumer goods classification ORM-D. Then the motors can be shipped thru the mail. You see, if you ship one can of spray paint or one motor, it is a dangerous good, but if you ship the same spray paint in a case of six, or motors in a case of three, then it bcomes a consumer ORM-D good, and the product can be sent thought the mail without all the specail paperwork or shipping costs, just specail packaging declaring that it is ORM-D. But that will only work for so long before they will figure out a new way to hamper us with regulation that becomes law at their pleasure. Let us stop them now before it is too late.
I am reminded of something Sir Winston Churchill once wrote and that I share with my clients frequently; "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." BEAR
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