The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration has proposed revisions to the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest rules that would make sure emergency personnel had the proper information, even when electronic manifests are used.

The uniform manifest is the central tracking element for hazardous waste shipments. Under regulations developed jointly by RSPA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it must accompany each shipment during transportation.
EPA has recently proposed that waste generators be allowed to prepare and transmit uniform manifests electronically to disposal facilities, transporters and government agencies. RSPA says that would work for tracking, but does not give on-site emergency personnel needed information if an accident occurs. Thus the agency has recommended that, when electronic manifests are used, each shipment travel with either a copy of the electronic manifest or a similar document with the required information.
Comments are due Oct/ 4. The notice appeared in the August 8 Federal Register, which can be accessed at www.nara.gov/fedreg.