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May 31, 2006

BEWARE: DOT SCAM Watch your Fax Machine!


There have been a large number of motor carriers receiving bogus faxes on USDOT letterhead. This fax requests financial information on the carrier stating that this will qualify you for being a DOT contractor. DO NOT PROVIDE any financial information as this is NOT from the USDOT. This issue is currently being investigated by the Inspector General’s Office.
The Bogus fax contains a phrase to the effect: “In February 2006, the procurement plan for the second semester of 2006 will be finalized. To be eligible for procurement with the US DOT, you must submit the abovementioned form to us by fax at 202-318-2163.” Do not send any information to this fax number.

May 30, 2006

New State Law In Massachusetts - Terminal Audits

Beginning in June 2006, Massachusetts State Police are authorized to perform Terminal Audits for Commercial Motor Vehicles. The regulation reads, in part: “The department of state police may enter, during regular business hours, the commercial premises owned or leased by a commercial carrier, wherein the records, required to be maintained under the regulations established under this section, are stored or maintained and inspect, in a reasonable manner, the records for the purpose of enforcing the regulations. If the records contain evidence of violations of the regulations, the inspecting officer shall produce and take possession of copies of the records, and in the event that the entity subject to inspection does not possess copying equipment, the inspecting officer shall arrange to have copied, in a reasonable time and manner, the records that contain evidence of the violations, and the costs for the copying shall be assessed against the owner of said records.  The department of state police shall coordinate its activities under this section with the federal motor carrier safety administration to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations.  Municipal police officers or municipal police departments shall not conduct terminal audits; routine commercial carrier inspections; or, without probable cause, a random inspection of a commercial carrier.” The full text of the regulation can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht02/ht02113.htm.

May 06, 2006

Emergency Spill Contact Information - RI

Rhode Island Environmental Police Emergency: 401-222-3070

May 05, 2006

Emergency Spill Contact Information -NH

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services: 603-271-3644 (for petroleum discharges), 603-271-3899 (for non oil spills), 603-271-3636 (24 hour response)

May 04, 2006

Emergency Spill Contact Information - ME


Maine: Oil Spills: 800-482-0777 (from within Maine); 207-822-6300 (outside of Maine) 207-657-3030 (after hours). HazMat Spills- must be reported within 1 hour: 800-452-4664 (24 hours from within Maine); 207-624-7000 (outside of Maine). Written follow up report to be faxed to 207-581-4055.

Emergency Spill Contact Information - CT

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection: 860-424-3338 or 1-866-337-7745. Alternate number: 860-424-3333

May 03, 2006

Emergency Spill Contact Information - NY

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: 800-457-7362 (from inside New York), 508-457-7362 (outside New York)

May 01, 2006

Emergency Spill Contact Information -VT

Vermont: Emergency HazMat Spill Hotline: 802-241-3888 (7:45 AM- 4:30 PM), 1-800-641-5005 (24 Hour State Police Dispatch)

State Reporting Contact Information For Spills - MA

Hazardous Material Incident Reports

The fines for failing to report unintentional releases of hazardous materials can be steep. Here is some information on what to do should you have a spill. There is an often overlooked requirement in the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations which requires the reporting of certain hazardous material incidents to the Research & Special Program Division (RSPA) of the US DOT. Specifically, an incident report is required in the event of any unintentional release of a hazardous material during transportation. (including storage) This does not include a release from the vehicle’s fuel tank. There are some small quantities of hazardous materials which are exempted from the reporting requirements. Both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and RSPA impose large fines for failing to report a hazardous material incident. The specifics of this reporting requirement can be found in 49 CFR parts 171.15 and 171.16.
The Massachusetts DEP mandates that if more than 10 gallons of diesel fuel, gasoline or fuel oil is released into the environment, an emergency telephone report must be made to the DEP within 2 hours of the incident. This includes a release from the vehicle's fuel tank. The DEP emergency reporting telephone number is 888-304-1133. Form BWSC-103 must be filed with the MASS DEP within 60 days of the incident.