[roc-chat] Fw: URGENT NOTICE FROM AEROTECH
- From: "Jim - TFJ" <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:20:50 -0700
I just received this from Trip Barber on the NAR mailing list.
If you're not on it, I have included the message here.
So, since High Power motors do not have ejection charges or igniters
included, would that mean they should be shipped as
flammable solids and not explosives since Judge Walton ruled that they are
not "explosives"?
Now wouldn't that be ironic. Estes motors would have an explosives
packaging but High Power motors would not.
Jim G.
National Association of Rocketry
September 28, 2011
Dear JIM,
Several weeks ago the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decided that,
based on a 2010 change in some obscure shipping safety test procedures, it
should terminate a special shipping exemption that it has granted since 1978
to companies and vendors who ship model rocket motors and igniters. This
special exemption, DOT-SP 7887, lets these products which are technically
classified as "Explosive 1.4S" get shipped in containers labelled with a
black and white "Flammable Solid" hazardous material label rather than a
bright orange "Explosives" label.
This DOT action will not increase your cost or change your access to the
products; the same HAZMAT shipping fee applies in either case and consumers
can buy them the same way regardless of how they are labelled in shipping.
The issue is one of public perception: we all know that model rocket motors
are not going to "blow up" and are not really "explosives" in the way that
the public interprets that term. Having them start to show up in schools,
hobby stores, and private residences with an alarming orange "Explosives"
label on them will simply feed public fears and misperceptions about our
safe hobby and these safe products. It will not improve public safety,
because shipping them has never posed a risk to that safety.
The largest model rocket motor manufacturers, Estes, Quest, and Aerotech,
have filed petitions to get this exemption continued rather than canceled.
This will be tough to achieve. To help their case they have asked their
vendors to send e-mails of support for continuing the exemption to the
Department of Transportation Associate Administrator responsible for making
this decision. I think that it is in our hobby's interest for us as NAR
members to join the manufacturers in this effort. If you would like to be
part of this, please cut and paste the text below the dotted line into an
e-mail from you to <mailto:specialpermits@xxxxxxx> specialpermits@xxxxxxx
as soon as possible, preferably by the end of this coming weekend.
Be safe, have fun, and pay forward.
Trip Barber
President
National Association of Rocketry
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TO: <mailto:specialpermits@xxxxxxx> specialpermits@xxxxxxx
Subject: DOT-SP 7887 Show Cause Response
Dear Associate Administrator,
The purpose of this e-mail is to request that DOT-SP 7887 exemption to ship
model rocket motors and igniters in containers marked as "Flammable Solid"
rather than as "Explosive 1.4" be kept in force asit has been since 1978.
This Special Permit, previously DOT-E 7887, is important to those ofus who
enjoy the hobby of model rocketry.
To my knowledge, there has never been a fire or safety incident involving
the shipping of model rocket motors and igniters, whether by public carrier
or USPS. Further I believe that shipping these safe and non-explosive
consumer products labelled as "Explosives" will create unnecessary fear and
difficulty for those handling, transporting, receiving, storing, selling and
using them. Model rockets have a superb safety record and wide public
acceptance as a safe product based on 54 years of experience. Having them
now start to arrive in consumer hands labelled as explosives could put at
risk the reputation that our hobby has earned.
After 33 years of use, the termination of the Special Permit is unwarranted
and will not contribute to public safety because shipping model rocketsas
Flammable Solids has not created any risk to safety.
Please keep the Special Permit in place as written.
- Your Name and Address (city & state)
_____
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of JACK GARIBALDI
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 2:05 PM
To: Tripoli San Diego List Serv; Roc Chat
Subject: [roc-chat] Fw: [TRA-TAP] Fw: URGENT NOTICE FROM AEROTECH
----- Original Message -----
From: W. E. Fred Wallace <mailto:wallacewe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: TRA <mailto:tap@xxxxxxxxxxx> Technical Advisor Panel
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: [TRA-TAP] Fw: URGENT NOTICE FROM AEROTECH
Obviously it looks like someone has reevaluated their original position (see
RP link below)....
Fred
http://www.rocketryplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9117
PS: I have a copy of the original DOT letter in PDF, if anyone is
interested.
----- Original Message -----
From: "JACK GARIBALDI" <JackGaribaldi@xxxxxxx>
To: "TAP List" <tap@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 3:34:03 PM
Subject: [TRA-TAP] Fw: URGENT NOTICE FROM AEROTECH
Passing on a bulletin that I received today.
Jack G
----- Original Message -----
From: AeroTech Customer
Service<mailto:customerservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: All CA & HP Dealers<mailto:customerservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7:40 AM
Subject: URGENT NOTICE FROM AEROTECH
Dear AeroTech Product Representative:
Urgent Notice - Your Immediate Action Is Needed, Send Your E-Mail By October
10, Help preserve your rights regarding model rocketry.
Dear AeroTech Customer,
Many people are concerned with new government regulations that seem destined
to limit our freedoms as well as those that affect our hobbies. You may have
heard of some recently that affect various hobbies.
New regulations are being considered regarding model rocket motors.
This may not immediately impact your access to model rocket materials but
it's just another step toward more restrictive regulations concerning our
hobby and deserves your attention.
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. 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.
The model rocket industry needs your support in order to continue to make
our product available. Attached is a sample e-mail that we request you send
immediately to express 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. To assist you, here is a
sample e-mail:
--
TO: specialpermits@xxxxxxx
<mailto:specialpermits@xxxxxxx%3cmailto:specialpermits@xxxxxxx>
<mailto:specialpermits@xxxxxxx>
Subject: DOT-SP 7887 Show Cause Response
Dear Associate Administrator,
The purpose of this e-mail is to request that DOT-SP 7887 be kept in force
as written. The Special Permit, previously DOT-E 7887 has been in place
since 1978 and is used by many of us who enjoy hobbies including model
rockets, motors and igniters.
To my knowledge, there has never been an incident involving the shipping and
transporting of model rocket motors and igniters. Further I believe that
shipping these products as "Explosives" will create unnecessary fear and
difficulty for those handling, transporting, receiving, storing, selling and
using these products.
After 33 years of use, the termination of the Special Permit is unwarranted
and possibly damaging to an educational and recreational product that has an
excellent record. In closing, I again request the Special Permit be kept in
place as written.
- Your Name and Address
--
Please take a few minutes to send your e-mail today!
Thank you very much for your support of model rocketry.
---
Sincerely,
RCS, Inc.
AeroTech Division
2113 W 850 N
Cedar City, UT 84721
Ph: 435-865-7100 Ext. 104
Fax: 435-865-7120
Email: customerservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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