Marine pollutant

Scope

Marine pollutants transported by water, in any size packaging, are subject to all the applicable requirements.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR 171.4 — Marine pollutants
• 49 CFR 172.101 Appendix B — List of marine pollutants
• 49 CFR 172.203 — Additional description requirements
• 49 CFR 172.322 — Marine pollutants

Key definitions

• Marine pollutant: A material appearing in Appendix B to 172.101 and when in a solution or mixture of one or more marine pollutants, is packaged in a concentration that equals or exceeds:
  • 10 percent by weight of the solution or mixture; or
  • 1 percent by weight of the solution or mixture for materials identified as severe marine pollutants (PP) in Appendix B. See Severe marine pollutant for more information on this topic.

Summary of requirements

Shipping papers. For materials which are marine pollutants, the words “Marine Pollutant” must be entered on the shipping paper in association with the basic description. In addition, if the name of the component that makes a material a marine pollutant is not identified in the proper shipping name, it must be added in parentheses in association with the basic description. If two or more components are involved, the two components most predominantly contributing to the marine pollutant designation must be listed.

Markings. Non-bulk packagings which contain marine pollutants and are offered for transportation by vessel must be marked with:

• The name of the component(s) in parentheses which make the material a marine pollutant — if the proper shipping name does not identify the component(s).
• The marine pollutant marking in association with the required hazard warning label(s) or in the absence of labels, in association with the proper shipping name.

Bulk packagings with a capacity of 3,785 L (1,000 gallons) or more must be marked on each side and each end with the marine pollutant marking.

Bulk packagings with a capacity of less than 3,785 L (1,000 gallons) must be marked on two opposing sides with the marine pollutant marking.

Marine pollutant marking specifications. The symbol, letters, and border must be black on a white background, or be of a contrasting color to the surface on which the marking is displayed. Each side of the marking must be at least 100 mm (4 inches) for non-bulk packagings and bulk packagings with a capacity of less than 3,785 L (1,000 gallons). For all other bulk packagings each side of the marking must be at least 250 mm (10 inches). The width of the border must be at least 2 mm.

Marking exceptions. Non-bulk packagings of marine pollutants transported by motor vehicle, rail car, or aircraft are not subject to the marine pollutant requirements.

Except for transportation by vessel, a bulk packaging that bears a label or placard is not required to display the marine pollutant marking.

A package of limited quantity material that is marked with a square-on-point limited quantity marking is not required to display the marine pollutant marking.

When offered for transportation by vessel, the marine pollutant marking is not required on single packagings or combination packagings where each single package or each inner packaging of combination packagings has:

• A net quantity of 1.3 gallons (5 L) or less for liquids; or
• A net mass of 11 pounds (5 kg) or less for solids.

When offered for transportation by vessel, the marine pollutant marking is not required on a combination packaging containing a marine pollutant, other than a severe marine pollutant, in inner packagings each of which contains:

• 1.3 gallons (5 L) or less net capacity for liquids; or
• 11 pounds (5 kg) or less net capacity for solids.

Immediate reporting. Immediate notice is required after a release of a marine pollutant in a quantity exceeding 450 L (119 gallons) for liquids or 400 kg (882 pounds) for solids.

See Incidents for more information on this topic.