Severe marine pollutant

Scope

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

Marine pollutants transported by highway, rail, or air are subject to the requirements when transported in bulk packages.

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 which is listed in Appendix B to 172.101 (also see 171.4) and, when in a solution or mixture of one or more marine pollutants, is packaged in a concentration which equals or exceeds:
  • 10 percent by weight of the solution or mixture for materials listed in the appendix; or
  • One percent by weight of the solution or mixture for materials that are identified as severe marine pollutants in the appendix.

Summary of requirements

The materials listed in Column 2 of the table in Appendix B to 172.101 have been identified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as environmentally hazardous or Marine Pollutants. Those considered most hazardous are designated as “Severe Marine Pollutants” and identified by the letters “PP” in Column 1.

Severe marine pollutants are subject to the regulations when in a mixture or solution and packaged in a concentration that equals or exceeds one percent by weight of the mixture or solution.

See Marine pollutant for more information on this topic.