NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-97-081
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: CONTINUE TO SEEK CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY WHEN UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SHIPMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED IN TRANSPORTATION.
Safety Issue and Context
ON 5/11/96, ABOUT 1415 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-32 CRASHED INTO THE EVERGLADES SWAMP SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MIAMI FLORIDA, THE AIRPLANE, N904VJ, WAS OPERATED BY VALUJET AIRLINES, INC., AS VALUJET FLIGHT FLIGHT 592. BOTH PILOTS, THE THREE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, & ALL 105 PASSENGERS WERE KILLED. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE FLIGHTCREW REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT IT WAS EXPERIENCING SMOKE IN THE CABIN & COCKPIT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED IN THE MIAMI AREA AT THE TIME OF THE TAKEOFF. THE DESTINATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS HARTSFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
FLIGHT 592 WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN.
Response History
November 16, 1999 · NTSB Correspondence · United States Postal Service
A-97-81 ASKED THE USPS TO CONTINUE TO SEEK CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY WHEN UNDECLARED HAZMAT SHIPMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED IN TRANSPORTATION. BECAUSE THE USPS' ACTIONS MEET THE INTENT OF A-97-81, IT IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."
March 11, 1999 · Recipient Response · United States Postal Service
Letter Mail Controlled 3/15/99 4:13:38 PM MC# 990243 TO FINALLY BRING THE USPS CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY INTO REALITY, WE ARE ENCOURAGING CONGRESSIONAL OFFICIALS TO REMOVE THE SECTION ON HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FROM HR-22 AND INCLUDE IT AS A RIDER TO THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION RE-AUTHORIZATION BILL, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. UNTIL CONGRESS PASSES, AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNS LEGISLATION WHICH PROVIDES THE POSTAL SERVICE WITH CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY FOR UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIAL MAILINGS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FAA AND THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENSURE SAFETY CONCERNS AND OTHER FEDERAL REGULATIONS ARE ADDRESSED.
February 16, 1999 · NTSB Correspondence · United States Postal Service
THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF USPS CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY RELATED TO A-97-81. PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE FROM THE USPS, A-97-81 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
October 30, 1998 · Recipient Response · United States Postal Service
THE POSTAL DOES FULLY RECOGNIZE THE RISK THAT UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SHIPMENTS, INCLUDING MAIL SHIPMENTS, CAN PRESENT TO AVIATION, ESPECIALLY PASSENGER-CARRYING AIRCRAFT. FURTHER, IT RECOGNIZES & ACKNOWLEDGES ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO MINIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN THE MAIL TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AIR. WE TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. THE POST SERVICE CONCURS IN THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION A-97-81. LEGISLATION HAS ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED IN HR-22, THE POSTAL REFORM BILL, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE POSTAL SERVICE AUTHORITY TO SEEK CIVIL REMEDIES WHEN A POSTAL CUSTOMER ENTERS AN UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SHIPMENT INTO THE MAIL.
February 24, 1998 · Recipient Response · United States Postal Service
Letter Mail Controlled 3/3/98 2:41:01 PM MC# 980285 THE USPS IS SEEKING CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY IN HR-22, THE POSTAL REFORM BILL. WE ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING WHETHER SEPARATE LEGISLATION TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY IF HR-22 IS DELAYED IN CONGRESS. THE AVIATION MAIL SECURITY TEAM AND THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WORKING GROUP ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FAA DANGEROUS GOODS AND CARGO SECURITY DIVISION TO ENSURE THAT THE USPS IS RESPONSIVE TO AVIATION SECURITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS.
January 28, 1998 · NTSB Correspondence · United States Postal Service
THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE USPS HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN HR-22, THE POSTAL REFORM BILL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE USPS AUTHORITY TO SEEK CIVIL REMEDIES WHEN A POSTAL CUSTOMER MAILS AN UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SHIPMENT. PENDING ENACTMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION, A-97-81 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."