President
William Duff
Toyota Motor Sales

First Vice President
Robert Heinrich
Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Second Vice President/Treasurer
Christopher Palabrica, CPM, CHMM
Mays Chemical Co.

Secretary
Jeanne Zmich
Labelmaster

Executive Committee Member
Richard Lattimer
Eli Lilly and Company

Board of Directors
Donald Bossow
JohnsonDiversey, Inc.

Larry Cross
UPS Freight

John D'Aloia
Mary Kay Inc.

Steven Dishion
Procter & Gamble

David Evans
Purolator Courier Ltd.

Amy Fischesser
Sun Chemical Corporation

Janet Kolodziey-Nykolyn
Roche

Claudia Meeks
Ford Motor Company

The Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) President Bill Duff, Corp Mgr Environmental Coordination Office, Toyota Motor Sales, is pleased to report that “we have signed a partnership agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).”  DOT/PHMSA is the Federal agency responsible for promulgating a national safety program that minimizes the risks to life and property inherent in commercial transportation of hazardous materials. COSTHA and DOT will work together on transportation issues involving vendor returns or "reverse logistics".

In discussing the partnership, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator Thomas Barrett stated “ We all know regulation alone is not enough to fulfill our safety mission. So we rely on partners like COSTHA to help protect the public and the environment. The partnership we are entering will develop and introduce practical safety solutions that work for the public interest and the regulated industry.”

COSTHA Administrator John Currie stated, “The industry has established an excellent record for regulatory compliance and safety in the distribution of hazardous materials, including consumer commodities, from the manufacturer and distributors to the consumer. We now need to candidly examine the reverse logistics process where the person packing the returns may not be a trained hazmat employee, the packaging may not be the same as when it was originally shipped, and the person preparing the returns may not even be aware of the hazards associated with transportation. Through this partnership COSTHA and PHMSA can openly discuss the issue and provide solutions to enhance transportation safety.”

The project is being facilitated by COSTHA Regulatory Chair, Sean Broderick, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC.  Mr. Broderick states, “Vendor returns are a challenge across many industry segments and affect a large portion of the COSTHA membership. The supply chain and distribution channels for the consumer product industry have become so streamlined that huge volumes of products can be placed in over 100,000 retail stores throughout North America within a matter of days. On occasion, small quantities of these products are returned to the vendor through retail sales agencies or instrumentality or directly from a wholesale distribution center. Reasons for return may include but are not limited to product obsolescence, malfunction, or damage rendering the product unfit for use. Mr. Broderick went on to say, “In some circumstances the products being returned may be subject to the waste requirements contained in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 262. The scope of our project with DOT can not be accurately quantified without input from the regulated industry. The purpose of the partnership is to obtain vital industry input through open and candid disclosure at organized workshops, discussion groups, and meetings. The partnerships includes PHMSA participation in an environment providing opportunity for developing acceptable and reasonable standards. To further enhance the project we have also reached out to EPA and have scheduled a preliminary meeting with them. 

Thomas Barrett Administrator US DOT PHMSA and (L to R) Robert Richard, PhD, Deputy Associate Administrator, US DOT PHMSA, Sean Broderick, Hazardous Materials Manager, Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, Robert McGuire, Ph.D.Associate Administrator, US DOT PHMSA  and Richard Lattimer, Associate Environmental, Consultant, Eli Lilly and Company look on while COSTHA Administrator John Currie signs the partnership agreement between COSTHA and DOT regarding reverse logistics

A task force for the partnership is being formed. Members who are interested in participating or obtaining more information should contact the COSTHA office, 703.451.4031 or by email mail@costha.com.

COSTHA is a not-for-profit industry association devoted to promoting regulatory compliance and safety in the international and domestic transportation of hazardous materials.  COSTHA represents shippers, carriers, container manufacturers, training companies, and related businesses and associations responsible for more than $1.6 trillion in international commerce.  These entities are involved in all aspects of hazmat commerce, including transportation of hazardous materials, hazardous substances, marine pollutants, and hazardous wastes on a global basis.

For more information on COSTHA and its initiatives, call 703.451.4031 or visit our web site www.costha.com.

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