Mr. Larry J. Talley — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

Page 1Washington, D.C. 100 Seventh Street, S.W 20590 Research and Special Programs Administration Ост 15 2001 MI. Larry J. Talley Ref. No. 01-0216 2499 Countrywood Parkway Cordova, IN 38018 Dear Mr. Talley: This responds to your letter dated August 7, 2001, regarding the transportation of black powder under the U.S. Hazardous Materials Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) and the International that would allow for the domestic or international transportation Instructions). Specifically, you ask if there are any exceptions of black powder by aircraft. The answer is no. The air transportation of black powder is forbidden both domestically under the HMR and internationally under the ICAO Technical Instructions. Putting the black powder in your letter, and carrying it onto an aircraft, would be a into either a shotgun case or brass rifle case, as you describe willful violation of the regulations. I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, See l7 Magall Edward I. Director Office of Hazardous Materials Standards 010216#

Page 2Stevens $173.22 Larry J. Talley 2499 Countrywood Parkway Applicability Cordova, TN 38018 01-0216 Edward T. Mazzullo Directors Office of Hazardous Materials Standards US DOT / RSPA (DHM 10) 400 7* Street SW Washington DC 20590-0001 Sir; A few months ago, I went to South Africa as a team member of the USA International Muzzle Loading Team. During the preparation for this trip, a long and heated discussion came up between the members about the transportation of black powder that this type of rifle use and whether we could transport black powder on a commercial airliner in some manner or way. I was and still am of the opinion that this can not be done in any legal manner or way. Many shooters, are of the opinion, that by putting the black powder in either a shotgun empty case and crimping it over so as to appear as normal smokeless loaded shotgun placing a bullet in the end to be removed upon arrival, circumvents the prohibition of ammunition or by putting the black powder in a normal empty brass rifle case and carriage of black powder on a commercial airliner. After an extensive Internet search, I do not believe that this is in anyway a legal thing to correct answer to this question of transportation of black powder on commercial aircraft do. After calling the DOT, I was given your name as the one who would know the and if it could be done, what someone would have to do to comply with all DOT and FAA regulations to do so. Many heated discussions on various Internet sites have been done saying that this is legal and how to go about it when going hunting or to a rifle match. publications and various web sites, by me, in an attempt to educate the shooting public. Your clarification of this matter will receive a very wide distribution in many shooting As to what the legalities of transporting black powder by air travel, in both the USA and Internationally by scheduled commercial airline companies. Thank you for your time and response to my questions. Respectfully yours,#