Amazon risks $78,000 fine for violating FAA’s regulation on hazardous material

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $78,000 civil penalty against Amazon.com, Inc., for allegedly violating the Hazardous Materials Regulations.

The FAA alleges that on August 7, 2015, Amazon offered FedEx an undeclared shipment containing a flammable liquid for air transportation from Ruskin, Fla., to Algonquin, Ill.

The package held two 14-ounce bottles of ethanol-based Clubman Jeris Hair Tonic. Workers in FedEx’s Cary, Ill., sort facility discovered the box was leaking.

The FAA alleges the shipment was not properly packaged, marked and labeled as containing hazardous material. The FAA also alleges Amazon did not provide shipping papers indicating the amount, type and hazardous nature of the material inside, and did not provide required emergency response information with the shipment.

Amazon has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.