DOT 23-10
Friday, February 5, 2010

News Digest

PHMSA Rulemaking Would Amend Hazardous Materials Registration Fee and Assessment Program. In a notice of proposed rulemaking published Feb. 2 in the Federal Register, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration would amend the statutorily mandated registration and fee assessment program for persons who transport, or offer for transportation, certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials. For the approximately 6,725 hazardous materials shippers and carriers not qualifying as a small business or not-for-profit organization, this rulemaking would adopt a fee increase from $975 to $2,975 (plus a $25 administrative fee in both cases) for registration year 2010-2011 and following years. The fee increase is necessary to fund the National Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program at the statutorily authorized level of $28 million annually. The purpose of the HMEP Grants Program is to support hazardous materials emergency response planning and training activities by states and local governments. Contact for media: Joe Delcambre (202) 493-0730.

PHMSA Rulemaking Amends Several Hazmat Packaging Requirements and Allowances. In a new hazardous materials final rulemaking entitled “Miscellaneous Packaging Amendments,” and published Feb. 2 in the Federal Register, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration revised several packaging related definitions; added provisions to allow more flexibility when preparing and transmitting closure instructions, including electronically; added a requirement for shippers to retain packaging closure instructions; incorporated new language that will allow for a practicable means of stenciling the “UN” symbol on packagings; added requirements for the construction, maintenance, and use of large packagings; and clarified a requirement to document the methodology used when determining whether a change in packaging configuration requires retesting as a new design or may be considered a variation of a previously tested design. The effective date for the final rule is Oct. 1, 2010. Contact for media: Joe Delcambre (202) 493-0730.