Latest Actions
January 22, 2021
PHMSA Letter to Enbridge Allowing Temporary Removal of Pressure Restriction at Weymouth Compressor Station
PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety office's approval of Algonquin Gas Transmission’s Request for Temporary Removal of Pressure Restriction with respect to its Weymouth Compressor Station in Weymouth, Massachusetts. See letter for...
January 15, 2021
PHMSA Proposed Rule: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments - Pipeline Safety
The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published today would incorporate by reference new, updated, or reaffirmed editions of more than 20 consensus standards into the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This NPRM would also make...
January 12, 2021
PHMSA Safety Advisory Notice: Special Permits for Composite Gas Cylinders
On March 3, 2020, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) conducted an Investigative Hearing in response to incidents and roll-over crashes...
December 30, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Testing Dates – Dec 2020
The COVID-19 public health emergency continues to provide challenges for gas cylinder exchanges to receive and distribute cylinders that can be filled...
December 28, 2020
PHMSA Final Rule: Miscellaneous Amendments Pertaining to DOT-Specification Cylinders - Hazardous Materials
The final rule revises certain requirements applicable to the manufacture, use, and requalification of DOT-specification cylinders. The rule incorporates by reference or...
December 21, 2020
PHMSA Final Rule: Editorial Corrections and Clarifications - Hazardous Materials
This final rulemaking corrects editorial errors and improves the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations and PHMSA program and procedural...
December 7, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Reinstatement and Extension of Enforcement Policy Regarding Hand Sanitizers
As the COVID-19 public health emergency continues, PHMSA is reinstating and extending the Notice of Enforcement Discretion to offerors and carriers who...
November 25, 2020
PHMSA Letter to Enbridge Authorizing Restart of Weymouth Compressor Station
The letter explains that PHMSA has determined the Direct Cause Investigation and corrective actions taken by Enbridge were adequate to allow the resumption of...
October 30, 2020
PHMSA Emergency Waiver Order #18 for HAZMAT in States Affected by Hurricane Zeta
The Emergency Waiver Order supports efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Coast Guard to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment...
October 30, 2020
PHMSA Issues Amended CAO to Enbridge re: Weymouth Compressor Station
The Amended Corrective Action Order requires Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, an Enbridge, Inc. subsidiary, to take certain corrective actions with respect to its Weymouth...
October 30, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Policy Regarding Hazardous Materials Training Requirements for Maritime Workers
The COVID-19 public health emergency has continued to impact the ability of some hazardous materials employers to provide recurrent training for employees as required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations...
October 30, 2020
PHMSA Final Rule to Reduce Regulatory Burden for Cylinder Requalification Requirements
PHMSA issued this final rule in response to industry petitions to reduce regulatory burdens for cylinder requalification requirements. To ensure safety during use, Hazardous...
October 22, 2020
PHMSA Final Rule: Adoption of Miscellaneous Petitions to Reduce Regulatory Burdens - Hazardous Materials
Today, PHMSA transmitted to the Federal Register a Final Rulemaking that adopts miscellaneous petitions to reduce regulatory burdens related to hazardous materials transportation. The rule amends the Hazardous Materials Regulations in response to...
October 9, 2020
PHMSA Actions to Assist with Hurricane Delta Preparedness and Response Efforts
PHMSA is continuing to monitor the movements of Hurricane Delta to understand its potential effects on hazardous materials and pipeline operations. This webpage provides critical information regarding PHMSA's pipeline and hazardous materials...
October 1, 2020
PHMSA Corrective Action Order to Algonquin Gas Transmission
The Corrective Action Order requires Algonquin Gas Tranmission, LLC, an Enbridge, Inc. subsidiary, to take the necessary corrective actions to protect the public, property, and the environment from potential hazards associated with...
October 1, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Policy Regarding International Standards
The enforcement policy regarding international standards notifies offerors and carriers of hazardous materials that PHMSA will not take enforcement action against any offeror or carrier using these standards...
September 29, 2020
PHMSA Advisory Bulletins Addressing Safety Recommendations for Recent Natural Gas Distribution Incidents
PHMSA published two advisory bulletins in today’s Federal Register which respond to safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board following natural gas distribution pipeline related incidents in Silver Spring, Maryland in...
September 28, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Administrative Discretion and Guidance for Renewal of RIN Approvals During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
PHMSA is issuing this notice to provide guidance and alert holders of requalification identification numbers (RIN) that it is temporarily waiving certain requalification requirements...
September 22, 2020
PHMSA Emergency Waiver Order #16: Transporting HAZMAT in States Affected by Wildfires
The Emergency Waiver Order supports efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Coast Guard to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment...
September 17, 2020
PHMSA Emergency Waiver Order #15: Transporting HAZMAT in States Affected by Hurricane Sally
The Emergency Waiver Order supports efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Coast Guard to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment...
August 26, 2020
PHMSA Emergency Waiver Order #14: Transporting HAZMAT in States Affected by Hurricanes Laura and Marco
The Emergency Waiver Order supports efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Coast Guard to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment...
July 9, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Extension of Enforcement Discretion for the Transport of Certain Sanitizing and Disinfecting Products
As the COVID-19 public health emergency continues, PHMSA is aware of the challenges that transportation companies are facing in providing personnel with necessary materials, such as hand sanitizers, that provide...
July 9, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Extension of Relief for Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles and Portable Tanks in the State of Alaska
PHMSA understands that due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, travel restrictions throughout the State of Alaska have continued to place a burden on entities that usually perform periodic tests...
July 9, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Extension of Enforcement Discretion for the Manufacturing of Packaging Designs Beyond Periodic Retesting Dates
As a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA is extending its enforcement discretion for any company that continues to manufacture a UN performance oriented packaging that...
July 2, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Extension of Enforcement Discretion for Cylinders Exceeding Periodic Testing Dates
PHMSA understands that the COVID-19 public health emergency has made it difficult for gas cylinder exchanges to receive and distribute cylinders that can be filled in accordance with the requalification requirements included in the Federal Hazardous...
July 1, 2020
PHMSA Correspondence to Enbridge Energy Regarding Line 5 Anchor
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) initiated an investigation into the integrity of Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership’s (Enbridge) Line 5 following notification from...
June 24, 2020
Notice of Extension of Enforcement Discretion Regarding Hazardous Materials Training Requirements
PHMSA understands that social distancing practices enacted by state and local governments in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency has made it difficult for many offerors and carriers of hazardous materi...
June 24, 2020
Notice of Extension of Temporary Policy for the Transport of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand-Sanitizers
As the COVID-19 public health emergency continues, multiple companies are continuing to produce products, such as hand sanitizer and other alcohol-based products, that are essential to response efforts...
June 22, 2020
PUBLIC MEETING: Gas and Liquid Pipeline Safety Advisory Committees
On July 22-23, 2020, PHMSA will hold a public teleconference meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) to discuss...
June 19, 2020
PHMSA Safety Advisory Notice for the Transportation of COVID-19 Diagnostic Samples
PHMSA plays a leading role in ensuring the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce throughout the United States. As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, certain...
June 9, 2020
PHMSA Request for Information on Safety Devices (Hazardous Materials)
PHMSA accepting comments as it begins to develop a national policy for safety devices. Safety devices, as defined by the Hazardous Materials Regulations, include air bag inflators, air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, and...
May 29, 2020
Deferral of Late Fee Charges for Pipeline and Underground Natural Gas Storage Operators
The President called upon Federal agencies to provide available relief in the Executive Order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) understands...
May 27, 2020
PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee
Section 333(d) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) mandates the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) establish a Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee...
May 11, 2020
PHMSA Withdraws Rulemaking Action to Limit Crude Oil Vapor Pressure
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced today that it is withdrawing its January 2017 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding vapor pressure...
May 11, 2020
PHMSA Completes Administrative Preemption Determination on Washington State's Crude Oil by Rail Volatility Requirements
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today announced it has determined that Federal Hazardous Material Transportation Law preempts the State of Washington's vapor pressure requirement...
May 8, 2020
PHMSA-FMCSA Enforcement Discretion Notice for Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles and Portable Tanks in the State of Alaska
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a notice of enforcement discretion for the operation of a cargo tank motor vehicle (CTMV)...
May 1, 2020
COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) related guidance published on the PHMSA website.
April 28, 2020
Guidance for the Safe Packaging and Transportation of COVID-19 Materials
Infectious substances, such as certain COVID-19 tainted materials, can pose a risk to health, safety, and property if packaged and transported incorrectly.
April 28, 2020
Report to Congress on Crude Oil Characterization Research Study
In response to high-profile accidents in 2013-2014 involving movement of crude by rail , the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy (DOE/FE), the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration...
April 22, 2020
PHMSA Issues Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Gas Pipeline Operators
PHMSA understands pipeline operators are continuing to encounter personnel and other resource constraints due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Considering these issues, PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Program...
April 20, 2020
PHMSA Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Sanitizing and Disinfecting Products
To support the continued supply of critical resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA issued a notice of enforcement discretion for the transportation of sanitizing...
April 20, 2020
PHMSA Issues Notice of Enforcement Discretion for the Manufacturing of Packaging Designs Beyond Periodic Retesting Dates
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA issued a notice of enforcement discretion for the continued manufacturing of United Nations performance oriented packaging used in the transportation...
April 20, 2020
PHMSA Proposed FAQs for Farm Taps
PHMSA is seeking comment on a set of proposed frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding individual service lines directly connected to production, gathering, or transmission pipelines. These pipelines are commonly referred to as farm taps.
April 10, 2020
PHMSA Notice on HAZMAT Shipping Paper Requirements and Social Distancing
PHMSA is issuing this notice to clarify the flexibilities provided in the Hazardous Materials Regulations, regarding shipper’s certification signatures on shipping papers. These flexibilities allow compliance with the regulations while still...
April 10, 2020
Revised Temporary Relief Notice for Companies Transporting Hand Sanitizer by Highway
In support of the critical need to move hazardous materials during the COVID-19 public health emergency, on April 2, 2020, PHMSA issued a temporary relief notice for companies shipping hand sanitizers used for sanitation purposes.
April 7, 2020
PHMSA Issues Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Cylinders
In its continued efforts to support the need to move critical hazardous materials products during the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA will impose an enforcement discretion for cylinders that have exceeded their periodic requalification test...
April 1, 2020
PHMSA COVID-19 Emergency Special Permits
In support of the critical need to move hazardous materials during the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA is issuing hazardous materials emergency special permits and approvals...
March 27, 2020
Assistance to the Public During COVID-19
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) remains fully operational and ready to assist the American public. PHMSA will continue to be on duty and available for its stakeholders...
March 25, 2020
PHMSA Enforcement Policy Notice Regarding Hazardous Materials Training
PHMSA continues to monitor the effects the COVID-19 outbreak is having on regulated hazardous materials entities. As a result, PHMSA decided to temporarily halt enforcement actions against shippers and carriers that are unable to comply...
March 20, 2020
PHMSA Issues Stay of Enforcement for Pipeline Operators Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
PHMSA is continuing to monitor the effects the COVID-19 outbreak is having on the nation’s pipeline operations. As a result, PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Program issued a Stay of Enforcement to state pipeline safety...
March 19, 2020
PHMSA Guidance to State Pipeline Safety Programs Regarding COVID-19
In light of the recent actions taken by federal, state, and local government agencies in response to the current COVID-19 outbreak, PHMSA is providing guidance to its state pipeline safety partners on ways to continue...
March 19, 2020
PHMSA Guidance to State Partners Regarding COVID-19
The work PHMSA and its State partners accomplish, especially through inspections and investigations, is critical to the
safety of the transportation and energy supply networks...
March 06, 2020
NOW AVAILABLE: PHMSA Report on Pipeline Risk Modeling Overview of Methods and Tools for Improved Implementation
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing this report to highlight the strengths and limitations for pipeline risk models, and to support improvements in...