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Latest Actions

June 9, 2020

PHMSA Request for Information on Safety Devices (Hazardous Materials)

PHMSA is 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 other articles...

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 the economic consequences COVID-19...

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 for the transportation of crude...

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 for unrefined petroleum products and other flammable...

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) or portable tank in the state of Alaska.  The...

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.

Note:  This guidance does...

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 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.  When transporting such materials, it is extremely important to consult PHMSA’s Hazardous...

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 issued a Notice of Enforcement Discretion...

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 and disinfecting materials to be used in protecting...