Latest Actions
PHMSA Safety Advisory 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 shipments of...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 (...
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...