PHMSA's Quarterly Newsletter for Hazardous Materials Safety April-June 2022
A Message from the PHMSA Deputy Administrator
Hazardous materials are a vital component to our economy and essential to our everyday lives.
To put things in perspective, hazmat shipments account for 12% of all freight tonnage shipped within the United States. That equates to roughly 3.3 billion tons of hazardous materials shipped every year, worth an estimated $1.9 trillion. All in all, there are around 1 million shipments of hazardous materials every day in the U.S. and PHMSA plays a critical role in making sure that our country continues to transport them safely.
I am extremely proud of our team for their work, day-in and day-out, to protect the public, workers, and the environment from the dangers associated with hazardous materials transportation. Furthermore, I am grateful for the work and collaboration with our local and state partners, emergency responders, and industry representatives.
I hope you will subscribe to this newsletter, which serves as an invaluable resource for all hazmat stakeholders by providing real, up-to-date information on what PHMSA is doing to advance our critical safety mission.
Tristan Brown
Deputy Administrator, PHMSA
Rulemakings and Regulatory News
Notice of Public Meetings in 2022 for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
The PHMSA Office of Hazardous Material Safety (OHMS) will host public meetings in advance of three international meetings to allow the public to give input on current proposals being considered by the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) and the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP). These international meetings include:
- The 60th session of the UNSCOE TDG, scheduled for June 27 to July 6, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The ICAO DGP Working Group 22, tentatively scheduled for November 21–25, in Montreal, Canada.
- The 61st session of the UNSCOE TDG, scheduled for November 28 to December 6, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Each of these public meetings will be held approximately two weeks before the corresponding international meeting. Specific information for each meeting, including date, time, conference call-in number, and details for advance registration will be posted when available on the PHMSA website under "Upcoming Events." These meetings will be virtual, with concurrent in-person sessions possible, pending public health guidelines.
The Federal Register announcement can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-03-03/pdf/2022-04435.pdf utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list
Fireworks Standard Change
The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1 version 2001 is obsolete as of November 26, 2021. Future fireworks classification applications submitted to PHMSA must be in compliance with the 2018 APA Standard 87-1, which was incorporated by reference in its November 25, 2020 final rule that adopted miscellaneous petitions for rulemaking. PHMSA is currently updating its website with new publications and outreach materials for fireworks transportation with information from the new 2018 standard.
The Final Rule can be viewed here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/25/2020-23712/hazardous-materials-adoption-of-miscellaneous-petitions-to-reduce-regulatory-burdens
Interested in being the first to know when PHMSA posts notices and rulemakings to the Federal Register? You can subscribe to receive email notifications from the Federal Register whenever PHMSA posts by visiting the Federal Register site and clicking 'Subscribe' at https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/pipeline-and-hazardous-materials-safety-administration.
PHMSA routinely issues Special Permits, Approvals, and Interpretations for federal hazmat safety laws. To search for current permits and approvals please visit https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/approvals-and-permits. Interpretations and regulations listed by the part number and subject can be found here https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/b/2/1.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT: SHOT SHOW 2022
(Pictured from left to right: PHMSA Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Bill Schoonover, USPIS Inspector Vincent Desiderio, Southern region Community Liaison Elizabeth LaDow, PHMSA Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Field Operations Carey Davis.)
In January, members of PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) attended the 2022 SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show, as part of the agency's small arms ammunition and components safety initiative. The small arms initiative is part of PHMSA's "Check the Box" campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of undeclared hazardous materials shipments. The show, sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), is the largest annual trade show for the shooting sports, hunting, outdoor recreation, and firearm manufacturing industries.
During the event, OHMS Southern region Community Liaison Elizabeth LaDow presented PHMSA's new compliance assistance brochure, "The Facts on Small Arms-Related HAZMAT," to industry stakeholders. The brochure was developed in partnership with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), who identified a trend of materials such as primers and propellants being listed by unlicensed shippers for shipment through the U.S. Postal Service and other large carriers.
Link to the Facts on Small Arms-Related Hazmat brochure: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/facts-small-arms-related-hazmat-brochure
Transportation Specialist Kenny Herzog also delivered a pre-show briefing on special permits to members of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI). The “Facts on Small Arms-Related HAZMAT” brochure includes information to help shippers identify the need, and subsequently apply, for an Explosive (EX) Approval. All approval applications can be submitted using the Online Application, by email to explo@dot.gov, or by mail to Department of Transportation, East Building, PHH-24, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
For more information, go to: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/energetic-materials-approvals/how-apply-explosive-approval
Publications and Resources
PHMSA develops compliance assistance materials that make it easier to understand and comply with the HMR. Access these safety resources at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/publications.
ERG 2020 Mobile App
The official ERG 2020 Mobile App is now available for free to both Apple and Android users under the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) storefront. iOS users who downloaded previous versions listed under the National Library of Medicine (NLM) should download the current PHMSA version at the link below to ensure ongoing support, including any bug fixes and/or updates.
Link to ERG 2020 (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/erg-for-ios/id1597142669
Link to ERG 2020 (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nih.nlm.erg2012
DOT Chart 17 Mobile App
PHMSA’s DOT Chart 17 provides a full-color display of the markings, labels, and placards specified in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). This mobile application allows shippers, carriers, and other stakeholders to quickly access the visual information and HMR citations exactly as they appear in DOT Chart 17.
The DOT Chart 17 mobile application includes updates from the previous DOT Chart 16 app, including the removal of the ORM-D marking and transitional phase-out dates for other markings, labels, and placards. Updates also consist of editorial changes, for clarity as well as to reflect the most current HMR citations and notes.
Please note that this application is intended for general guidance only and should not be used to determine compliance with 49 CFR, Parts 100-185.
Link to DOT Chart 17 (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-chart-17/id1245251292
Link to DOT Chart 17 (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.dot.phmsa.chart16
DOT Tabla 17
DOT Chart 17 - Hazardous Materials Markings, Labeling and Placarding Guide is now available in Spanish. This updated guide assists Spanish-speaking shippers, carriers, and other stakeholders by providing quick access to information concerning hazardous materials markings, labels, and placards, as described in the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Tabla 17 del Departamento de Transporte - guía para identificaciones, etiquetado, rotulado y placas de materiales peligrosos ya está disponible en español. La guía ayuda cargadores, transportistas, y partes interesadas de habla hispana en rápido acceso de información sobre marcas, etiquetas, y placas que son requeridos por los reglamentos de materiales peligrosos (HMR).
Link: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/tabla-17
Lithium Battery Test Summaries (TS)
For safety reasons, lithium batteries must be subject to a series of design tests per sub-section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. This updated publication assists manufacturers and distributors with understanding and implementing the lithium battery test summary requirement effective January 1, 2022.
Link: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/new-un-requirement-test-summaries
For more on shipping lithium batteries, see our Lithium Battery Guide for Shippers: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/lithium-battery-guide-shippers
Hazardous Materials Registration
Registrants, we are excited to present a new registration-focused section, which will provide you with valuable information to help kickstart the 2022-2023 registration year. It will also provide you with tips to help you make informed decisions prior to registering.
- The early registration period for the 2022-2023 registration year will begin May 1st, with the 2022 registration year beginning on July 1st. Any registration submitted before May 1st will NOT be processed. If you do submit your registration before the system opens, this will cause delays and possible errors in processing. Therefore, to avoid errors, please DO NOT submit your registrations before the early registration period begins.
- The new 2022 Registration Brochure will be available on the PHMSA website in mid-April. To download or print this brochure, please visit PHMSA's website at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/registration/registration-mail-brochure
- Registration information is protected in accordance with DOT policy. This year PHMSA has added a disclaimer asking registrants to consider not using personal email addresses, which are a form of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), when completing the Registration Statement. This is optional and not a requirement, but the information in the Registrations Statement may be viewed publicly under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The text of the disclaimer is as follows: "Please submit only business contact information. The contact information you submit during the registration process, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, may be disclosed in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552."
- If you are submitting ACH online payments and you do not receive your Registration – Please DO NOT submit a duplicate. Instead, please contact our registration help desk for assistance at:
(202) 934-1630 for businesses beginning with the letters A-M
(202) 934-1631 for businesses beginning with the letters N-Z
For more information, visit: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/registration/registration-overview
For additional information contact:
The Hazardous Materials Info Center
1.800.HMR.4922 or (1.800.467.4922)
E-mail: infocntr@dot.gov
PHMSA National is a quarterly news and information publication for the hazmat community at-large. Please submit any questions or requests to Training@dot.gov, with the SUBJECT: "PHMSA NEWSLETTER REQUEST."
Last updated: Thursday, September 22, 2022