DOT Aligning with International Standards – NPRM PHMSA

DOT Aligning with International Standards

On February 10, 2026, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to align with the latest international standards and regulations. As always, if you are looking to comment on PHMSA’s NPRM, you must do so by April 13, 2026. Below you will find a list summarizing some of the significant proposals looking to be adopted.

• Incorporation by Reference: PHMSA proposes to incorporate by reference updated versions of the following international hazardous materials regulations and standards: the 2025-2026 edition of the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions); Amendment 42-24 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code); the 2023 edition of Transport Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations; and the 23rd revised edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations (UN Model Regulations).

• Amendments to the Hazardous Materials Table: PHMSA proposes amendments to the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT; § 172.101) to add, to revise, or to remove certain PSNs, hazard classes, PGs, SPs, packaging authorizations, bulk packaging requirements, and passenger and cargo aircraft maximum quantity limits.

• Amendments to the Organic Peroxides Table: PHMSA proposes amendments to the organic peroxides table in § 173.225, which lists individual organic peroxide formulations that are authorized for transportation without prior approval. The proposed amendments include the addition of three new formulations: (Dibenzoyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(tert-butylperoxy) hexane, and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (with a concentration limit of available oxygen ≤10 percent), that will no longer require prior approval when transported under the conditions outlined in the table, as well as the addition of a new authorized packaging for Di-(3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl) peroxide, not more than 52 percent, stable dispersion, in water.

• New provisions for sodium ion batteries: PHMSA proposes to add new HMT entries and transport provisions for sodium ion batteries to maintain consistency with changes adopted in the 2025-2026 edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions and the 23rd revised edition of the UN Model Regulations. The new provisions in the international regulations regulate sodium ion batteries in the same way as lithium ion batteries and are intended to address anticipated increases in the use of sodium ion batteries as an alternative to lithium ion batteries.

• New state-of-charge provisions for certain lithium and sodium ion batteries transported by air: PHMSA proposes expanding current state-of-charge requirements to certain lithium and sodium ion batteries transported by air. The new provision would limit the amount of stored energy to 30 percent or less of the battery’s capacity at the time of transport.

• Improved Emergency Response Information for Lithium Batteries Transported as “UN3536, Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport unit lithium ion batteries or lithium metal batteries: ” PHMSA proposes to amend Special Provision 389 to require that the emergency response information for UN3536 specifically identify the predominant type of energy storage battery installed in the unit ( e.g., lithium ion batteries or lithium metal batteries) and provide information on immediate methods for handling fires. When determining the predominant type of energy storage battery, PHMSA encourages shippers to consider which battery type provides electrical power to external devices or the power grid when units transported under UN3536 are in operation.

To view the NPRM in its entirety, you can click HERE NOW!

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