You may or may not have heard from a coworker, friend, or even inspector that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was no longer taking enforcement actions against hazmat employers who were unable to provide recurrent training consistent with Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) training requirements due to Covid-19. While this may be true, it was only true for a certain period, more specifically 90 days from the date of issuance.
For those of you who aren’t quite sure what ANPRM stands for, it represents an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. In January 2017, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), of the Department of Transportation (DOT), considered revising the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to make transportation of unrefined petroleum-based products (and potentially all Class 3 flammable liquids) by any mode of transportation safer through vapor pressure standards.
With climate control, going green, and alternative fuel sources making headlines everyday it’s a mystery as to why Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is not already being widely transported by rail. If you have asked this question before, I am sure you have heard answers like:
“Regulatory Lag is responsible,” Or “It takes 12 months + to get an accident report, let alone a final rule in place.”
With so many regulating bodies making continuous Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and Final Rules, it’s easy to miss out on crucial lifesaving and financially beneficial information for your industry. Take for instance, did you hear about all the changes put forth in August Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)? There was over 15 plus items put up for change!
In response to industry petition regarding several provisions set forth in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), the Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed 19 Amendments to update, clarify, improve the safety of, or provide relief from various regulatory requirements.
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s an increase to Civil Penalty Amounts! While the colloquial idiom is somewhat funny, the increase in civil penalty amounts is no laughing matter. Effective as of July 31, 2019, The Department of Transportation (DOT) and its governing bodies (PHMSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, etc.) will begin enforcing the newly adjusted penalty amounts for Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR) violations.
