Review - PHMSA Publishes Train Consist Final Rule

Today, DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule in the Federal Register (89 FR 52956-52994) on “Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Requirements for Real-Time Train Consist Information”. This final rule implement the requirements of §7302(a)(1) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (49 USC 20103 Note) to require that Class I railroads provide a real-time train consist information to emergency response personnel that “are involved in the response to, or investigation of, an accident, incident, or public health or safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials”. The notice of proposed rulemaking for this action was published [removed from paywall] on June 27^th, 2023.

This rulemaking addresses three major issues:

Definition of “Train Consist Information”,

Notice to Train Crews, and

Emergency Response Information Sharing Requirements.

Compliance Dates

The effective date for this rule is July 24^th, 2024.

The voluntary compliance date for this rule is June 24^th, 2024.

The compliance date for Class I Railroads is June 24^th, 2025.

The compliance date for Class II and Class III Railroads is June 24^th, 2026.

 

For more details about the provisions of the final rule, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/phmsa-publishes-train-consist-final - subscription required.