OMB Approves PHMSA Space Related Hazmat Transportation ANPRM

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) from DOT’s Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) on “Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations to Facilitate Transportation of Spacecraft and Space Related Hazardous Materials”. This rulemaking was sent to OIRA on December 19^th, 2025.

According to the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda for this rulemaking:

“In this rulemaking, PHMSA would amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to modernize and streamline the HMR, where necessary, to facilitate the transportation of hazardous materials involved in U.S. space operations. PHMSA will aim to identify problems and friction with the current regulatory scheme and potentially reduce burdens on both PHMSA and the regulated community while advancing U.S. interests in the space industry. PHMSA would coordinate closely with its interagency partners (Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, etc.) and its modal partners (Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and U.S. Coast Guard) to ensure a comprehensive approach that allows for the seamless movement of goods across multiple modes of transport while allowing for the specific needs of each mode to be safely addressed.”

This rulemaking was approved ‘subject to change’, so that may impact on how quickly this ANPRM ill be published in the Federal Register. It may appear there as early as next week.