Review - PHMSA Publishes HAZMAT Harmonization NPRM

Today DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (91 FR 5996-6071)on “Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards”. This is a periodic rulemaking to ensure that shippers see similar hazardous materials shipping requirements for domestic and international shipments.

This NPRM proposes to make changes to the following Parts of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) [links to discussions in NPRM]:

Part 171, General Information, Regulations, and Definitions,

Part 172, Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Response Information, Training Requirements, and Security Plans,

Part 173, Shippers—General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings,

Part 175, Carriage by Aircraft,

Part 176, Carriage by Vessel,

Part 178, Specifications for Packagings, and

Part 180, Continuing Qualification and Maintenance of Packagings.

Additionally, PHMSA is proposing the following actions on information collection requests (ICRs) based upon proposed changes to the HMR:

Revise 2137-0034, “Shipping Papers and Emergency Response Information”, and

Revise 2137-0557, “Approvals for Hazardous Materials”.

Public Comments

PHMSA is soliciting comments about these proposed changes to the HMR. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov: Docket # PHMSA-2023-0111). Comments should be received by April 13^th, 2026.

 

For more information on the provisions of this NPRM, including proposed changes to the Hazardous Materials Table, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/phmsa-publishes-hazmat-harmonization-65c - subscription required.