The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently released a proposed rule aimed at “modernizing and simplifying hazardous material transportation regulations.” The proposal includes numerous changes to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) covering transportation by rail, highway, and vessel. Many of these changes are based upon recommendations from federal-private sector advisory panels like the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Rail Safety Advisory Committee.
 
A few highlights of the proposal include modifying the current exclusive delegation of rail tank car design approval to the AAR Tank Car Committee (TCC), revising safety and security inspection requirements, including those for anhydrous ammonia transportation, setting a post-weld heat treatment requirement for new nurse tanks, and making changes to requirements for Specification MC 331 cargo tanks. Comments on the NPRM will be due 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register
 
IFCA will keep our members informed on any new information that emerges regarding this proposed rule.