USDOT Proposes HazMat Requirements for Railroads

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced it is proposing a new rule aimed at improving public safety and preventing environmental impacts by strengthening requirements governing railroads’ provision of hazardous materials information to responders during a hazmat incident. 

The proposal would require railroads to always maintain — and update in real-time — accurate, electronic information about rail hazmat shipments in a train consist that would be accessible to authorized emergency response personnel. Railroads would also be required to proactively “push” that information to authorized local first response personnel as soon as the railroad is aware of an accident involving any hazardous materials. 

Comments to the DOT on this proposal must be received by August 28, 2023. Read the proposal and comment opportunities.