Hazmat

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced in the Federal Register (25 August 2011) that it is considering whether changes are needed to the regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines. In particular, PHMSA is considering whether integrity management (IM) requirements should be changed, including adding more prescriptive language in some areas, and whether other issues related to system integrity should be addressed by strengthening or expanding non-IM requirements.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 12 August 2011 Federal Register.  PHMSA in coordination with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), is proposing to amend requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) governing the transportation of Class 7 (radioactive) materials based on recent changes contained in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publication ‘‘Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, 2009 Edition, IAEA Safety Standards Series No.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule in the July 20, 2011 Federal Register that amends the Hazardous Materials Regulations.  The final rule makes miscellaneous amendments to update and clarify certain regulatory requirements. These amendments are intended to: promote safer transportation practices; eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements; finalize outstanding petitions for rulemaking; facilitate international commerce; and simplify the regulations.