Proposal would change hazardous materials classifications

In response to the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) June 2005 petition, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed a rule narrowing the list of hazardous materials classified as significant security risks.

PHMSA said it agreed with ATA that regulating hazardous materials transportation security at the placarded load level is inconsistent with a risk-based approach and results in the overregulation of materials that are not capable of being used as a terrorist weapon, according to Transport Topics.

ATA had asked PHMSA to “create a distinction between hazardous materials that present a significant security risk while in transportation and the vast majority of hazardous materials that pose no significant security risk in transportation.”

It also stated that security plans should be required only for entities that transport hazardous materials in “threshold quantities that are capable of functioning as a weapon of mass destruction.”

PHMSA said the proposed rule would reduce associated regulatory costs and paperwork burden. It also clarifies additional requirements with respect to a company’s security plan and its obligation to provide security training to its employees.