Search

Hazmat Items in the 5-year, $305B FAST Act Transportation Bill

Posted on 12/4/2015 by Roger Marks

HR-22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act—the five-year, $305 billion transportation bill announced by US Congress earlier this week—includes a number of items of interest to hazmat shippers, carriers, rail operators, manufacturers, oil and gas professionals, and others.

Below is a review of the hazmat items found in Title VII of the FAST Act. The full text of the Act is available online.

General Hazmat Items in the HR-22 FAST Act

  • Makes changes to the procedures for hazmat special permits;
  • Orders PHMSA to withdraw the “wetlines” rule proposed in January 2011 for external product piping on cargo tanks transporting flammable liquids;
  • Requires the US Comptroller General to review the regulations for “third-party labs” that help businesses classify new explosives under 49 CFR 173.56; and
  • Allows for states to waive the requirement for a commercial driver to obtain a hazardous materials endorsement on his or her Class A license to carry small volumes of diesel (> 1,000 gal.) when the truck is placarded appropriately and the driver is acting as an employee of a custom harvester operation, agrichemical business, farm retail outlet and supplier, or livestock feeder.
Hazmat by Rail Items in the HR-22 FAST Act

  • Orders DOT to create regulations for real-time electronic emergency response hazmat reporting for Class I railroads;
  • Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate emergency response information carried by train crews transporting hazardous materials;
  • Sets a schedule for phasing out all tank cars that do not meet the requirements of DOT-117, 117P, or 117R specifications;
  • Pressures US DOT to finalize the Hazardous Materials: Oil Spill Response Plans for High-Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFTs) rule proposed in August 2014; and
  • Orders a number of hazmat transportation studies and reports on topics including crude oil characteristics research, hazmat by rail liability, electronically control pneumatic (ECP) brakes for rail cars.
49 CFR, IATA, and IMDG Hazmat Shipper Certification Training 

To prepare safe, compliant hazmat shipments, you need the knowledge and confidence to work with the latest 49 CFR, IATA DGR, and IMDG Code regulations.  Join experienced hazmat professionals from your area for an engaging learning experience led by instructors who help uncover the real-world meaning of the regulations that affect your job.

The Complete Multimodal Hazmat Shipper Workshops are presented in convenient locations nationwide—enroll now and get 365 days of complete on-the-job support, including access to the Finder Q&A service! 

Tags: DOT, hazmat, new rules

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The online course was well thought out and organized, with good interaction between the student and the course.

Larry Ybarra

Material Release Agent

Given the choice, I would do all coursework this way. In-person courses go very fast without the opportunity to pause or repeat anything.

Ellen Pelton

Chemical Laboratory Manager

I had a positive experience utilizing this educational program. It was very informative, convenient, and rewarding from a career perspective.

John Gratacos

Logistics Manager

More thorough than a class I attended last year through another company.

Troy Yonkers

HSES Representative

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

I have been to other training companies, but Lion’s material is much better and easier to understand.

Mark Abell

Regional Manager

Best course instructor I've ever had. Funny, relatable, engaging; made it interesting and challenged us as the professionals we are.

Amanda Schwartz

Environmental Coordinator

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

In most cases, injuries that occur at work are work-related and must be recorded to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. This report shows you the 9 types of injuries you don’t record.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.