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Former CSX Executive Skip Elliott Confirmed as New PHMSA Administrator

Posted on 10/12/2017 by Roger Marks

The US Senate last week confirmed a new Administrator to head up the US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Howard “Skip” Elliott.  

In his previous role as Vice President of Public Safety, Health, and Environment for CSX Transportation, Mr. Elliott was responsible for environmental operations and compliance, hazardous materials and chemical transport safety, hazardous substance remediation initiatives, and more. He joined CSX as Director of Hazardous Materials in 1998.

Before he took on the role with CSX, Elliott worked as a Director of Hazardous Materials Field Service and Hazardous Materials Systems with Conrail. Elliott is also associated with hazmat safety, transportation, and industrial security organizations like:
  • Association of American Railroads
  • American Society of Industrial Security
  • Association of Global Logistics and Transportation
  • Domestic Security Alliance Council
The President announced Elliott as his pick to head PHMSA in September.  


What Is PHMSA?

PHMSA is an office of the US DOT charged with promoting and ensuring the safety of hazardous materials transported in the US by pipeline, highway, rail, air, and vessel. Under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, or HMR, found at 49 CFR 100–181 et al, PHMSA sets requirements for classifying, naming, packaging, marking, labeling, loading, unloading, and documenting hazmat shipments.

GHS_bulk_hazmat_rail_car.jpgIn addition, PHMSA maintains training requirements for employees involved in preparing and offering hazmat for transport. These “hazmat employees” must complete hazmat training once every three years. [49 CFR 172.704]


PHMSA’s Current Agenda

Administrator Elliott will be asked to use his expertise in the rail transportation sector immediately, as PHMSA works to complete a logjam of rail-related hazmat rulemakings in progress since last year. Among these are oil spill response plans for “High Hazard Flammable Trains,” new rules for measuring volatility of petroleum products shipped by rail, new rail cargo tank standards, and more.


Final Hazmat Training Workshops of 2017

Meet DOT, IATA, and IMDG hazmat training mandates when Lion presents the final Multimodal Hazmat Shipper Certification workshops of 2017. You will learn a step-by-step approach to properly prepare hazmat shipments in full compliance with 49 CFR, the IATA DGR (air), and the IMDG Code (vessel).

Detroit Oct. 30–Nov. 2
Cincinnati Oct. 30–Nov. 2
Pittsburgh Dec. 4–7
Chicago Dec. 11–14

Tags: hazmat, PHMSA, shipping

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