Hazmat Permits Updated: DOT Greenlights Safer Transport Tweaks
Published Date: 2/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Transportation just updated special permits for companies handling hazardous materials, letting some add new materials or change rules for safer transport. If you work with these materials, these changes could affect your operations soon. Make sure to send any comments by March 26, 2025, to have your say—no extra costs were mentioned, so it’s mostly about staying in the know and compliant!
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Rail added as allowed transport mode
PHMSA modified special permit 20527-M for Procyon-Alpha Squared, Inc. to authorize rail as a mode of transportation. If you ship materials under that permit, you can now use rail as an authorized transport mode.
Extra battery module allowed for sea shipment
PHMSA modified special permit 21396-M for Porsche Cars North America, Inc. to authorize an additional battery module and its transportation aboard a cargo vessel. If you are the permit holder or a contractor, you may now ship that extra battery module by sea under the permit.
Permit expanded to add packaging, modes, and material
PHMSA modified special permit 21663-M for Orbion Space Technology, Inc. to authorize an additional packaging, additional modes of transportation, and an additional hazardous material. If you operate under that permit, you may use the newly authorized packaging and modes and ship the added material.
Non‑DOT steel inside container authorized
PHMSA issued special permit 21779-N to Zhejiang Dongcheng Printing Industry Co., Ltd. to manufacture, mark, sell, and use a non-DOT specification, non-refillable inside steel container that conforms with DOT specification 2Q inside containers except as specified. This permit allows that company to produce and use that specified container for transporting the authorized hazardous materials.
Polyethylene manway assemblies approved
PHMSA issued special permit 21812-N to PolyPetroChem, LLC. to manufacture, mark, sell, and use manway assemblies made from stabilized polyethylene for installation on certain DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles used to transport certain hazardous materials. If you make or install such manway assemblies under that permit, this authorizes those activities.
Large lithium batteries allowed on cargo aircraft
PHMSA issued special permit 21814-N to Bren-Tronics, Inc. to authorize the transportation in commerce of lithium batteries exceeding 35 kg by cargo-only aircraft. If you ship lithium batteries that weigh more than 35 kg, this permit explicitly allows air cargo transport under its terms.
Compressed xenon in COPV cylinders authorized
PHMSA issued special permit 21834-N to Umbra Lab, Inc. to authorize transportation in commerce of compressed xenon in fully wrapped fiber reinforced composite cylinders (COPV) with aluminum liners built to UN ISO 11119-2 specifications, except that no pressure relief devices are used. If you manufacture or ship that packaging under this permit, this authorizes those shipments under the stated exception.
Another firm allowed large lithium battery air transport
PHMSA issued special permit 21840-N to Lunar Energy, Inc. to authorize the transportation in commerce of lithium batteries exceeding 35 kg by cargo-only aircraft. If you ship batteries over 35 kg under that permit, cargo-only air transport is explicitly authorized.
Permit allows one more hazardous material
PHMSA modified special permit 16172-M for Entegris, Inc. to authorize an additional hazardous material for transport. If you are Entegris or a supplier working under that permit, you may be allowed to ship one more listed hazardous material under the modified permit.
Add French CAE approval to permit
PHMSA modified special permit 20274-M for Bollore Logistics USA Inc. to add an additional CAE approval from France. If you use or rely on that permit, it now explicitly includes that French CAE approval.
Request to change permit departure location denied
PHMSA denied modification request 21904-M from SkyTaxi Sp.Z.O.O. that would have changed the departure location identified in that permit. The denial means the existing departure location in the permit remains in effect.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-02971, Hazardous Materials: Notice of Applications for Modification to Special Permits
The Department of Transportation is reviewing requests to change special permits for safely transporting hazardous materials. These changes could affect companies using trucks, trains, ships, or planes to move dangerous goods. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to send comments by March 11, 2025—no fees or costs are mentioned.
Next: 2025-02973, Hazardous Materials: Notice of Applications for New Special Permits
The Department of Transportation is reviewing new special permit requests for safely handling hazardous materials during transport. Companies and transport operators should check these applications and send comments by March 26, 2025. These permits could change how certain materials are moved, possibly speeding up processes without extra costs.