PHMSA Invites Ideas on Cutting Red Tape Around Dangerous Cargo
Published Date: 6/4/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
PHMSA wants your thoughts on updating rules about hazardous materials to help boost American energy and make government work better. This could change how energy companies handle dangerous goods, cutting red tape and saving time and money. You’ve got until August 4, 2025, to share your ideas and help shape smarter, simpler rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
PHMSA may cut HMR burdens on energy
PHMSA is asking whether to repeal or amend requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 171–180) and related procedures to eliminate undue burdens on the identification, development, and use of domestic energy resources. This could affect companies that handle energy commodities (for example, shipments that are part of the more than 3.3 billion tons of hazardous materials moved annually) and may change compliance obligations across the energy supply chain.
Convert common special permits into rules
PHMSA is considering identifying widely used hazardous materials special permits with established safety records and converting their provisions into broader regulatory provisions in the HMR so more entities could use them without applying for a special permit. If adopted, businesses that now rely on individual special permits could avoid the time and expense of repeated permit applications.
PHMSA fees and reporting may be reviewed
The ANPRM highlights existing PHMSA requirements including incident reporting (49 CFR part 171, subpart B) and a registration and fee requirement (49 CFR part 107, subpart G), and requests feedback on whether those reporting, registration, and fee requirements impose undue burdens. Businesses that offer or transport hazardous materials are the entities explicitly identified as subject to these obligations; PHMSA notes these compliance costs are often passed along the supply chain to other businesses and consumers.
Possible mandatory periodic rule reviews
PHMSA is asking whether the HMR should include an explicit requirement for PHMSA to conduct periodic retrospective regulatory reviews (the ANPRM specifically asks about 5- or 3-year cycles) to identify undue burdens and improve government efficiency. The agency is seeking stakeholder input on appropriate intervals and engagement procedures for such reviews.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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