PHMSA axes burdensome rail hazmat reports at last.
Published Date: 8/4/2026
Rule
Summary
This final rule reduces undue regulatory burdens by eliminating or replacing various rail transportation requirements that are either obsolete, overly burdensome, or conflict with other requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
AAR BOE Rail Reporting Removed
PHMSA removes 49 CFR 174.20 and stops the rail carrier reporting to the Association of American Railroads Bureau of Explosives (AAR BOE) effective September 3, 2026. PHMSA says this will reduce paperwork: PHMSA counted 34 offerors submitting 1.5 reports per year, each report taking 20 minutes, for a total reduction of 17 hours of annual burden.
Obsolete AAR Standards Removed
PHMSA removes several outdated Association of American Railroads Bureau of Explosives (BOE) publications from the "Materials Not Incorporated by Reference" table in 49 CFR 171.7 effective September 3, 2026. PHMSA says many of these documents have not been updated in decades and were optional or replaced by modern guidance such as the Emergency Response Guidebook.
Tank Car Unloading Protections Modernized
PHMSA revises 49 CFR 174.67 effective September 3, 2026 to modernize language used during tank car unloading: it replaces references to "cinders" and "dirt" with "debris," requires removal of debris around covers, requires protecting manholes against sparks or ignition sources, and removes paragraph (n) as redundant. PHMSA also removes the regulatory reference to covering exposed manhole covers with asbestos.
Official Record of Local Restrictions Eliminated
By removing 49 CFR 174.20 effective September 3, 2026, PHMSA eliminates the historical requirement that rail carriers report local or carrier restrictions to the AAR BOE, and states "there will no longer be any official record" of such railroad restrictions. Commenters said this reduces transparency for workers, emergency responders, and the public.
Clarified Loading and Bracing Test Standard
PHMSA revises loading and blocking/bracing rules (e.g., 49 CFR 174.101, 174.112, 174.115) to specify that securing methods must prevent permanent change of position under impact from each end of at least 13 km (8.1 miles) per hour and that efficiency must be determined by actual tests using dummy loads. These revisions take effect September 3, 2026.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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