# 2026-15820: DOT Ditches Papers for Residue-Filled Empty Containers

2026-15820, Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21478, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published 2026-08-04, effective 2026-09-03; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15820
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15820
- Title: Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21478
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 49335
- Published: 2026-08-04
- Effective: 2026-09-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2137-AG18
- Last updated: 2026-08-11

## In one line

DOT Ditches Papers for Residue-Filled Empty Containers

## Summary

This final rule removes undue regulatory burdens by adopting the provisions of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) special permit (SP) 21478 to allow empty intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) that only contain the residue of a hazardous material to be transported without shipping papers, placards, and United Nations (UN) identification (ID) numbers.

## Effects PRIA read

- Empty IBC residue transport allowed: benefit, medium. Starting September 3, 2026, steel, rigid plastic, or composite intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) up to 2,100 L (550 gallons) that contain only residue of hazardous materials in packing group II or III of hazard Classes/Divisions 3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 8, and 9 may be transported without shipping paper…
- No more special permit requirement: benefit, low. Effective September 3, 2026 (30 days after publication), holders of DOT Special Permit 21478 will no longer need that special permit to transport empty IBCs in accordance with 49 CFR 173.29 because the permit provisions are adopted into the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
- "Residue IBC(s)" paperwork requirement: cost, low. Shipments relying on the new empty-IBC provisions must be accompanied by a paper or electronic document that states the phrase "Residue IBC(s)" and lists the number of IBCs containing hazardous materials for each Class or Division on the transport vehicle. PHMSA estimates 44 respondents will make 5…
- Placarding and UN ID marking exceptions: benefit, low. Transport vehicles or freight containers carrying empty IBCs under Sec. 173.29(d) are not subject to placarding (49 CFR part 172 subpart F) or UN identification number marking requirements (49 CFR 172.331). The final rule also revises 49 CFR 172.504 and 172.514 to reflect these exceptions.

## Related documents

- [2026-13805](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13805): Pipeline Safety: Repair Criteria for Hazardous Liquid and Gas Transmission Pipelines, 2026-07-08
- [2026-10969](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10969): Pipeline Safety: Breakout Tank Inspection Rule, 2026-06-02
- [2026-10782](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10782): Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Correction, 2026-05-29
- [2026-08144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08144): Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures, 2026-04-27
- [2026-08058](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08058): Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendme…, 2026-04-24
- [2026-06323](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06323): Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Response to Petition for Reconsideration, 2026-04-01

## Sources
- [2026-15820 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15820/hazardous-materials-adoption-of-department-of-transportation-special-permit-21478)
- [2026-15820 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15820.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-15819, Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 14…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15819)
- [Next: 2026-15823, Hazardous Materials: Reducing Burdens on Domestic Companies Using Battery-Power…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15823)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15820 (as of 2026-08-11).