PHMSA Increases Most Penalties for Hazardous Transport Violations by 25 Percent
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reviewed the entire list of baseline penalties for illegally transporting hazardous materials, and generally increased them, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Oct. 2 (here). Some of the changes, the first major changes since 2003, are based on inflation, PHMSA said, which it said means a baseline increase in penalties for most of 25 percent. Further information: Meridith Kelsch or Shawn Wolsey, 202-366-4400.
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PHMSA also announced enhanced investigation and enforcement authority for hazardous materials transport. It includes procedures for an agent of the Secretary of Transportation to open packages of perishable hazardous materials and to provide notification to the responsible party that an agent has exercised a safety inspection or investigation authority. The agency also established equipment requirements for agents. The final rule is required to codify changes to Federal hazardous materials transportation law and to ensure transparency and consistency for hazardous materials inspectors across all modes of transportation, it said in a Federal Register notice (here). Further information: Vincent Lopez or Shawn Wolsey, 202-366-4400.