Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permits 12412 and 11646 Into the Hazardous Materials Regulations
Key claim: PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to permanently adopt DOT special permits 12412 and 11646, eliminating the need for renewals while keeping an equivalent level of safety.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt the provisions of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) special permit (SP) 12412 and DOT SP 11646. These amendments will provide greater regulatory flexibility and eliminate the need for special permit renewal requests, reducing paperwork burdens and facilitating commerce while maintaining an equivalent level of safety.
Why this matters
Rolling long-standing special permits into the HMR reduces recurring paperwork for hazmat shippers and carriers who previously had to renew authorizations, while codifying the operating conditions as baseline regulatory requirements. It reflects PHMSA’s ongoing practice of converting mature, well-performing special permits into general rules once the safety record is established.