G/TBT/N/USA/1683  
4 January 2021  
(21-0065) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT) [1712]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to ha ndle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other  [X]:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Hazardous 
materials; Transport (ICS 03.220), Pollution, pollution control and conservation 
(ICS 13.020.40), Wastes (ICS 13.030), Explosion protection (ICS 13.230), Protection 
against excessive pressure (ICS 13.240), Protection against dangerous goods 
(ICS 13.300), Railway rolling stock (ICS 45.060)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Hazardous 
Materials: Editorial Corrections and Clarifications (38 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Final rule - This final rul e corrects editorial errors and improves 
the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations and PHMSA 
program and procedural regulations. The intended effect of this rulemaking is to enhance 
the accuracy and reduce misunderstandings o f the regulations. The amendments 
contained in this final rule are non -substantive changes and do not impose new 
requirements.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of human health or safety; Prot ection of the environment  G/TBT/N/USA/1683  
 
- 2 - 
 
  8. Relevant documents:   
• 85 Federal Register (FR) 83366, 21 December 2020; Title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Parts 106, 107, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 
179, and 180:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-12-21/html/2020 -23353.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-12-21/pdf/2020 -23353.pdf  
• This final rule is identified by Docket Number PHMSA -2018-0082 (HM -260A).   The 
Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov  at 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=PHMSA -2018-0082-0001 and 
provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. Documents 
are also accessible fro m Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket Number.  
• G/TBT/N/US A/920/Add.1  – PHMSA -DOT Final Rule, Hazardous Materials: 
Harmonization with International Standards (RRR)  
• G/TBT/N/USA/960/Add.1  - PHMSA -DOT Final Rule, Miscellaneous Amendments  
• G/TBT/N/USA/1168  – PHMSA -DOT Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), 
Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Petitions for Rulemaking (RRR)  
• G/TBT/N/USA/1173/Add.1  - PHMSA -DOT Final Rule, Hazardous Materials: Oil Spill 
Response Plans and Information Sharing for High -Hazard Flammable Trains (FAST 
Act) 
• G/TBT/N/USA/1196  - PHMSA -DOT Final Rule, Hazardous Materials: FAST Act 
Requirements for Flammable Liquids and Rail Tank Cars  
9. Proposed date of adoption : 21 December 2020  
Proposed date of entry into force:  20 January 2021  
10. Final date for comments:  None 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/21_0054_00_e.pdf