U.S. Department of Transportation

Research and Special Programs

Administration

H A ZARDOUS

MATERIALS
ithin the Department

of Transportation

(DOT), the Research

and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA) is

responsible for coordinating

a national safety program

for the transportation of

hazardous materials by air,

rail, highway, and water.

Included in this program

is the responsibility

for developing and issuing

the Hazardous Materials

Regulations (HMR) which

are contained in Title 49,

Code of Federal Regulations

(49 CFR).

W

ithin the Department

of Transportation

(DOT), the Research

and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA) is

responsible for coordinating

a national safety program

for the transportation of

hazardous materials by air,

rail, highway, and water.

Included in this program

is the responsibility

for developing and issuing

the Hazardous Materials

Regulations (HMR) which

are contained in Title 49,

Code of Federal Regulations

(49 CFR).
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

SAFETY

U

nder the direction of the Associate

Administrator, the Research and Special

Programs Administration’s (RSPA) Office of

Hazardous Materials Safety (HMS) is

responsible for formulating, issuing, and

revising hazardous materials regulations (HMR)

and exemptions under the Federal hazardous

materials transportation law. The HMR cover

hazardous materials definitions and

classifications, hazard communications,

shipper and carrier operations, and packaging

and container specifications. With responsibility

for enforcement of regulations, other than

those applicable to a single mode of

transportation, RSPA places

emphasis on packaging

manufacturers, retesters

and reconditioners, and

multimodal shippers of

hazardous materials. RSPA

uses risk management

principles to understand,

communicate, and reduce

dangers inherent in

hazardous materials

transportation.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

STANDARDS

The Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

(OHMS) develops and issues amendments to

the HMR based on requests received from the

general public, industry and other government

agencies; congressional mandates; rulemaking

proposals from the modal administrations; and

RSPA initiatives. These proposals are evaluated

to determine the need for new or amended

regulations and to identify and eliminate

unnecessary or burdensome regulations. Public

participation is essential and is encouraged

through the solicitation of comments on

rulemaking proposals.
EXEMPTIONS AND

APPROVALS

The Office of Hazardous Materials Exemptions

and Approvals (OHMEA) grants exemptions to

the HMR and approves the performance of

certain functions as provided in the HMR. Many

unusual shipping situations and technological

advances, which are not addressed in existing

regulations, may be allowed on a case-by-case

basis under an exemption, provided that the

level of safety is equivalent to existing

regulations or consistent with the public

interest. Periodically, exemptions are converted

to general regulations which authorize the

entire regulated industry to use packagings or

shipping methods previously authorized only by

exemptions. Approvals are granted to

individuals who demonstrate that they meet

requirements to perform certain functions, or

that their products meet standards to be safely

shipped in commerce, as set forth in the

regulations.

INSPECTION AND

ENFORCEMENT

The Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement

(OHME) has six operational units: one

headquarters unit and five regional offices. The

OHME conducts inspections of packaging

manufacturers, certifiers, retesters, and

reconditioners to determine

compliance with

manufacturing and testing

requirements. It tests

packagings for compliance.

The OHME also conducts

inspections of shippers to

determine compliance with

packaging, marking,

labeling, and documentation

requirements. The OHME

provides assistance to, and conducts joint

inspections with, other DOT modal

administrations, other Federal agencies, and

state enforcement agencies. Additionally, the

OHME also conducts outreach regarding

compliance with the regulations.

INITIATIVES AND TRAINING

Training, outreach, and information

dissemination are important responsibilities of

the Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and

Training (OHMIT). To promote compliance with

the HMR, OHMIT distributes training and

information materials to private sector and

government personnel. Brochures, charts,

publications, training CD-ROMs, videotapes,

and other safety-related information are

available to the public.

Hazardous materials training is provided to

Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies,

industry, and emergency response personnel.

The major focus is on hazardous materials

compliance, enforcement, and emergency

response. New emphasis is being placed on PCbased self-study programs through a CD-ROM

modular training series. Classroom training is

provided by the staff of the Transportation Safety

Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and at

selected sites throughout the country.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

SAFETY WEBSITE

RSPA’s Hazardous Materials Safety website

(http://hazmat.dot.gov) is designed to

disseminate information about the agency’s

programs and activities and to assist the

hazmat community in complying with the HMR.

The website is updated monthly to reflect

current HMS activities and includes: 49 CFR

Parts 100-185, recent rulemakings, exemptions

to the HMR, letters of clarification on the HMR,

upcoming public meetings and conferences,

international activities, frequently requested

documents and files, the ERG, Incident Report

Form DOT F 5800.1 and instructions, and

Registration Program Form DOT F 5800.2.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

ASSISTANCE

The Hazardous Materials Safety Assistance Team

is available to help businesses find the resources

needed to comply with the HMR and to provide

technical assistance to Federal, state, and local

governments and the private sector. A team

member is located at each of RSPA’s Office of

Hazardous Materials Safety regional offices. For

information call OHMIT at (202) 366-4900.

PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

The Office of Hazardous Materials Planning and

Analysis (OHMPA) supports RSPA’s mission

activities and identifies emerging, broad-based

safety issues with emphasis on a strategic

perspective. OHMPA coordinates the

development of programmatic plans and

accompanying budget documents. The office

conducts economic, operational, and benefitcost analyses to yield defensible regulatory and

other responses to hazardous materials

transportation issues.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

sponsors the Cooperative Hazardous Material

Education (COHMED) program and Multimodals

Seminars. These outreach efforts encourage

partnerships among agencies, industry,

associations, public interest groups, and Native

American tribes. Each supports national

uniformity of regulations, education, enforcement

activities, and the safe transportation of

hazardous materials by air, rail, highway, and

water. For information call OHMIT at (202) 366-

4900.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

GUIDEBOOK (ERG)

RSPA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety and

its counterparts in Canada and Mexico publish

the ERG which addresses all hazardous materials

regulated by DOT along with suggested initial

response actions in the event of a hazardous

materials incident (spill, explosion, fire, etc.). The

ERG is updated periodically to accommodate

new technology. It is available from the DOT to

first responders--police, fire, and other public

safety personnel. The goal is to have an ERG in

every emergency response vehicle nationwide.

To date, more than seven million copies have

been distributed to the emergency response

community. The ERG is available in English,

Spanish, and French.
standards. To

facilitate hazardous

materials

transportation risk

management,

OHMT applies

rigorous and systematic approaches to

understanding the characteristics of hazardous

materials, the health problems caused by

exposure, and the technology and

management practices that can reduce the

probability and consequences of incidents. The

office conducts key investigations and research

in the areas of classification, packaging,

operational controls, testing, quality, risk

analysis, and risk management, to provide a

sound basis for program operation and

regulatory and non-regulatory actions.

INTERNATIONAL

ACTIVITIES

RSPA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

represents the United States in international

organizations involved in the safe transportation

of hazardous materials (dangerous goods) to

harmonize domestic and international

requirements. These organizations include:

u The UN Committee of Experts on the

Transport of Dangerous Goods;

OHMPA operates the

Hazardous Materials

Information System (HMIS),

a computerized national

database, containing

comprehensive information

on hazardous materials

incident reports and other

hazardous materials safetyrelated information. Access

to major areas of the system is provided free to

government agencies. Current data is available to

the public on RSPA’s Hazardous Materials Safety

website. OHMPA has operational responsibility

for both the Hazardous Materials Registration

and Emergency Preparedness Grants Programs.

REGISTRATION AND

GRANTS PROGRAMS

The Hazardous Materials Registration Program

was established in 1992, as a result of a mandate

by the Federal hazardous materials transportation

law. Individuals who transport or offer for

transportation certain types or quantities of

hazardous materials must register annually and

pay a fee to DOT. These fees fund emergency

planning and training grants to states, territories,

and Native American tribes. Emergency planning

and training helps communities prepare

for hazardous materials emergencies. For

information call (202) 366-4109.

TECHNOLOGY

The Office of Hazardous Materials Technology

(OHMT) provides the scientific, engineering, and

risk management support for the hazardous

materials transportation safety program and the

development of domestic and international

regulations. OHMT also serves as the focal point

for domestic and international radioactive

materials transportation operations and
u The Economic Commission for Europe Joint

Meeting of European Highway and Rail

Authorities;

u The International Maritime Organization;

u The International Civil Aviation Organization;

u The International Atomic Energy Agency;

and

u The NAFTA Working Group on Hazardous

Materials Transportation.
Office of Hazardous

Materials Initiatives

and Training

 (OHMIT)

(202) 366-4900

Office of Hazardous

Materials Exemptions

and Approvals

(OHMEA)

(202) 366-4511

Office of Hazardous

Materials Standards

 (OHMS)

(202) 366-8553

International Standards

Coordinator

(202) 366-0656

Eastern

(609) 989-2181

Western

(909) 483-5634

Central

(847) 294-8580

Southwest

(713) 718-3953

Associate Administrator

(202) 366-0656

Southern

(404) 305-6134

Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

Central

(847) 294-8580

Office of Hazardous

Materials Technology

 (OHMT)

(202) 366-4545

Office of Hazardous

Materials

Enforcement

 (OHME)

(202) 366-4700

Eastern

(609) 989-2256

Southern

(404) 305-6120

Office of Hazardous

Materials Planning

and Analysis

(OHMPA)

(202) 366-4484

Southwest

(713) 718-3950

Western

(909) 483-5624
B

y using our toll-free telephone

number, you can obtain hazardous

materials transportation information,

copies of rulemakings and training

materials, or report alleged violations

of the HMR. INFO-CENTER specialists

are on duty Monday through Friday from

9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time.

However, you may call anytime, 24

hours a day, seven days a week, and

leave a message. A specialist will return

your call before the end of the next

business day.

HAZMAT PUBLICATIONS

Videos, training materials, fact sheets, and other

safety related information are available from RSPA.

To obtain these materials:

FAX: (202) 366-7342

E-Mail: TRAINING@rspa.dot.gov

or Write:

U.S. Department of Transportation

Research and Special Programs Administration

400 Seventh St., SW, DHM-50

Washington, DC 20590-0001

(202) 366-2301

DHM50-0016-0801

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

INFO-CENTER

1-800-467-4922

OR

(202) 366-4488

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

INFO-CENTER

1-800-467-4922

OR

(202) 366-4488