Our Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources Group breaks down an advance notice of proposed rulemaking by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on possible amendments to the Hazardous Materials...more
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) issued a May 2, 2025, Letter of Interpretation (“LOI”) addressing the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to the use of...more
On June 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced revisions to its procedures for pipeline safety enforcement actions. The changes,...more
On May 21, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) submitted an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to the Office of the Federal Register (publisher of the Federal Register) seeking public...more
On May 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) titled “Pipeline...more
In Sierra Club v. United States Dep’t of Transportation, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“D.C. Circuit”) vacated and remanded a final rule issued by the Department of...more
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in an October 1st Interpretive Letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”): …to determine...more
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in a September 25th Interpretive Letter the application of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to the definition of...more
The Department of Transportation’s operating agencies have announced their random drug and alcohol testing rates for 2025. The rates are the same as 2024, except that PHMSA has increased its random drug testing rate to 50%....more
The regulatory environment is top of mind these days coupled with speculation over potential change. Any attention paid to our obligations for safe and lawful operation is positive as we strive for compliance by our companies...more
The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published on Oct. 28, 2024, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that recommends modernizing and simplifying the...more
Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated a series of regulations passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The...more
On April 3, 2024, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled “Gas Pipeline Safety: Better Data and Planning Would Improve Implementation of Regulatory Changes.” The report, GAO-24-106690,...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) is accepting comments through December 4, 2023 regarding forty-six (46) topics for proposed updates to the Hazardous...more
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in an August 28th letter the application of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) applicable to the maintenance of Department of...more
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is suspending a rule that allows liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be transported by rail in specialized tank cars, starting 31 October 2023. This final rule overturns a Trump-era rule...more
On Aug. 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced the forthcoming publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking intended to improve safety...more
On Aug. 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced the grant of $64.4 million to states to improve the safety of pipelines and underground natural...more
On April 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a request for feedback on its recycled plastics policy. 88 Fed. Reg. 23140. PHMSA states...more
The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that includes amendments to the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”). See...more
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in a December 22, 2022, interpretive letter clarification of Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) as to what constitutes a “contiguous facility...more
A coalition of 14 Democratic AGs submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) opposing Gas Innovations LNG Refrigerants Inc.’s request for a...more
The United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in a December 6th interpretive letter the application of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to...more
The United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) addressed in an October 13th letter the application of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”) to a...more
On December 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice responding to comments received on its initiative to convert historical...more