Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on PHMSA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning identification numbers on oil cargo tanks. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions that represents workers in all modes of transportation, including rail employees who transport oil and emergency personnel who respond in the case of an accident.

In PHMSA’s ANPRM, the Administration seeks comments on regulations regarding the marking of identification numbers on cargo tanks carrying petroleum products. In issuing this ANPRM, PHMSA is fulfilling a requirement of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016, which directed the Administration to respond to a petition for rulemaking filed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which proposed amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The notice also addresses a petition filed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), which also proposes HMR amendments. In addition to the petitions, PHMSA requests comments on several other items relating to identification numbers.

ATLANTA, GA—The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) and its 32 affiliated unions waded into every major transportation policy debate in Washington and focused on expanding transportation investments, reforming safety policy, protecting workers’ rights, and rejecting job-killing trade policies. “2015 must be the year when we break the stalemate on funding our badly deteriorated transportation system […]

Since the last rewrite of federal railroad safety laws in 2008, an increased number of hazards identified by both employees and government agencies, coupled with significant growth in the industry, has put a spotlight on the need for legislative action to impose needed safety reforms. Congress must move forward on the expired Rail Safety Improvement […]

Few transportation safety issues have as far-reaching effects as the transport of hazardous materials and toxic chemicals. Strong laws and regulations surrounding the movement of these materials are essential to protecting not only workers but also the public and local communities who are risk when an accident occurs. Congress and the administration must address the […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Hazardous Materials, Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRPs) for High-Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFTs). By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions representing workers across the transportation spectrum, including the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) whose members answer the call when transportation-related emergencies occur. We therefore have a vested interest in this proceeding.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Hazardous Materials, Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFTs). By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliate unions including those that represent workers employed in the railroad industry and the first responders who answer the call when rail accidents occur.[1] We also note that two of our affiliates, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) and the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Transportation Division, have each filed comments in this proceeding.

Mr. Charles Betts Standards and Rulemaking Division, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC  20590 RE:     Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0095 (HM-224F)            RIN 2137-AE44            Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries            Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Request for Additional Comment Dear […]