HAZMAT Transportation - Registration & Permit

phmsa

HAZMAT Registration

Who Needs Hazmat Registration?
You are required to register if you offer transportation or transport in commerce any shipment containing any of the following:

  • A highway route-controlled quantity of Class 7 (radioactive) material, as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. A "highway route-controlled quantity" may be shipped by highway, rail, air, or water.
  • More than 25 kilograms (55 lbs.) of division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 (explosive) material (see 49 CFR 173.50) in a motor vehicle, rail car, or freight container.
  • More than one liter (1.06 quarts) per package of material extremely toxic by inhalation (a "material poisonous by inhalation" that meets the criteria for "hazard zone A" as specified in 49 CFR 173.116(a) for gases or 173.133(a) for liquids).
  • A hazardous material (including hazardous wastes) in a bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 liters (3,500 gallons) for liquids or gases or more than 13.24 cubic meters (468 CF) for solids. Please note that a person who offers or transports a hazardous material in a bulk packaging with a capacity greater than 3,500 gallons or 468 cubic feet must register, even if placards are not required (e.g., a Class 9 material).
  • A shipment in other than a bulk packaging of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 LBs) gross weight or more of one class of hazardous materials (including hazardous wastes) for which placarding of a vehicle, rail car, or freight container is required for that class.
  • A quantity of hazardous material that requires placarding. The placarding requirements are outlined in 49 CFR 172 Subpart F and summarized on our website.

NOTE: The transportation of any quantity of hazardous material, other than Division 6.2 and Class 9 materials, in bulk packaging requires placarding; and therefore, registration. This includes residues that remain in an un-purged tank truck or rail tank car. Persons who return such packaging must register as offerors of a placarded shipment of hazardous materials.

What is PHMSA Hazmat Registration?
This program began in 1992 and is governed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The regulations found in 49 CFR 107.601-107.620 require offerors and transporters of certain types and quantities of hazardous materials, including hazardous wastes, to file an annual registration statement and pay a fee.
The fee funds grants distributed to states, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations for hazardous materials emergency response planning and training and certain professional organizations for training purposes.

hm

HAZMAT Safety Permit

Since January 1, 2005, intra-state, inter-state, and foreign motor carriers transporting certain types and amounts of hazardous materials (HM) are required to hold a Federal Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP) issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

As stated in 49 CFR §385.403, the following HM transported in these quantities require the motor carrier to have a HMSP:

  • Radioactive Materials – A highway route-controlled quantity (HRCQ) of Class 7 materials, as defined in 49 CFR §173.403.
  • Explosives – More than 25kg (55 LBs) net weight of a Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material, or an amount of a Division 1.5 material requiring a placard. (See: 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart F).
  • Toxic by Inhalation Materials in Hazard Zone A – materials in a packaging with a capacity greater than 1 liter (0.26 gallons).
  • Toxic by Inhalation Materials in Hazard Zone B – materials in a bulk packaging having a capacity greater than 450 L [119 gallons], for liquids and a water capacity greater than 454 kg, [1,000 LBs] for gas receptacles (49 CFR §171.8 defines bulk packaging for liquids, solids and gases).
  • Toxic by Inhalation Materials in Hazard Zone C or D – materials in a bulk packaging having 3,500 gallons.
  • Methane – A shipment of compressed or refrigerated liquid methane or natural gas or other liquefied gas with a methane content of at least 85% in a bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons).

FAQ

Certain offerers and transporters of hazardous materials must register with the Department of Transportation and pay a registration fee. The fees are redistributed as Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants (HMEP) to approved emergency responders for HazMat training and to States, Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), and Native American Tribes for HazMat planning.

Who must register for HazMat?

Per PHMSA, you must register if you are a person who offers for transportation or transports in commerce a shipment containing any of the following categories of hazardous materials (including hazardous wastes):

  1. A highway route-controlled quantity of Class 7 (radioactive) material, as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. A "highway route-controlled quantity" may be shipped by highway, rail, air, or water.
  2. More than 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of a division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 (explosive) material (see 49 CFR 173.50) in a motor vehicle, rail car, or freight container.
  3. More than one liter (1.06 quarts) per package of a "material extremely toxic by inhalation" (that is, a "material poisonous by inhalation" that meets the criteria for "hazard zone A" as specified in 49 CFR 173.116(a) for gases or 173.133(a) for liquids).
  4. A hazardous material (including hazardous wastes) in bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 liters (3,500 gallons) for liquids or gases or more than 13.24 cubic meters (468 cubic feet) for solids. Please note that persons who offer or transport hazardous materials that do not require placarding (Class 9 materials) in bulk packaging with a capacity greater than 3,500 gallons or 468 cubic feet must register.
  5. A shipment in other than a bulk packaging of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) gross weight or more of one class of hazardous materials (including hazardous wastes) for which placarding of a vehicle, rail car, or freight container is required for that class.
  6. A quantity of hazardous material that requires placarding. The offering and transporting of hazardous materials by farmers in direct support of their farming operations are excepted from this category of activities requiring registration. See the information on requirements for farmers below.

It is a federal requirement based on the federal HazMat law to register. Federal, state, and local agencies enforce these laws. They may impose penalties for failing to register or meet the recordkeeping requirements.

Per PHMSA, the following are exceptions:

  1. Agencies of the federal government.
  2. Agencies of states.
  3. Agencies of political subdivisions of states.
  4. Native American.
  5. Employees of those entities listed in [A], [B], [C], or [D] who offer or transport hazardous materials as part of their official duties.
  6. Hazmat employees, including the owner-operator of a motor vehicle that transports hazardous materials in commerce if that vehicle, at the time of those activities, is leased to a registered motor carrier under a 30-day or longer lease as prescribed in 49 CFR Part 376 or an equivalent contractual relationship.
  7. A person who offers hazardous materials for transportation to the United States solely from locations outside of the United States, when that person is domiciled outside the United States, in a country that does not impose registration or a fee on U.S. companies for offering hazardous materials into that country.
  8. A farmer who offers or transports only hazardous materials used in direct support of their farming operations and who is not engaged in activities included in Categories A through E described in the FAQ "Who must register for HazMat?"

Farmers must register if they:

  1. Offers or transports hazardous materials that require placarding that are not in direct support of their farming operation. For example, a farmer who offers or transports home heating fuel for commercial purposes in quantities requiring placarding must register.
  2. Offers or transports for any purpose any hazardous materials included in Categories A through E in the FAQ "Who must register for HazMat?". For example, a farmer who transports 55 lbs. or more of a division 1.1 explosive must register, even if the explosive is to be used in direct support of his farming operations.

A farmer who offers or transports only hazardous materials used in direct support of their farming operations and who is not engaged in activities included in Categories A through E described in the FAQ "Who must register for HazMat?" are exempt from registering.