Issue Briefs
/ Reports
Reports
PHMSA Announces New
On-Line Hazardous Materials Special Permit
Application Process...........WASHINGTON,
D.C.
-
Applications for hazardous
materials special permits will be reviewed in a
more timely and efficient manner as a result of
a new on-line application process being launched
by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
and its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA). The new system takes
effect May 1st.............Read
Full Details.
US
DOT Issues Management Advisory on Weaknesses in
the Safety Oversight of Explosives
Classification Approvals to PHMSA.
- April 7, 2010
The House T&I Subcommittee on Railroads,
Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials has posted a
new Management Advisory. The advisory
specifically targets weaknesses identified by
the DOT Office of Inspector General in the
PHMSA explosives approvals program.
The report may be viewed at
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/Rail/PHMSA%20MA.PDF
PHMSA Response to OIG Approvals Lab
Report and Establishment of Safety Review Board......Download
the documents below to see PHMSA’s response to
the OIG Lab report, and the announcement
establishing the agency’s safety review board.
PHMSA Response to
OIG Approvals Lab Report.pdf
PHMSA Safety
Review Board.pdf
Click
Here to Connect to the McDonald Hopkins
Carbon Footprint Calculator -
This helpful tool will
allow you to make an initial determination of
the carbon footprint of your business.
Additional
Information on Special Permit Standard Operating
Procedures - (Download PDF's)
FAQ
Approvals
SOP's
Action
Plan
Changes Made to
PHMSA
Special Permits! -
Revised 12/30/09
Effective Date Changed -
PHMSA
has issued a revision of special permits
DOT-SP
8554,
DOT-SP 10751,
DOT-SP 11579 and
DOT-SP 12677 (download PDF's). If
any of your vehicles are operating under the
listed special permits you need to review to
assure you are in compliance. If you have
any questions, please contact Christopher Howell
or Kelli Cox at (440) 349-4400.
Review of Special
Permits for MBT's (multipurpose bulk
trucks)
(documents relating to the packaging & transport
of explosives under special permit numbers 8554,
11579 and 12677)
Nobel
Insurance Letter (08-31-09)
U.S. DOT Memorandum (07-28-09)
U.S. DOT
Letter (08-14-09)
Special Permits for the Transportation of Bulk
Materials Used for Blasting - A Model of
Efficiency in Government
Summary
Full
Paper
PHMSA has released their 2008 penalty
action report.
This includes two penalties for blasting
explosives and one for smokeless powder.
Download Penalty Action Report (pdf)
EPA Announces Greenhouse
Gas Reporting System/Monitoring
to begin Jan. 1st
The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) signed the Final
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule,
which goes into effect on December 29, 2009.
This rule is to help fight against climate
change and requires that, beginning January 1,
2010, large emitters of heat trapping emissions
to start collecting data. The first annual
reports for the largest emitting facilities,
covering calendar year 2010, will be submitted
to the EPA in 2011.......
Briefs
Cap and Trade Legislation Summary
This legislation is being touted by some as
the first step towards combating global
warming, while others have equated it to a
declaration of war on the Midwest.
Under the bill, utility suppliers
will be forced to reduce carbon emissions by
6% in 2012, 9.5% in 2014, 13% in 2016, 16.5%
in 2018, and 20% in 2021-2039.
The
Act creates a cap, or a limit, on the amount
of greenhouse gases companies can emit.
Each company would have an “emissions
permit” for every ton of carbon dioxide that
it releases into the atmosphere.
Over a period of time these limits
become stricter.
Some companies can lower their
emissions easier than others, and will have
extra “emissions permits” that they can sell
or trade to other companies.
Pros
The
sponsors of this Act claim that it will
create millions of new clean energy jobs,
save consumers hundreds of billions of
dollars in energy costs, enhance America’s
energy independence, and cut global warming
pollution.
Cons
This
cap and trade system will cause an increase
in energy costs.
While there have been arguments on
the actual costs, the main fact is that
there will be an increase in energy costs
that will have a negative effect on business
and manufacturing. Critics of this bill say
a cap and trade system could lead to job
loss in certain industries due to rising
energy costs. According to the US Chamber of
Commerce, small and middle-sized businesses
will be extremely hit hard.
Bill History and Status
