In the news: On June 24, 2024 the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a final rule to protect firefighters and improve public safety. The final rule requires railroads to proactively provide first responders with real-time, electronic information about rail hazmat shipments to the primary Public Safety Answering Point as soon as the railroad is aware of an accident or incident involving hazardous materials.
“In a hazmat incident, firefighters and first responders arriving on scene need to know what kind of hazardous materials are present so they can protect themselves and their communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to make our rails safer, this final rule will require railroads to maintain detailed, real-time information about trains carrying hazardous materials – and share this information with local emergency responders when they need it.”
The final rule requires all railroads to generate real-time train information in hard copy and electronic versions for hazardous materials shipments. Required information includes the quantity and position of the hazardous materials on the train, the train’s origin and destination, emergency response information, and a designated point of contact at the railroad.