1.

Notifying Member: United States of America

If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT) [1790]

Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:

Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other:

4.

Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Hazardous materials; Transport (ICS 03.220), Environmental protection (ICS 13.020), Protection against dangerous goods (ICS 13.300)

5.

Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards (55 page(s), in English)

6.

Description of content: Notice of proposed rulemaking - PHMSA proposes to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by adopting various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. Additionally, PHMSA proposes an amendment to the Hazardous Materials Regulations that would allow for better alignment with Transport Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Protection of the environment; Harmonization

8.

Relevant documents:

86 Federal Register (FR) 43844, 10 August 2021; Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 178, and 180:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-08-10/html/2021-15425.htm
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-08-10/pdf/2021-15425.pdf 

This notice of proposed rulemaking is identified by Docket Number PHMSA-2019-0030. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at  https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2019-0030/document and provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket on Regulations.gov if received within the comment period.

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined

10.

Final date for comments: 12 October 2021

11.

Texts available from: National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/21_5148_00_e.pdf