PHMSA Proposes Increase in Hazmat Registration Fee

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Tuesday published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register that would significantly increase the registration fees for hazardous materials (hazmat) shippers and transporters. The NPRM, published at 75 Fed. Reg. 5258-61, would increase fees pursuant to the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants program.

Under the proposed rule, PHMSA would keep the current registration fee of $250 per year for small businesses and non-profit organizations. The increase would apply to all other registrants, increasing the current fee of $975 to $2,975. As proposed, these fee increases would become effective for the 2010-11 registration year. For those organizations that have pre-paid the existing fee as part of a multi-year registration will be required to make up the difference between the two rates to maintain an effective registration for that period.

The public comment period for the NPRM ends on March 4th, 2010. PHMSA is accepting electronic comment submissions via the Federal eRulemaking Portal using docket number PHMSA-2009-0201 (HM-208H).