U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

PHMSA 02-10
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Contact: Patricia Klinger
Joe Delcambre
Tel: (202) 366-4831

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 the 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 1.

"Safety is our highest priority so we take our hazardous materials responsibilities seriously," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Our new online system will allow us to review and process special permits and applications more quickly, more thoroughly and more efficiently."

"PHMSA is developing and implementing plans and solutions in an ongoing effort to improve the efficiency and transparency of our hazardous materials safety program and to better serve the American public," said Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. "This automated application system is part of an office-wide modernization effort in the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety."

The new system will accept applications 24 hours a day, provide immediate confirmation of an application along with a tracking number and allow an applicant to attach supporting documentation. The new on-line system ensures that applications are complete and enables faster, more thorough review and processing

All special permit and approval customers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the new, efficient, automated application system in lieu of the traditional method of application submission via standard mail, e-mail or facsimile.

Beginning May 1, the on-line application web link can be found at: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a.

###