The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is holding four public meetings to discuss a proposal to improve the crashworthiness of railroad tank cars that haul poison inhalation hazardous materials.
The meetings are scheduled May 14, 15, 28, and 29, 2008, at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. PHMSA is proposing enhanced tank car performance standards for head and shell impacts; operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing poison inhalation hazmat; interim operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing those materials, but not meeting the enhanced performance standards; and an allowance to increase the gross weight of tank cars that meet the enhanced tank-head and shell puncture-resistance requirements.
More information can be seen about the proposal (49 CFR Parts 171, 173, 174 and 179) online in the April 14 issue of the Federal Register.