AASHTO Journal - PHMSA Issues Final Railroad First Responder Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or PHMSA has issued a final rule that requires railroads to proactively provide first responders with electronic information in real time regarding hazardous materials or “hazmat” shipments to a primary “Public Safety Answering Point” – such as to a 9-1-1 call center or emergency responder mobile phone application – as soon as the railroad is aware of a hazmat incident.

[Above photo by the Federal Railroad Administration]

PHMSA said in a statement that final rule also requires all railroads to generate – in hard copy and in electronic versions – manifests for hazmat 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 emergency point of contact at the railroad.

“We heard first-hand from firefighters that were responding to the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine that they and other first responders need hazardous materials [information] as soon as an incident occurs,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown in a statement.

“This information will ensure [those who] are responding to an incident can prepare for what they will encounter instead of waiting until after they get on scene to try to access this vital information,” Brown noted.

The new rule will also ensure firefighters can fully utilize PHMSA’s 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook – as well as the mobile phone ERG app – that PHMSA recently distributed to nearly 2 million first responders across the nation as part of a quadrennial effort to equip first responders with information on how to respond to each type of hazmat incident.