WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Feb. 1 announced it was incorporating the provisions of six widely used cargo tank special permits into federal hazardous materials regulations.

The PHMSA described the move as "another step in its efforts to improve the safe transport of hazardous materials." This new regulation will cut down on thousands of special permit applications per year, according to the department.

The special permits incorporated into regulations have long-established safety records, PHMSA said. Like all special permits, these were used to approve processes for hazmat transport not explicitly spelled out in PHMSA regulations. Over the years, the practices approved in these permits became commonplace. 

"This rulemaking is another step in incorporating tested transportation technologies and operations from longstanding special permits into the regulations, promoting safety and streamlining our processes," said PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman.

Streamlining the hazardous materials special permit and approvals process has been a stated priority for PHMSA. Last year, the Department of Transportation released an action plan to improve PHMSA's safety oversight, processes, and procedures and policies for its hazardous materials special permits and approvals program.

Listed below are the six special permits that will be incorporated into the hazardous materials regulations pertaining to the shipment of certain hazardous materials in cargo tanks.

• Two of the special permits cover hazardous materials mounted on farm trucks used exclusively for agricultural purposes:

-- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

-- Liquid soil pesticide (toxic substances) 

• One special permit covers the transportation of hazardous materials used for striping roads.

• One special permit authorizes private motor carrier companies to transport propane tanks most commonly used for home heating and cooking.

• Two special permits address nurse tanks:

-- The first covers the transportation of nurse tanks securely mounted on field trucks.

-- The second authorizes the use of the nurse tanks carrying anhydrous ammonia under certain conditions when the tanks are missing or have illegible identification plates.

The final rule becomes effective 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. The final rule is available on the PHMSA Web site at www.phmsa.dot.gov.