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Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)PHMSA issues the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR Parts 171-180, implementing the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, 49 USC 5101 et seq ., to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. PHMSA shares authority for enforcement of the HMR with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition to packaging and hazard communication requirements, the HMR prescribe requirements for training employees, registration and security plans. Hydrogen, a hazardous material, is classified as a flammable gas in the Hazardous Material Table (49 CFR § 172.101) and is subject to all applicable requirements in the HMR, including packaging and hazard communication requirements. Hydrogen may be transported as a compressed gas in cylinders or as a cryogenic liquid in portable tanks, cargo tank motor vehicles, and rail tank cars. Compressed hydrogen may also be transported in cylinders on cargo-only aircraft, but not on passenger aircraft. Shippers and carriers of hazardous materials coming into or leaving the United States must comply with U.S. law while that product is being shipped within the U.S. Shipments of hazardous materials into or within other countries must comply with the law of those countries. Active in United Nations (UN) committees and with various international working groups, PHMSA makes a great effort to harmonize the HMR with the UN recommendations and with regulations issued by the international working groups (e.g., the International Maritime Organizations International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code) or the International Civil Aviation Organizations Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air). Under certain conditions, PHMSA's regulations allow the use of the IMDG Code and ICAO Technical Instructions for transportation into, within, or out of the U.S.
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