The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed a new increased fee schedule for hazmat carriers of certain categories, according to information published August 15, in the Federal Register.
The proposed rulemaking notice addresses those hazmat registrants not qualifying as a small business or not-for-profit organization. PHMSA is proposing to increase the fee to $1,975 (plus a $25 administrative fee) for registration year 2007-2008 and increase the fee to $2,975 (plus a $25 administrative fee) for registration year 2008-2009 and following years.
PHMSA said the fee increase is necessary to fund the national Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program at approximately $28 million in accordance with the Administration's Fiscal Year 2007 budget proposal to Congress. PHMSA is also proposing to eliminate the expedited telephonic registration option. The number of telephonic registrations has steadily decreased with the addition of the internet registration option.
For more information about the proposal, click here for the Federal Register.