Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
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The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), enacted in 1975, is the principal federal law in the United States regulating the transportation of hazardous materials. Its purpose is to "protect against the risks to life, property, and the environment that are inherent in the transportation of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce" under the authority of the United States Secretary of Transportation. [1]
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| Long title | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1975 |
|---|---|
| Acronyms (colloquial) | HMTA |
| Enacted by | the 93rd United States Congress |
| Effective | January 3, 1975 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | P.L. 93-633 |
| Statutes at Large | 88 Stat. 2156 |
| Codification | |
| Acts amended | Hazardous Material Transportation Control Act of 1970 |
| Titles amended | 49 (Transportation) |
| U.S.C. sections created | 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101–5127 |
| Legislative history | |
| |
| Major amendments | |
| The Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990 Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994 | |
The Act was passed as a means to improve the uniformity of existing regulations for transporting hazardous materials and to prevent spills and illegal dumping endangering the public and the environment, a problem exacerbated by uncoordinated and fragmented regulations.[2] Regulations are enforced through four key provisions encompassing federal standards under Title 49 of the United States Code:
- Procedures and policies
- Material designations & labeling
- Packaging requirements
- Operational rules
Violation of the HMTA regulations can result in civil or criminal penalties, unless a special permit is granted under the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation.[3]