Proposal to triple hazmat registration fee is open for comment You have until March 4, 2010, to submit comments on a proposal to increase the annual registration fee for hauling hazardous materials. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) seeks to triple the fee, from $975 to $2,975, unless you are a small business or not-for-profit organization. The fees fund the national Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants program, which provides technical help to states for emergency plans and trains public sector hazmat emergency responders. For a copy of the rulemaking, which includes instructions for filing comments, click here. PHMSA has also issued a final rule revising and clarifying some packaging requirements with an effective date of March 4, 2010.               return