North American Member News February 2026

On February 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) published in the Federal Register proposed rules to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The proposed rule will adopt certain international regulations and standards related to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorisations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. These amendments are intended to maintain consistency with the latest international standards and regulations, and to reduce costs to entities or individuals within the United States. Comments must be received by April 13, 2026. To the extent possible, PHMSA will consider late-filed comments while a final rule is developed.

Greg Core, Director, Fuel Cycle Facilities and Transportation at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) put together a summary of the changes that impact the transport of Class 7, Radioactive Materials as follows:

1. Shipping Paper Requirements for Air Transport (§ 172.203)

A new requirement is proposed for shipping papers describing radioactive materials transported by air.

• Requirement: For packages bearing RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II or RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels, the shipping paper must now include the dimensions of the package (or the overpack/freight container, if applicable).
• Format: Dimensions must include units and should be listed in the order of Length × Width (or Diameter) × Height. If listed in this standard order, the dimensions do not need labels. If listed in a different order, they must be explicitly labeled with “L”, “W” (or “D”), and “H”.
• Reasoning: This change aligns with the ICAO Technical Instructions to facilitate loading procedures and ensure required minimum separation distances from passengers and crew are maintained.

2. Updated Incorporation by Reference: Uranium Hexafluoride (§ 171.7)

The rulemaking proposes updating the consensus standard for uranium hexafluoride (UF6) packagings §173.417 & §173.420.

• New Standard: ANSI N14.1-2023, Nuclear Materials-Uranium Hexafluoride-Packagings for Transport.
• Previous Standard: The current regulations reference the 2017 or earlier editions.
• Scope: PHMSA determined that the 2023 edition provides enhanced safety without imposing significant compliance burdens.

3. International Transport Revisions (§ 171.23)

Section 171.23, which governs shipments made under international standards (like ICAO or IAEA regulations), is being revised. Below are all the changes being proposed.

• (4) Class 7 (radioactive) materials. (i) Highway route-controlled quantities (see § 173.403 of this subchapter) must be shipped in accordance with §§ 172.203(d)(4) and (d)(10); 172.507, and 173.22(c) of this subchapter;
• (ii) For fissile materials and Type B, Type B(U), and Type B(M) packagings, the competent authority certification and any necessary revalidation must be obtained from the appropriate competent authorities as specified in §§ 173.471, 173.472, and 173.473 of this subchapter, and all requirements of the certificates and revalidations must be met;
• (iii) Type A package contents are limited in accordance with § 173.431 of this subchapter;
• (iv) The country of origin for the shipment must have adopted the edition of SSR-6 of the IAEA Regulations referenced in § 171.7.
• (v) The shipment must conform to the requirements of § 173.448, when applicable;
• (vi) The definition for “radioactive material” in § 173.403 of this subchapter must be applied to radioactive materials transported under the provisions of this Subpart;
• (vii) Except for limited quantities, the shipment must conform to the requirements of § 172.204(c)(4) of this subchapter; and
• (viii) Excepted packages of radioactive material, instruments or articles, or articles containing natural uranium or thorium must conform to the requirements of § 173.421, § 173.424, or § 173.426 of this subchapter, as appropriate.
• (ix) Packages containing fissile materials must conform to the requirements of § 173.453 to be otherwise excepted from the requirements of subpart I of part 173 for fissile materials.