Hazmat Group Petitions PHMSA to Scrub Obsolete ORM-D Text
The Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles filed a petition for rulemaking asking PHMSA to delete obsolete ORM-D references still sitting in the print edition of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. COSTHA, a trade group representing shippers, carriers, packaging makers and others in the hazmat supply chain, said PHMSA phased out the ORM-D classification effective December 31, 2020, to align with international rules. Most related citations were already stripped from the electronic CFR, but §173.25(a)(6) still tells shippers they can mark overpacks with the old ORM-D marking under §172.316, which no longer exists. COSTHA also wants PHMSA to drop a dangling §173.144 cross-reference from the ORM definition in §171.8 and to remove §172.308(b), which lets shippers abbreviate "Other Regulated Material" as ORM. The group called the changes editorial and said they would not affect hazard communication, packaging integrity or safety. Current limited quantity marking rules under §172.315 would be unaffected and remain the operative standard for overpacks.
What's next
- PHMSA has not yet responded to or docketed a formal decision on the petition.
- Watch docket PHMSA-2026-3928 for any PHMSA reply or notice of proposed rulemaking.
All sources
- Other: Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA)- Petition for Rulemaking — Regulations.gov (PHMSA), 2026-10-22
