U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Issues Final Rule HM-215N Harmonizing Hazardous Materials with International Standardsby Steve Schulte, CHMM, CPP, DGSAOn March 30, 2017, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Final Rulemaking HM-215N. This Rulemaking had expected to be published earlier this year and harmonizes the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR) with international standards to maintain consistency with them. The final rulemaking is effective March 30, 2017 with a voluntary compliance date of January 1, 2017 and a required compliance date of January 1, 2018. The final rulemaking introduces several new UN numbers and special provisions as well as other additions and deletions to the regulations. Readers interested in all the changes are encouraged to read the full document referenced below.Reference:Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. "Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards (RRR)." Federal Register 82 (March 30, 2017): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/30/2017-04565/hazardous-materials-harmonization-with-international-standards-rrr