Special Notice - Identifying HazMat Safety Research Gaps.pdf

PHMSA SPECIAL NOTICE IDENTIFYING HAZMAT SAFETY RESEARCH GAPS

1. BACKGROUND

The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sponsors Research & Development (R&D) projects focused on providing technological and knowledge solutions that will increase the safety and reliability of hazmat transportation. PHMSA is using this Special Notice to solicit research ideas on a year-round basis to reach the widest set of stakeholders and identify a larger more diverse portfolio of research. The input from this Special Notice will also generate a pool of research ideas for potential future research solicitations. PHMSA will use submitted research gaps to formulate a research strategy for its Hazmat Safety Research Program.

2. CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAM AREAS/ELEMENTS

The HazMat Safety Research Program currently organizes program planning, execution, and tracking around the following subject areas:

LNG by Surface Transport Modes: This area examines the risks posed by transporting liquefied natural gas by rail and highway modes.

Charge Storage Devices: This research area seeks to better understand and prevent the hazards posed by transporting charged storage devices.

Hazmat Characterization: This area focuses on an improved understanding the risks posed by certain hazmat, for example, shaped charges, natural gas hydrates, metal powders and explosive articles.

Packaging Characterization: Research in this area investigates the performance of novel packaging materials and designs to determine if they provide the same level of safety or better than current packaging.

Other: This category includes all research gap areas that do not align with any of the above areas.

3. RESEARCH GAP SUBMISSION FAQ

How long will the Special Notice be open?

The Special Notice will remain open indefinitely and only rescinded and updated to reflect new Suggested Priorities and other pertinent information in support of this program measure.

How do submit a research gap?

Research gaps can be submitted by completing Appendix A for each research gap identified and emailing completed forms to Eva Rodezno at eva.rodezno@dot.gov.

What will become of submitted gaps?

PHMSA will collect all submitted gaps. The form data fields will categorize the gap for usage in PHMSA’s HazMat Safety research program. The form data fields will support further categorization for presentation to leadership, and approved gaps will be used to build future research solicitations.

Who can be contacted to answer additional questions?

Any questions should be emailed to Eva Rodezno at eva.rodezno@dot.gov using the email subject “Research Gap Suggestion Question.”

mailto:eva.rodezno@dot.gov