GAO: DOT needs better guidance in handling explosives classification oversight

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report on Thursday that found that better guidance and planning could enhance the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) explosives classification oversight.

The GAO report found that the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) oversight of the laboratories that issue classification recommendations for new explosives are limited by a lack of guidance, with stakeholders giving mixed reviews on PHMSA’s oversight. PHMSA’s oversight process includes approving and monitoring the test labs while also reviewing applications and classification recommendations.

Stakeholder reviews of the PHMSA’s practices remain mixed, in particular its process for approving classification recommendations. PHMSA officials view their role as final approver of classification as critical. Some manufacturers, however, said that PHMSA’s review process is time consuming and vague and questioned if it adds any value.

GAO conducted the study primarily because of the sheer amount of explosive materials transported in the United States in 2012 — accounting for more than four million of the total 2.6 billion tons of all hazardous materials.

The GAO report recommended that PHMSA develop and implement a systematic approach for improving PHMSA’s guidance for test labs, and develop a written plan describing information requirements for its new data system. DOT agreed with the report’s recommendations.