Which agency is responsible for regulating the transportation of hazardous materials?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the agency responsible for regulating the transportation of hazardous materials. This responsibility is primarily outlined in the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, which empowers the DOT to develop and enforce regulations concerning the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials across various modes of transport, including air, rail, road, and waterways.

The DOT establishes standards for packaging, labeling, and handling of hazardous materials to ensure safety during transportation. This includes overseeing training requirements for the personnel involved in the transport process and implementing guidelines that address the specific risks associated with different types of hazardous materials.

While other agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have important roles in protecting the environment and ensuring workplace safety, respectively, their mandates do not focus directly on regulating the transport of hazardous materials. The FBI, primarily a federal investigative agency, does not engage in these regulatory functions regarding hazardous materials transportation.