Which agency primarily oversees hazardous materials transportation regulations?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the agency primarily responsible for overseeing hazardous materials transportation regulations. This oversight includes the establishment and enforcement of safety standards for the transport of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation, including road, rail, air, and water. The DOT ensures that hazardous materials are packaged, marked, labeled, and transported in a manner that protects public safety and the environment.

The DOT works in conjunction with various other agencies, but its specific authority in regulating transportation logistics, including compliance with safety measures and incident reporting related to hazardous materials transportation, reinforces its primary role. The agency's regulatory framework includes the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), which set forth the standards and requirements for safe transport.

In contrast, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deals with environmental protection matters related to hazardous materials, including their disposal and handling, its focus is not specifically on transportation issues. Similarly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees workplace safety and health regulations, which can encompass hazardous materials but are not limited to transportation specifics. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) primarily investigates transportation-related accidents and does not regulate hazardous materials transportation. Thus, the DOT is definitively the agency focused on transportation regulation for hazardous materials.