Which federal agency is responsible for regulating hazardous materials transportation?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency responsible for regulating the transportation of hazardous materials. This agency oversees the implementation of regulations that ensure the safe and efficient movement of hazardous materials by various transportation modes, including roadways, railways, waterways, and airways. The DOT establishes guidelines and standards that transporters must follow to prevent incidents such as spills, leaks, and explosions, thereby protecting public safety and the environment.

Other agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency, focus more on the management and disposal of hazardous materials once they reach their end-of-life stages, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is concerned with worker safety in environments that might expose them to hazardous materials. The Federal Emergency Management Agency plays a different role, mainly focused on disaster response and recovery rather than the regulation of hazardous materials transportation.