The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration(PHMSA) is an administration within the Department of Transportation (DoT) that regulates the transportation of hazardous material (HAZMAT) in commerce within the United States. PHMSA is focused on the protection of people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy products and other HAZMAT that are essential to our daily lives. To do this, the agency establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents and improve safety. We also prepare the public and first responders to reduce consequences if an incident does occur. PHMSA intends to further its mission of safety and environmental protection through innovation. At the cornerstone of this innovation is quality research which we believe is needed to craft sensible tools, regulations,and practices for the public. The continuous development of Research and Development (R&D) under the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) is an illustration of the commitment to foster and invest in emerging technology and innovative research. This presentation intends to highlight the history of PHMSA, the expansion of the R&D program, and the roll out of our Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for innovative research ideas at the start of 2017.
