Haz mat fees to increase

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced that beginning sometime in 2010, the annual fee to be paid by those registrants not qualifying as a small business or not-for-profit organization would increase from $975 (plus a $25 administrative fee) to $2,975 (plus a $25 administrative fee). The reason for the increase is to fund the national Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program at its authorized level of approximately $28,000,000. You may submit your comments for this proposed rule by March 4, 2010 by visiting  http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Refer to Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0201 (HM-208H)RIN 2137-AE47