# Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Department of Transportation Special Permit 21478

**Action Urgency Score:** 30/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Transportation Department; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-08-04 |
| Effective | 2026-09-03 |
| Significant | No |
| CFR parts | 49 CFR 172, 49 CFR 173 |
| Summary | This final rule removes undue regulatory burdens by adopting the provisions of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) special permit (SP) 21478 to allow empty intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) that only contain the residue of a hazardous material to be transported without shipping papers, placards, and United Nations (UN) identification (ID) numbers. |
| Document number | 2026-15820 |

## Why this score
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15820/hazardous-materials-adoption-of-department-of-transportation-special-permit-21478). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.