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Other than content specifically provided by IHMM, articles contained in IHMM Today are compiled from

independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.

Inside IHMM

IHMM launched its “Open to Work” online COLLABORATION community exclusively for IHMM certificants looking to connect, share resumes, and discover job opportunities together in a supportive environment.

You can find this community after logging into COLLABORATION here: https://community.ihmm.org/home

Sean Grady, CHMM – Environmental Transformation Podcast

Sponsored Content

Stormwater Centers of Excellence

January 28, 2026

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Register Here

Stormwater is a significant source of water pollution, threatening the health of waterways nationwide. However, financial and engineering challenges make stormwater difficult for communities to manage. Recognizing this challenge, EPA awarded $5M in grant funding to establish the new Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies Grant Program.

Join us to meet the recently established Centers and learn about their research, training, and technical assistance offerings. Plus, explore the National Stormwater Managers’ Clearinghouse designed to share new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies and the Centers’ activities and projects.

Topics

• Cold Climate Center of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technology (CCCESIT)
• Great Plains Stormwater Center of Excellence
• Southwest Stormwater Center of Excellence
• Coastal Stormwater Center of the Southeast
• National Stormwater Managers’ Clearinghouse

Registration Link:

https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/6KfUAb97QzCwnoDvk3U1Ag

For any questions related to this announcement, please contact [email protected].

Two Regulatory Actions Under Review

PHMSA – ANPRM HM-266 – Highly Automated Transport Systems – CHMMs and CDGPs

Synopsis of ANPRM — PHMSA: Modernizing Hazardous Materials Regulations for Highly Automated Transportation Systems

Federal Register

Deadline: March 4, 2025

Purpose:
PHMSA seeks comments to inform a future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning how the existing HMR should be modernized to safely and effectively accommodate the emerging use of highly automated transportation systems (HATS) in the movement of hazardous materials. This includes evaluating whether current regulatory provisions, developed with traditional human-operated conveyances in mind, pose safety ambiguities or operational impediments in automated contexts. Federal Register Public Inspection

Read more here.

National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Perchlorate

Federal Register

Deadline: March 9, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA” or the “Agency”) is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for perchlorate and a health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In this action, the EPA is proposing to set the perchlorate MCL at 0.02 mg/L (20 µg/L). The EPA is also proposing and taking comment on setting an enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for perchlorate at 0.02 mg/L (20 µg/L), 0.04 mg/L (40 µg/L), or 0.08 mg/L (80 µg/L). The EPA is also proposing requirements for water systems to conduct monitoring for perchlorate in drinking water, take mitigation actions if the level exceeds the MCL, provide information about perchlorate to their consumers through public notification and consumer confidence reports, and report to their respective primacy agency. The Administrator has determined that the benefits of this regulation would not justify the costs; however, the EPA is required to issue an NPDWR and MCLG for perchlorate in response to the D.C. Circuit’s decision in NRDC v. Regan.

Environmental News for This Week

During the week of January 11, 2026, U.S. environmental policy was marked by heightened regulatory volatility and litigation risk, as the federal government advanced measures to narrow procedural and substantive environmental safeguards.

First, the White House finalized changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) framework, aimed at accelerating permitting timelines by reducing review burdens and limiting judicial and public-process exposure. The revisions have triggered immediate concern from environmental groups and are expected to generate administrative-law challenges alleging weakened environmental accountability and diminished public participation.

Second, the Environmental Protection Agency undertook several consequential regulatory actions. EPA announced it will reassess the safety of the herbicide paraquat, a move with significant implications for pesticide registrants, agricultural operators, and toxic-tort litigation trends. EPA also advanced a broader deregulatory strategy, reportedly initiating efforts to roll back numerous rules across air, water, and climate programs—creating significant uncertainty for compliance planning and enforcement posture.

Finally, EPA’s proposed WOTUS rule remained central as stakeholders digested the closing of the comment period earlier in January, foreshadowing major jurisdictional shifts under the Clean Water Act and heightened state-level permitting fragmentation.

Biennial Hazardous Waste Report – March 1

Federal regulations require large quantity generators to submit a report every two years regarding the nature, quantities and disposition of hazardous waste generated at their facility. EPA refers to this as the National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report or Biennial Report.

The Biennial Report form (EPA form 8700-13A/B) must be submitted to the authorized state agency or EPA regional office by March 1 of every even-numbered year (for example, a report due by March 1, 2026, would report activities from calendar year 2025). The form includes information such as:

• Facility’s EPA ID Number.
• Facility’s name and address.
• Quantity and nature of hazardous waste generated.
• Whether the hazardous waste was sent for recycling, treatment, storage, or disposal.

Read more here

Workplace Safety News This Week

U.S. Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements

IHMM is a Premier Partner of the Falls 2026 Campaign

May 4-8, 2026

What is a Safety Stand-Down?

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on “Fall Hazards” and reinforcing the importance of “Fall Prevention”. Employers of companies not exposed to fall hazards can also use this opportunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they face, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about falls and other job hazards they see.

In the coming weeks, IHMM will be making materials available for the Falls 2026 Campaign!   In addition, IHMM is looking for 2 volunteers, each from a different construction company, who can tell a great story about how they prevent falls in construction.

Global DG Transport Regulatory Update

IHMM Global DG Transport Compliance Matrix (2025–2026)

IHMM Certificant Compliance Checklist

Week of January 11, 2026

I. Executive Overview

The week of January 11, 2026 reflects a post-effective-date consolidation phase in global dangerous-goods regulation. With ADR 2025 firmly in force, IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 now mandatory as of January 1, 2026, and ICAO Technical Instructions / IATA DGR 2026 operational, regulators worldwide are focused on enforcement, interpretation, and harmonization, rather than new headline rulemakings.

Across jurisdictions, regulatory risk this week arises not from new treaty text, but from how existing instruments are being applied, particularly for battery technologies, hazardous waste, undeclared DG, and multimodal shipments.

II. United States — PHMSA Enforcement and International Convergence

A. PHMSA Enforcement Priorities Continue to Drive Compliance

During the week of January 11, PHMSA did not issue new amendments to 49 C.F.R. Parts 171–180. However, the agency’s data-driven inspection and enforcement framework, introduced in late 2025, is now fully embedded in field operations.

PHMSA activity during this week continues to emphasize:

• Lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery shipments, including battery-powered equipment and vehicles;

• Pressure receptacles, including cylinder manufacture, requalification, and testing;

• Undeclared or misdeclared hazardous materials, especially in parcel, courier, and e-commerce channels; and

• Repeat violators, identified through historical inspection and incident data.

Legal Significance

From a legal perspective, PHMSA’s enforcement posture has materially elevated the effective standard of care for U.S. DG shippers. Although the Hazardous Materials Regulations remain textually unchanged, regulated entities—particularly exporters—are now expected to demonstrate functional equivalence with UN Model Regulations and ADR-aligned practices, especially where shipments move into international supply chains.

Failure to align U.S. documentation, packaging, and training with these global norms increasingly presents enforcement, contractual, and insurance risk.

III. Europe — ADR 2025 as Settled Law; ADR 2027 on the Horizon

A. ADR 2025 Fully Operational

By mid-January 2026, ADR 2025 is fully embedded across all Contracting Parties. During the week of January 11, European authorities continued routine inspections and issued operational clarifications addressing:

• Application of new battery-related UN entries, including sodium-ion batteries;

• Revised requirements for hazardous waste and asbestos transport;

• Vehicle and equipment standards under ADR Part 9, particularly for alternative propulsion systems; and

• Recognition and validity of ADR driver training certificates under Chapter 8.2.

These actions underscore that transitional tolerance has effectively ended.

B. Early Development of ADR 2027 Proposals

Concurrently, informal work within the UNECE Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15) continues to shape the ADR 2027 amendment cycle, with emerging focus on:

• DG carriage by battery-electric and hybrid heavy vehicles;

• Regulation of reverse logistics and returned dangerous goods;

• Reassessment of limited quantity (LQ) exemptions; and

• Enhanced controls for undeclared DG in small-parcel and e-commerce distribution.

Legal Significance

For European and international operators, ADR 2025 is now the unquestioned compliance baseline. Contracts, SOPs, and training programs should already incorporate change-management provisions anticipating additional tightening in ADR 2027, particularly for batteries and consumer-distribution channels.

IV. Asia — Carrier and Port Standards Set the Compliance Floor

A. Limited Domestic Rulemaking

No major national DG transport statutes or regulations were promulgated in key Asian jurisdictions during the week of January 11, 2026.

B. Mandatory Application of Global Instruments

Despite legislative quiet, the compliance environment in Asia has shifted materially because:

• IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 is now mandatory worldwide as of January 1, 2026;

• ICAO Technical Instructions / IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 2026 are fully operative for air transport; and

• Ocean carriers and ports are enforcing UN-aligned battery and waste requirements without transitional leniency.

Legal Significance

In Asia, carrier and port acceptance criteria now effectively define compliance. From a legal-risk standpoint, UN- and ADR-aligned classification, packaging, labeling, and documentation are no longer optional best practices—they are prerequisites for market access.

V. Africa — Enforcement-Led Convergence with UN and ADR Standards

A. No New DG Legislation Issued

No African jurisdiction enacted a major DG-specific statute or regulation during the week of January 11.

B. Practical Alignment Through Trade and Enforcement

Nonetheless, African ports, customs authorities, and transport operators continue to tighten DG controls by:

• Requiring documentation consistent with UN classification and numbering;

• Applying IMDG 42-24 standards for maritime shipments; and

• Subjecting battery and hazardous-waste consignments to heightened inspection.

Legal Significance

For multinational shippers, Africa illustrates a critical trend: practical enforcement is converging on UN/ADR standards faster than legislation. Compliance failures increasingly manifest as shipment delays, refusals, or commercial disputes rather than formal regulatory citations.

VI. Central & South America — MERCOSUR Stability, National Enforcement Takes Center Stage

A. MERCOSUR Framework Remains the Regional Baseline

At the regional level, no new MERCOSUR DG decisions were adopted during the week of January 11. The controlling instrument remains the MERCOSUR Agreement on the Land Transport of Dangerous Goods, as modernized by CMC Decision 15/2019, which is expressly tied to the UN Model Regulations.

B. National Authorities Intensify Oversight

More consequential are national-level developments observed across the region:

• Argentina continues active inspection of battery-powered equipment and vehicles under its UN-aligned implementation regime;

• Brazil is applying clarified guidance under ANTT Resolution 5.998/2022 for sodium-ion batteries and updated UN entries; and

• Colombia is now fully enforcing its dangerous-goods transport registry, with reporting and traceability obligations firmly in place.

Legal Significance

While MERCOSUR provides technical harmonization, compliance exposure is increasingly national and enforcement-driven. Shippers must verify alignment with each country’s implementing measures, inspection practices, and reporting systems, rather than relying solely on regional consistency.

VII. Overall Assessment

For the week of January 11, 2026, global DG regulation is characterized by:

1. Enforcement-led evolution without new statutory text (United States, South America);

2. Full operational consolidation of ADR 2025 (Europe);

3. Mandatory application of IMDG 42-24 and ICAO/IATA 2026 (Asia and globally); and

4. Rising reliance on UN/ADR standards as the de facto global benchmark (Africa and emerging markets).

Across all regions, battery technologies, hazardous waste, and undeclared dangerous goods remain the principal regulatory pressure points.

VIII. Conclusion

As of mid-January 2026, dangerous-goods transportation law has entered a phase where compliance risk is driven less by new rules and more by how existing rules are enforced and harmonized internationally.

For IHMM certificants and DG professionals, the prudent course is to treat PHMSA enforcement priorities, ADR 2025, the UN Model Regulations, IMDG Code Amendment 42-24, and ICAO 2026 Technical Instructions as the operative global standard of care. Organizations should review documentation, packaging approvals, training programs, and contractual controls accordingly as the 2026 compliance year begins.

Essential Elements of School Threat Assessment

In this excerpt from the webinar “Essential Elements of School Threat Assessment,” Dr. Dewey Cornell discusses the fundamentals of the process and the importance of using multidisciplinary teams to prevent violence:

So what do [threat assessment] teams do? How do they function? Almost all authorities… recommend a multidisciplinary team. This is very important because it gives you multiple perspectives on the problem, access to information from multiple parties, and resources that those individuals bring to the table. Threat assessment is not a job for the ‘Lone Ranger.’ You do not want to go this alone; you want to have assistance, consultation, and collaboration. Team membership is going to vary depending on the resources and staffing at your school… [and] what state laws or regulations might mandate…

[Threat assessment] team membership is going to vary depending on the resources and staffing at your school… [and] what state laws or regulations might mandate… Should every school have a team, or could you have one team for your district or region? There are some disadvantages to relying on an external team and advantages to having an internal team. If you have a local team at your school, they are going to be able to respond much more quickly. They are knowledgeable of the students, they know the school context, and when it comes to developing interventions… they are on hand to monitor and follow up…

Teams should meet regularly. How often depends on the size of the school or the case load. Certainly, teams are going to meet when they have a new case… but they may have ongoing cases where they want to check in periodically to see how things are going. Are interventions working? Are any new actions needed?

Learn More Here

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External Opportunities

1/21/26 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

2/18/26 – Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

3/18/26 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

4/15/26 – Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

5/20/26 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

Recent News from the European Chemicals Agency

• We take on additional tasks to strengthen chemical safety in Europe
• New substance evaluation conclusion published
• Treated articles: List of allowed substances updated
• List of biocides suppliers updated
• Companies can start notifying intentions under the Drinking Water Directive
• Drinking Water Directive stakeholder workshop: Q&A available
• We take on new responsibilities to improve toy safety
• REACH registration data and C&L Inventory now only available in ECHA CHEM
• Reminder: Survey on nanomaterials used as or integrated into flame retardants
• Biocides decision on Union authorisation