Information Necessary to Obtain
Federal Railroad Administration Movement Approval

[Collection of this information is authorized under OMB Control Nos. 2137-0557 and 2137-0559.]

Cover Letter    |    Electronic OTMA Application (Rel. v3.0)    |    Electronic Submissions Instructions

Cover Letter


You have asked for an FRA approval to move a specification rail car or other bulk packaging used to transport hazardous material, which no longer conforms to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). In order to assist us in evaluating and processing your request, the information blocks in the application should be completed fully and accurately. The collection of this information is authorized under 49 CFR § 171.6 and OMB Control Nos. 2137-0557 and 2137-0559. Although filling out the application is not required under Federal law, it will help provide all the information necessary for FRA to accurately evaluate and process your Approval request. Failure to provide all the information requested may result in processing delays. If you have any comments on the application, please provide them to the address below. If FRA needs additional information to process your application, we will contact you.

FRA has the enforcement authority and responsibility to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Nothing in any approval granted as a result of this application limits the Federal Railroad Administration from pursuing enforcement, including the collection of civil penalties, for any violations that predate the approval.

With respect to the movement of tank cars overdue for periodic inspection and test, 49 CFR § 173.31(a)(3) authorizes the movement of such a car if it was loaded while still in date. The regulation forbids the “filling” and subsequent “offering” of a tank car overdue for periodic inspection. A car loaded in date, or a residue car, may be moved to any facility, including a consignee, a repair ship, or a cleaning facility, without FRA approval.

A copy of the Movement Approval must be forwarded to the tank car owner (if different than the grantee).

A Root Cause Analysis, if requested, must contain at least the following information:
  • A detailed statement of the problem;
  • Factor(s) contributing to the problem, including photographs and drawings
  • The cause of the factor(s), if a cause can be determined;
  • Steps taken to prevent future occurrence.

The grantee must notify the tank car facility, to which the defective car is sent, of the requirements for a Root Cause Analysis prior to arrival of the car to ensure that the defective condition is adequately investigated. The Root Cause Analysis report, if required as a condition for movement under HMG-127, or by Section 9 of an issued OTMA-1 Approval, should be e-mailed to the HMASSIST@dot.gov, or if by mail, to the FRA HM Division, at the USPS mailing address below. Applicants should submit applications electronically using FRA’s electronic online application system. If use of the electronic application system is not possible, applications may be emailed to HMASSIST@dot.gov, or mailed to:

Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance
Hazardous Materials Division
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE,
RRS-12
Washington, DC 20590
FAX: 202-493-6478

Current FRA Movement Approval Request Contact List
Mark Maday Staff Director 202-493-0479
Kurt Eichenlaub HM Specialist 202-493-6050
Kevin Blackwell HM Specialist 202-493-6050
Lisa Matsinger HM Specialist 202-493-0324
Jeff Moore HM Specialist 202-493-0635
Mel Massaro HM Specialist 814-942-2777
Adam Konrad General Engineer 202-366-2453
Phani Raj General Engineer 202-493-6306