What is the purpose of the Department of Transportation (DOT) in relation to hazardous materials?

The purpose of the Department of Transportation (DOT) in relation to hazardous materials is to publicize and enforce transportation regulations. The DOT is primarily responsible for ensuring that hazardous materials are transported safely and comply with federal regulations. This involves developing, implementing, and enforcing rules that dictate how hazardous substances must be packaged, labeled, and handled during transportation to minimize risks to public safety and the environment.

By establishing these regulations, the DOT helps to prevent accidents and incidents that could potentially result from the mishandling or improper transportation of hazardous materials. The DOT collaborates with other federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private stakeholders, to ensure that hazardous material transport is conducted in the safest manner possible, thereby protecting public health and safety during the transit of these materials.

The roles associated with promoting public health, providing emergency response training, and overseeing manufacturing standards are important but fall outside the direct purview of the DOT's primary mission regarding hazardous materials transportation.