8302 - Powers and duties of department.

     § 8302.  Powers and duties of department.        The department shall have the following powers and duties:            (1)  Administer the hazardous materials transportation        program pursuant to this chapter.            (2)  Classify hazardous materials according to the nature        and degree of risk involved in their transportation and apply        separate regulations to each class.            (3)  Adopt regulations pertaining to methods of packing,        loading and unloading hazardous materials; to the        specifications, marking, inspection, condition and equipment        of vehicles transporting such substances; to qualification of        drivers and other matters relating to operation of such        vehicles; to routing and parking of such vehicles, except        that such regulations may not supersede ordinances of local        authorities and all other factors which affect the nature or        degree of risk involved in transportation of hazardous        materials.            (4)  Declare any material to be a hazardous material and        thereby subject its transportation to this chapter.            (5)  Issue permits and specify the terms and conditions        thereof, exempting cargo tanks used solely for intrastate        transportation and trucks used solely for the transportation        of combustible liquids from Federal design specifications.        The permits shall be issued upon meeting testing requirements        established by department regulation and shall be valid for a        period of two years.            (6)  Inspect vehicles and investigate all other matters        relating to the safe transportation of hazardous materials on        any highway in this Commonwealth including the Pennsylvania        Turnpike.            (7)  Delegate enforcement of all or parts of these        regulations to one or more of the several departments and        commissions represented on the Hazardous Materials        Transportation Advisory Committee who meet training criteria        specified by department regulation. Delegation shall be        accomplished through cooperative agreements and become        effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.            (8)  Enter into cooperative agreements with the Federal        Government relating to the regulation of the highway        transportation of hazardous materials.        Cross References.  Section 8302 is referred to in sections     4102, 8304 of this title; section 4150 of Title 3 (Agriculture).