As part of a 19-month initiative to improve the safety of hazardous rail traffic, on Friday, May 8, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") published new regulations and standards for the bulk transport of Class 3 flammable liquids—including crude oil and ethanol —via the nation's railroads, amending the existing Hazardous Materials Regulations ("HMR"). See 49 CFR parts 171-180.