Hazardous Materials: Improving the Safety of Railroad Tank Car Transportation of Hazardous Materials, 67015-67016 [E6-19413]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices
67015
MODIFICATION SPECIAL PERMITS—Continued
Application No.
Docket No.
Applicant
Regulation(s) affected
Nature of special permit thereof
14152–M ...........
PHMSA–20467
Saes Pure Gas, Inc.,
San Luis Obispo, CA.
49 CFR 173.187 .............
14167–M ...........
PHMSA–20669
Trinityrail, Dallas, TX ......
14232–M ...........
PHMSA–22248
Luxfer Gas Cylinders—
Composite Cylinder Division, Riverside, CA.
49 CFR 173.26;
173.314(c); 179.13
and 179.100–12(c).
49 CFR 173.302a(a);
173.304a(a); and
180.205.
To modify the special permit to authorize a
change in the minimum and maximum pressures authorized in a non-DOT specification
packaging for transporting certain quantities of
metal catalyst, classed as Division 4.2.
To modify the special permit to authorize an alternative fitting design on DOT 105J600W specification tank cars.
To modify the special permit to authorize an increase in service life to 30 years for certain carbon composite cylinders for transporting certain
Division 2.1 and 2.2 gases.
[FR Doc. 06–9235 Filed 11–16–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4909–60–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
Hazardous Materials: Improving the
Safety of Railroad Tank Car
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: PHMSA and FRA are
conducting a comprehensive review of
design and operational factors that affect
rail tank car safety. The two agencies
invite interested persons to participate
in a public meeting to address potential
improvements to the design of
hazardous materials tank cars that
would enhance overall safety and
security.
Public meeting: December 14,
2006, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5
p.m.
ADDRESSES: Public meeting: The
meeting will be held at the Hilton
Garden-Franklin Square Hotel, 815 14th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. For
information on the facilities or to
request special accommodations at the
meeting, please contact Ms. Michele M.
Sampson by telephone or e-mail as soon
as possible.
Written Comments: Written
comments, identified by Docket Number
FRA–2006–25169, may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
• Web Site: https://dms.dot.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting
comments on the DOT electronic docket
site.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
DATES:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:31 Nov 16, 2006
Jkt 211001
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions must
include the agency name and docket
number for this notice. Internet users
may access comments received by DOT
at. Note that comments received may be
posted without change to https://
dms.dot.gov including any personal
information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michele M. Sampson
(Michele.Sampson@dot.gov), Railroad
Safety Specialist, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20590 (202–493–
6475) or Lucinda Henriksen
(Lucinda.Henriksen@dot.gov), Trial
Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1120
Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20590 (202–493–1345).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Federal hazardous materials
transportation law (Federal hazmat law,
49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., as amended by
section 1711 of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, Public Law 107–296 and
Title VII of the 2005 Safe, Accountable,
Flexible and Efficient Transportation
Equity Act-A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA–LU)) authorizes the
Secretary of the Department of
Transportation (DOT) to ‘‘prescribe
regulations for the safe transportation,
including security, of hazardous
material in intrastate, interstate, and
foreign commerce.’’ The Secretary has
delegated this authority to the Pipeline
and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA).
The Secretary of Transportation also
has authority over all areas of railroad
safety (49 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), and has
delegated this authority to the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA). FRA has
PO 00000
Frm 00109
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
issued a comprehensive set of Federal
regulations governing the safety of all
facets of freight and passenger railroad
operations (49 CFR parts 200–244). FRA
inspects railroads and shippers for
compliance with both FRA regulations
and Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR parts 171–180). FRA also
conducts research and development to
enhance railroad safety.
On May 24, 2006, PHMSA and FRA
published a notice of public meeting (71
FR 30019) announcing initiation of a
comprehensive review of design and
operational factors that affect the safety
of railroad tank car transportation of
hazardous materials. As indicated in the
notice, PHMSA and FRA are utilizing a
risk management approach to identify
ways to enhance the safe transportation
of hazardous materials in tank cars,
including tank car design, manufacture,
and requalification; operational issues
such as human factors, track conditions
and maintenance, wayside hazard
detectors, and signals and train control
systems; and emergency response.
Initially, PHMSA and FRA did not
intend for the review to consider
security issues, in part because PHMSA
and FRA have been working closely
with the Transportation Security
Administration on developing proposed
regulations to enhance the security of
rail shipments of hazardous materials.
Upon further consideration, PHMSA
and FRA have decided to slightly
expand the topics under review to
consider enhancements and
improvements to railroad tank cars
transporting hazardous materials that
may enhance the security of these cars.
To facilitate public involvement in
this review, PHMSA and FRA held a
public meeting on May 31 and June 1,
2006 (see 71 FR 30019). The primary
purpose of the public meeting was to
surface and prioritize issues relating to
the safe transportation of hazardous
materials by railroad tank car.
Subsequent to the meeting, FRA
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
17NON1
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
67016
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices
established a public docket (Docket No.
FRA–2006–25169) to provide all
interested parties with a central location
to both send and review relevant
information concerning the safety of
railroad tank car transportation of
hazardous materials (July 3, 2006; 71 FR
37974).
PHMSA and FRA have scheduled a
second public meeting as part of DOT’s
comprehensive review. The meeting
will be held on the date specified in the
DATES section of this document and at
the location specified in the ADDRESSES
section of this document. Although
DOT’s review includes both tank car
design and operational factors that affect
railroad tank car safety, this public
meeting is intended to focus on the
issue of potential improvements to
hazardous materials tank cars
themselves.
PHMSA and FRA encourage all
interested persons to participate in this
meeting. The agencies intend that this
meeting will provide an opportunity to
build upon several issues raised in the
initial public meeting. Additionally,
through this meeting, the agencies
intend to solicit any relevant comments,
information, or data interested parties
may be able to provide regarding
potential enhancements or
modifications to hazardous materials
tank cars in order to improve the overall
safety and security of hazardous
materials shipments via railroad tank
car. Although the agencies are interested
in any comments, information, or data
relevant to improving tank car design,
manufacture, or requalification, the
agencies specifically request data
related to the following questions:
1. What new designs, materials, or
structures should DOT be investigating
for improved accident/derailment
survivability of hazardous materials
tank cars?
2. Regarding tank car top fittings—are
there any design changes that would
enhance the survivability of the top
fittings (e.g., modifications to height or
placement of valves or modifications to
the protective structure that surrounds
the valves)?
3. Regarding tank car puncture
resistance (including the puncture
resistance of the head and shell of tank
cars)—are there any design, material, or
manufacturing changes that could lead
to improved tank car puncture
resistance?
4. In addition to accident
survivability, are there any other aspects
of the tank cars (e.g., improved security
of operating fittings, or an ability to
locate cars beyond current car
movement reporting systems), that
could improve the overall safety and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:31 Nov 16, 2006
Jkt 211001
security of hazardous materials
shipments via railroad tank car?
5. In addition to accident
survivability, should tank cars be
designed to withstand other types of
extraordinary events (e.g., ballistic
attack or unauthorized access to tank car
valving)?
6. The hazardous materials
regulations now include performance
standards for coupler vertical restraint
systems, pressure relief devices, tankhead puncture-resistance systems,
thermal protection systems, and service
equipment protection. In addition to, or
instead of any other improvement made
to future tank cars, are these standards
adequate for future tank cars? If not, in
what areas and aspects are
improvements needed?
7. How should PHMSA and FRA
consider risk factors in determining
whether to require tank car safety and
security enhancements? For example,
should PHMSA and FRA consider the
risk of the car/commodity pair so that
improvements would first apply to the
car/commodity pairs considered to have
the greatest risk or for which the car/
commodity pair will benefit most from
the improvement? What other risk
factors should be considered?
8. Would installation of bearing
sensors or other on-board tracking/
monitoring systems capable of
monitoring, for example, tank car
pressure, temperature, and safety
conditions, improve the safety and
security of hazardous materials
shipments by railroad tank car? If so,
what is the feasibility of implementing
such a system on hazardous materials
tank cars?
9. Would installation of electronically
controlled pneumatic brake systems on
tank cars improve the safety of
hazardous materials shipments by
railroad tank car by, for example,
helping to prevent derailments and
shortening stopping distances? If so,
what is the feasibility of implementing
such brake systems on hazardous
materials tank cars?
Although PHMSA and FRA are
specifically requesting comments in
response to the above questions, we
invite persons to comment and/or
provide specific data on any other
potential improvements to railroad tank
cars that could lead to improving the
overall safety and security of the
transportation of hazardous materials by
tank car. The agencies ask that
commenters provide data in the most
detail possible, including costs of
design, installation, and maintenance.
We also specifically solicit expert
discussion of the issues surrounding
construction of new tank cars and
PO 00000
Frm 00110
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
implementation of a retrofit requirement
for any potential new requirements on
the design, manufacture, or
maintenance of existing tank cars.
The agencies also invite interested
parties who are unable to attend the
public meeting, or who otherwise desire
to submit written comments or data
responsive to the questions raised
above, to submit any relevant
information, data, or comments to the
DOT Docket Management System
Docket Number FRA–2006–25169.
Comments may be submitted by any
method noted in the ADDRESSES section
above.
Issued in Washington, DC on November 13,
2006, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
part 106.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous
Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E6–19413 Filed 11–16–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation
Advisory Board; Notice of Meeting
Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public
Law 92–463; 5 U.S.C. App. I), notice is
hereby given of a meeting of the
Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence
Seaway Development Corporation
(SLSDC), to be held from 4:30 p.m. to
5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5,
2006, at the Corporation’s
Administration Headquarters, Room
5424, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC. The agenda for this
meeting will be as follows: Opening
Remarks; Consideration of Minutes of
Past Meeting; Quarterly Report; Old and
New Business; Closing Discussion;
Adjournment.
Attendance at the meeting is open to
the interested public but limited to the
space available. With the approval of
the Administrator, members of the
public may present oral statements at
the meeting. Persons wishing further
information should contact, not later
than November 28, 2006, Anita K.
Blackman, Chief of Staff, Saint
Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590; 202–366–0091.
Any member of the public may
present a written statement to the
Advisory Board at any time.
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
17NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67015-67016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19413]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Hazardous Materials: Improving the Safety of Railroad Tank Car
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: PHMSA and FRA are conducting a comprehensive review of design
and operational factors that affect rail tank car safety. The two
agencies invite interested persons to participate in a public meeting
to address potential improvements to the design of hazardous materials
tank cars that would enhance overall safety and security.
DATES: Public meeting: December 14, 2006, starting at 9 a.m. and ending
at 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Public meeting: The meeting will be held at the Hilton
Garden-Franklin Square Hotel, 815 14th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20005. For information on the facilities or to request special
accommodations at the meeting, please contact Ms. Michele M. Sampson by
telephone or e-mail as soon as possible.
Written Comments: Written comments, identified by Docket Number
FRA-2006-25169, may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Web Site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this notice. Internet users may access comments
received by DOT at. Note that comments received may be posted without
change to https://dms.dot.gov including any personal information
provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele M. Sampson
(Michele.Sampson@dot.gov), Railroad Safety Specialist, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20590 (202-493-
6475) or Lucinda Henriksen (Lucinda.Henriksen@dot.gov), Trial Attorney,
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20590 (202-493-1345).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal hazardous materials
transportation law (Federal hazmat law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., as
amended by section 1711 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public
Law 107-296 and Title VII of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU))
authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to
``prescribe regulations for the safe transportation, including
security, of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign
commerce.'' The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Pipeline
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
The Secretary of Transportation also has authority over all areas
of railroad safety (49 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), and has delegated this
authority to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). FRA has issued
a comprehensive set of Federal regulations governing the safety of all
facets of freight and passenger railroad operations (49 CFR parts 200-
244). FRA inspects railroads and shippers for compliance with both FRA
regulations and Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-
180). FRA also conducts research and development to enhance railroad
safety.
On May 24, 2006, PHMSA and FRA published a notice of public meeting
(71 FR 30019) announcing initiation of a comprehensive review of design
and operational factors that affect the safety of railroad tank car
transportation of hazardous materials. As indicated in the notice,
PHMSA and FRA are utilizing a risk management approach to identify ways
to enhance the safe transportation of hazardous materials in tank cars,
including tank car design, manufacture, and requalification;
operational issues such as human factors, track conditions and
maintenance, wayside hazard detectors, and signals and train control
systems; and emergency response. Initially, PHMSA and FRA did not
intend for the review to consider security issues, in part because
PHMSA and FRA have been working closely with the Transportation
Security Administration on developing proposed regulations to enhance
the security of rail shipments of hazardous materials. Upon further
consideration, PHMSA and FRA have decided to slightly expand the topics
under review to consider enhancements and improvements to railroad tank
cars transporting hazardous materials that may enhance the security of
these cars.
To facilitate public involvement in this review, PHMSA and FRA held
a public meeting on May 31 and June 1, 2006 (see 71 FR 30019). The
primary purpose of the public meeting was to surface and prioritize
issues relating to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by
railroad tank car. Subsequent to the meeting, FRA
[[Page 67016]]
established a public docket (Docket No. FRA-2006-25169) to provide all
interested parties with a central location to both send and review
relevant information concerning the safety of railroad tank car
transportation of hazardous materials (July 3, 2006; 71 FR 37974).
PHMSA and FRA have scheduled a second public meeting as part of
DOT's comprehensive review. The meeting will be held on the date
specified in the DATES section of this document and at the location
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Although DOT's
review includes both tank car design and operational factors that
affect railroad tank car safety, this public meeting is intended to
focus on the issue of potential improvements to hazardous materials
tank cars themselves.
PHMSA and FRA encourage all interested persons to participate in
this meeting. The agencies intend that this meeting will provide an
opportunity to build upon several issues raised in the initial public
meeting. Additionally, through this meeting, the agencies intend to
solicit any relevant comments, information, or data interested parties
may be able to provide regarding potential enhancements or
modifications to hazardous materials tank cars in order to improve the
overall safety and security of hazardous materials shipments via
railroad tank car. Although the agencies are interested in any
comments, information, or data relevant to improving tank car design,
manufacture, or requalification, the agencies specifically request data
related to the following questions:
1. What new designs, materials, or structures should DOT be
investigating for improved accident/derailment survivability of
hazardous materials tank cars?
2. Regarding tank car top fittings--are there any design changes
that would enhance the survivability of the top fittings (e.g.,
modifications to height or placement of valves or modifications to the
protective structure that surrounds the valves)?
3. Regarding tank car puncture resistance (including the puncture
resistance of the head and shell of tank cars)--are there any design,
material, or manufacturing changes that could lead to improved tank car
puncture resistance?
4. In addition to accident survivability, are there any other
aspects of the tank cars (e.g., improved security of operating
fittings, or an ability to locate cars beyond current car movement
reporting systems), that could improve the overall safety and security
of hazardous materials shipments via railroad tank car?
5. In addition to accident survivability, should tank cars be
designed to withstand other types of extraordinary events (e.g.,
ballistic attack or unauthorized access to tank car valving)?
6. The hazardous materials regulations now include performance
standards for coupler vertical restraint systems, pressure relief
devices, tank-head puncture-resistance systems, thermal protection
systems, and service equipment protection. In addition to, or instead
of any other improvement made to future tank cars, are these standards
adequate for future tank cars? If not, in what areas and aspects are
improvements needed?
7. How should PHMSA and FRA consider risk factors in determining
whether to require tank car safety and security enhancements? For
example, should PHMSA and FRA consider the risk of the car/commodity
pair so that improvements would first apply to the car/commodity pairs
considered to have the greatest risk or for which the car/commodity
pair will benefit most from the improvement? What other risk factors
should be considered?
8. Would installation of bearing sensors or other on-board
tracking/monitoring systems capable of monitoring, for example, tank
car pressure, temperature, and safety conditions, improve the safety
and security of hazardous materials shipments by railroad tank car? If
so, what is the feasibility of implementing such a system on hazardous
materials tank cars?
9. Would installation of electronically controlled pneumatic brake
systems on tank cars improve the safety of hazardous materials
shipments by railroad tank car by, for example, helping to prevent
derailments and shortening stopping distances? If so, what is the
feasibility of implementing such brake systems on hazardous materials
tank cars?
Although PHMSA and FRA are specifically requesting comments in
response to the above questions, we invite persons to comment and/or
provide specific data on any other potential improvements to railroad
tank cars that could lead to improving the overall safety and security
of the transportation of hazardous materials by tank car. The agencies
ask that commenters provide data in the most detail possible, including
costs of design, installation, and maintenance. We also specifically
solicit expert discussion of the issues surrounding construction of new
tank cars and implementation of a retrofit requirement for any
potential new requirements on the design, manufacture, or maintenance
of existing tank cars.
The agencies also invite interested parties who are unable to
attend the public meeting, or who otherwise desire to submit written
comments or data responsive to the questions raised above, to submit
any relevant information, data, or comments to the DOT Docket
Management System Docket Number FRA-2006-25169. Comments may be
submitted by any method noted in the ADDRESSES section above.
Issued in Washington, DC on November 13, 2006, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR part 106.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E6-19413 Filed 11-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
