Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration April 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to permit certain fuel cell cartridges and fuel cell systems designed for portable electronic devices to be transported by passengers and crew in carry-on baggage on board passenger-carrying aircraft. Fuel cell cartridges and fuel cell systems are an emerging energy technology developed to provide a more efficient, longer-lasting, and renewable power source for electrically operated equipment. This final rule prescribes regulations for transporting fuel cells containing flammable liquids, including methanol; formic acid; certain borohydride materials; or butane that meet certain performance and consumer use standards. PHMSA is issuing this final rule in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of special permits (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' demote a modification request. Their applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

This notice announces Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval and extension until March 31, 2010 for the following information collection requests (ICRs): OMB Control No. 2137-0572, ``Testing Requirements for Non-Bulk Packaging''; and approval and extension until August 31, 2010 for OMB Control No. 2137-0039, ``Hazardous Materials Incidents.'' This notice also announces OMB approval and extension until October 31, 2010 for the following ICRs: OMB Control No. 2137-0018, ``Inspection and Testing of Portable Tanks and Intermediate Bulk Containers''; and OMB Control No. 2137-0595, ``Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles in Liquefied Compressed Gas Service.'' Additionally, this notice announces OMB approval and extension until February 28, 2011 for the following ICRs: OMB Control No. 2137- 0014, ``Cargo Tank Specification Requirements''; OMB Control No. 2137- 0542, ``Flammable Cryogenic Liquids''; OMB Control No. 2137-0582, ``Container Certification Statements''; and OMB Control No. 2137-0591, ``Response Plans for Shipments of Oil.''

On April 1, 2008, PHMSA, in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing revisions to the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations to improve the crashworthiness of railroad tank cars designed to transport poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials. Specifically, the NPRM proposes enhanced tank car performance standards for head and shell impacts; operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing PIH materials; interim operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing PIH materials, but not meeting the enhanced performance standards; and an allowance to increase the gross weight of tank cars that meet the enhanced tank-head and shell puncture-resistance requirements. This notice announces that PHMSA and FRA will hold a series of public meetings (May 14, 15, 28, and 29, 2008 in Washington, DC) related to the NPRM. Information on the scope, topics, dates, and locations of these public meetings is provided in this notice.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will conduct a public meeting to discuss the safe transportation of lithium batteries.