Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration July 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will conduct a public meeting to discuss Special Permit and Approval applicant fitness determinations. PHMSA will hold a public meeting on August 19, 2010, in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons with an opportunity to submit oral comments and participate in discussions concerning the criteria used when determining an applicant's minimum level of fitness.

PHMSA is proposing to revise its procedures for applying for a special permit to require an applicant to provide sufficient information about its operations to enable the agency to evaluate the applicant's fitness and the safety impact of operations that would be authorized in the special permit. In addition, PHMSA is providing an on-line application option.

This notice advises interested persons that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is soliciting comments on the development of the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2012), particularly from those who have experience using the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). The ERG is for use by emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response to hazardous materials incidents. The ERG2012 will supersede the ERG2008. The development of the ERG2012 is a joint effort involving the transportation agencies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to incorporate provisions contained in certain widely used or longstanding cargo tank special permits that are granted to multiple parties and have an established safety record. Special permits allow a company or individual to package or ship a hazardous material in a manner that varies from the regulations provided an equivalent level of safety is maintained. The proposed revisions are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in the special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests, thereby, facilitating commerce activity and reducing paperwork burdens while maintaining an appropriate level of safety.

PHMSA is seeking public comment on a draft revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) ``Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material'' (TS-R-1), which is scheduled for publication in 2012. PHMSA and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will jointly be submitting comments on the draft document to the IAEA. We are requesting input from the public to assist in developing the U.S. comments.