Proposed new rule
Your comments are invited on amendments to a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is considering amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) as they apply to the transportation of combustible liquids. Specifically, PHMSA is considering whether to harmonize the
domestic regulations applicable to the transportation of combustible liquids with international transportation standards. In addition, they are examining ways to revise, clarify, or relax certain regulatory requirements to facilitate the transportation of these materials while maintaining an adequate level of safety.
Your comments must be received by July 6, 2010. Submit comments by any of the following methods:
- Web Site: http://dms/dot/gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
- Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
- Mail: Docket Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
- Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You must include the agency name and docket number PHMSA-2009-0241 (HM-242) or the Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) 2137-AE52 for this notice at the beginning of your comment. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard or access the Web site at http://dms.dot.gov.
For further details, check out http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-7544.htm. Or, contact Helen L. Engrum, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, telephone (202) 366-8553, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, PHH-10,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Haz mat fees increasing
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending the statutorily mandated registration and fee assessment program for persons who transport, or offer for transportation, certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials. For those registrants not qualifying as a small business or not-for-profit organization, PHMSA is increasing the annual fee from $975 (plus a $25 administrative fee) to $2,575 (plus a $25 administrative fee) for registration year 2010-2011 and following years. The increase is necessary to fund the national Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program. The effective date of this final rule is April 29, 2010. For details, see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-7035.htm
Haz mat fees to increase
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced that beginning sometime in 2010, the annual fee to be paid by those registrants not qualifying as a small business or not-for-profit organization would increase from $975 (plus a $25 administrative fee) to $2,975 (plus a $25 administrative fee). The reason for the increase is to fund the national Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program at its authorized level of approximately $28,000,000. You may submit your comments for this proposed rule by March 4, 2010 by visiting http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Refer to Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0201 (HM-208H)RIN 2137-AE47
Haz mat regs
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing to amend requirements in the haz mat regulations regarding the transportation of lithium batteries. Your comments are invited. See http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-281.htm for more information.
Housekeeping
Seems like everyone’s trying to clear the decks in order to start with a clean slate in 2010. Several agencies have posted notices of follow-up activities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule that would amend the regulations implementing the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) program, published on July 29, 2009, in the Federal Register, under the CARS Act. The rule change would allow disposal facilities an additional 90 days, for a total of 270 days, to crush or shred a vehicle traded in under the CARS program. This additional time would allow the public to benefit from the availability of lower cost used vehicle parts from vehicles traded in under the CARS program and would provide disposal facilities with an opportunity to derive more revenue from those vehicles prior to crushing or shredding. Refer to DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2009-0120 for more information about this.
The Federal Highway Administration is looking for comments on a proposed rulemaking. This NPRM sets forth updated FHWA procedures for enforcement of the State registration of vehicles subject to the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT). The intent of these actions is to bring FHWA’s HVUT regulations up-to-date to be consistent with many changes that have impacted the regulation over the last two decades. Refer to FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2009-0098 when making your comments.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration has issued a final rule to correct editorial errors, make minor changes in the regulatory text, reflect changes in governing laws and improve the clarity of certain provisions in the pipeline safety regulations. This rule is intended to enhance the accuracy and reduce misunderstandings of the specified regulations. The amendments contained in this rule are non-substantive changes. Refer to Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0265; Amdt Nos. 190-15; 192-111; 195-92, 198-5 for details.
Haz mat reg clarification clarified
A correction has been issued to the changes announced Tuesday to the haz mat regs by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in its revision of the requirements for emergency response telephone numbers. In rule document E9-24799 beginning on page 53413 in the issue of Monday, October 19, 2009, make the following correction:
On page 53413, in the third column, under the DATES section, in the
second line, “November 18, 2009” should read “October 1, 2010”.
Haz mat regs clarified
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a final rule amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The rule clarifies requirements governing emergency response information services provided by arrangement with hazardous materials offerors (shippers). In order to preserve the effectiveness of these arrangements for providing accurate and timely emergency response information, PHMSA is requiring basic identifying information (offeror name or contract number) to be included on shipping papers. This information will enable the emergency response information provider to identify the offeror on whose behalf it is accepting responsibility for providing emergency response information in the event of a hazardous
materials incident and obtain additional information about the hazardous material as needed.
This affects 49 CFR Parts 172 and 174. For details, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-24799.htm/
