[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69925-69926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28245]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0301; Notice No. 12-10]
Assessment of Hazardous Materials Incident Data Collection,
Analysis, Reporting, and Use
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is a request for comments and information to be
used for an assessment to improve the collection, analysis, reporting,
and use of data related to accidents and incidents involving the
transportation of hazardous materials. This notice is being conducted
in support of the ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century''
(MAP-21) Act.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 28, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by identification of the docket
number (PHMSA-2012-12-10) by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing
Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: To Docket Operations, Room W12-140 on the
ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, 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 at the beginning of the comment. All
comments received will be posted without change to the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS), including any personal information.
Docket: For access to the dockets to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or DOT's Docket
Operations Office (see ADDRESSES).
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any
written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by
the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the
document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in
the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70;
Pages 19477-78).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Lehman or Ms. Yolanda
Braxton, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Department of
Transportation, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-1074.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
PHMSA, and its predecessor agency the Research and Special Programs
[[Page 69926]]
Administration (RSPA), have collected hazardous materials incident
reports for over 40 years. The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
CFR Parts 171-180) establish requirements for an immediate report (see
Sec. 171.15) and a detailed incident report (Form DOT F5800.1; see
Sec. 171.16). Over 500,000 detailed incident reports have been
collected over time. The incident data and information is generally
used by PHMSA to:
1. Evaluate regulatory effectiveness;
2. Determine the need for regulatory changes to address changing
transportation safety problems;
3. Identify major problem or risk areas that should receive
priority attention;
4. Chart trends;
5. Identify problems and training inadequacies;
6. Evaluate packages and packaging;
7. Assess ways to reduce releases;
8. Aid the targeting of enforcement activities; and
9. Assist in evaluating fitness for special permits and approvals.
II. Purpose of This Notice
Section 33006(a) of MAP-21 (Pub. L. 112-141 Sec. 33006(a), 126
Stat. 835, July 6, 2012) requires the Department to conduct an
assessment to improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and use of
data related to accidents and incidents involving the transportation of
hazardous materials.
Section 33006(b) requires the Department to rely on the results of
the assessment to develop an action plan and timeline for improving the
collection, analysis, reporting, and use of data related to accidents
and incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials.
The provisions of MAP-21 set an expedited timeline, with the
assessment due not later than six months after the date of enactment
(Sec. 33006(a)) and the action plan due three months after (Sec.
33006(b)). Upon completion of the action plan and timeline the agency
has fifteen days to submit them to Congress (Sec. 33006(c)).
In this notice, PHMSA is soliciting information, comments, and
inputs related to the required elements of the assessment contained in
MAP-21. Specifically, please provide comments on your view of the
methods used by PHMSA to collect, analyze, report, and use data. Also,
please provide comments on the adequacy of and suggestions for
improvement to:
1. Information requested on the accident and incident reporting
forms required to be submitted to PHMSA;
2. Methods used by PHMSA to verify that the information provided on
such forms is accurate and complete;
3. Accident and incident reporting requirements, including whether
such requirements should be expanded to include shippers and consignees
of hazardous materials;
4. Resources of PHMSA related to data collection, analysis, and
reporting, including staff and information technology; and
5. The database used by PHMSA for recording and reporting such
accidents and incidents, including the ability of users to adequately
search the database and find information.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2012 under authority
delegated in 49 CFR Part 1.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-28245 Filed 11-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P