[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38797-38798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18833]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice No. 96-12]
Improving the Hazardous Materials Safety Program; Public Meeting
Related to Regulatory Review and Customer Service
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting to be held in
Sacramento, California to seek information from the public on
regulatory reform and improved customer service for RSPA's hazardous
materials safety program. This meeting is a continuation of the initial
series of public outreach meetings held between April 19, 1995 and June
6, 1996. Interested persons are also reminded of a previously announced
public meeting to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on September 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: California State Department of Social Services Auditorium
(Room 102), 744 P Street, Sacramento, California.
DATES: September 26, 1996 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edmund J. Richards, Interagency
Hazardous Materials Program Coordinator, (202) 366-0656; or Suezett
Edwards, Training and Information Specialist, (202) 366-4900; Hazardous
Materials Safety, RSPA, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
20590-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 4, 1995, President Clinton issued a
memorandum to heads of departments and agencies calling for a review of
all agency regulations to eliminate or revise those regulations that
are outdated or in need of reform. In addition, the President directed
front line regulators to ``* * * get out of Washington and create
grassroots partnerships'' with people affected by agency regulations.
In response to the President's directive, RSPA performed an
extensive review of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR
Parts 171-180) and associated procedural rules (49 CFR Parts 106, 107
and 110). In April and July 1995, RSPA published notices in the Federal
Register (60 FR 17049 and 60 FR 38888, respectively) that announced
public meetings and requested comments on ways to improve the HMR and
the kind and quality of services RSPA's customers expect. RSPA held 13
public meetings and received over 50 written comments in response to
the Federal Register notices.
Based on its review of the HMR and on written and oral comments
received from the public, RSPA has initiated eight separate rulemakings
to eliminate or revise those regulations that have been identified as
being outdated or in need of reform (Dockets HM-200, HM-207C, HM-207E,
HM-216, HM-220A, HM-220B, HM-222A, HM-222B). Except for Docket HM-200,
final rules have been issued as a result these rulemakings. These
actions addressed various subjects such as training frequency, 24-hour
emergency response telephone numbers, incident reporting, shipping
papers, marking, labeling, and placarding, elimination of over 100
sections of the HMR, restructuring of the Hazardous Materials Table and
Hazardous Substance Table, restructuring of the cylinder specifications
and cylinder requalification requirements, and rail and highway modal
requirements. In addition, RSPA has initiated a two-year pilot
ticketing program to streamline and simplify enforcement of certain
violations which do not have a direct impact on the safe transportation
of hazardous materials, such as failure to register, obtain renewed
exemptions in a timely manner, retain training records, and file
incident reports. In the international area, RSPA has incorporated
requirements for the transportation of radioactive materials that are
compatible with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, and continued to adopt regulations towards harmonization with
the United Nations Recommendations and other international regulatory
bodies.
Significant actions have also been taken to improve management
practices and operations. In 1995, RSPA implemented a toll-free number
for obtaining assistance on the HMR, reporting potential violations of
the regulations, and obtaining training materials. In response to
comments to improve responses to inquiries, RSPA has made a commitment
to respond to phone calls before the end of the next business day, and
to mail training materials and publications in a timely manner.
[[Page 38798]]
Conduct of the Meeting
The meeting will be informal and is intended to produce a dialogue
between agency personnel and persons affected by the hazardous
materials safety programs. The meeting officer may find it necessary to
limit the time allocated each speaker to ensure that all participants
have an opportunity to speak. Conversely, the meeting may conclude
before the time scheduled if all persons wishing to participate have
been heard.
Atlanta Meeting
As announced in the Federal Register (61 FR 24529) on May 15, 1996,
the public meeting in Atlanta on September 12, 1996 will be held at the
Omni Hotel, 100 CNN Center beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on July 18, 1996.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-18833 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
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