[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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are outdated or in need of reform.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]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P