[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59297-59298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28985]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 199

[Docket RSPA-97-2995, Notice No. 5]


Control of Drug Use and Alcohol Misuse in Natural Gas, Liquefied 
Natural Gas, and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operations Alcohol Misuse 
Prevention Program

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of random drug testing rate.

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SUMMARY: RSPA has received and evaluated the 1996 Management 
Information System (MIS) Data Collection forms for the drug testing of 
pipeline industry personnel. The RSPA determined that the random 
positive drug testing rate for pipeline industry for the period of 
January 1, 1996, through December 31, 1996, is 0.7 percent.

DATES: Effective January 1, 1998, through December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catrina Pavlik, Drug/Alcohol Program 
Analyst, Research and Special Programs Administration, Office of 
Pipeline Safety, Room 2335, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590. Telephone: (202) 366-6199, Fax: (202) 366-4566, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Information is also available on the 
Office of Pipeline Safety's internet home page at ``OPS.dot.gov.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on December 
23, 1993 (58 FR 68257), RSPA announced that it would require 
operators of gas, hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines, 
and liquefied natural gas facilities, who are subject to 49 CFR 
parts 192, 193 and 195, to implement, maintain, and submit an 
annual report of their drug testing program data. Operators with 51 
or more covered employees are required to submit this information 
on an annual basis. Operators with 50 or fewer covered employees 
are required to maintain this information, and RSPA randomly 
selected 100 operators in this category to submit their data. The 
drug testing statistical data is essential for RSPA to analyze its 
current approach to deterring and detecting illegal drug abuse in 
the pipeline industry, and, as appropriate, plan a more efficient 
and effective approach. In 1997, RSPA lowered the random drug 
testing rate to 25 percent. Since the positive random testing rate 
continues to be less than 1 percent industry-wide, the RSPA 
announces in accordance with Section 199.11(c)(3), that the minimum 
random drug testing rate will be maintained at 25 percent of 
covered pipeline employees for the period of January 1, 1998, 
through December 31, 1998.

    Submission of MIS reports are due to the Office of Pipeline Safety, 
Research and Special Programs Administration, DPS-23, Room 2335, 400 
7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590, not later than March 15 of each 
calendar year. Notice of statistical data will be published in the 
future to report results of each calendar year's MIS Data Collection 
results. At that time, the RSPA will also publish whether or not the 
random rate will be reduced or

[[Page 59298]]

increased for the pipeline industry pursuant to Section 199.11.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 28, 1997.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-28985 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P