[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58324-58325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29081]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 199

[Docket RSPA-97-2995, Notice No. 6]


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: Announcement of random drug testing rate.

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SUMMARY: RSPA has received and evaluated the 1997 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 the pipeline industry for the period of 
January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1997, is 0.7 percent. Therefore, 
the minimum random drug testing rate will be maintained at 25 percent 
of covered pipeline employees for the period of January 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 1999.

DATES: Effective January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catrina Pavlik, Drug/Alcohol Program Analyst, Research and Special 
Programs Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, Room 7128, 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 Pipeline Safety's internet home pages 
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

[[Page 58325]]

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 Sec. 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, 1999, through December 31, 1999.
    Submission of MIS reports are due to the Office of Pipeline Safety, 
Research and Special Programs Administration, DPS-23, Room 7128, 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 increased for the pipeline industry 
pursuant to Sec. 199.11.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 23, 1998.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-29081 Filed 10-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M