[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 72224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34404]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 172, 173, 177, 178 and 180

[Docket No. RSPA-98-3684(HM-220)]
RIN 2137-AA92


Hazardous Materials: Requirements for DOT Specification 
Cylinders; Extension of Comment Period and Announcement of Second 
Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time to file comments and public 
meeting announcement.

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SUMMARY: RSPA is extending for 120 days, until May 28, 1999, the period 
for filing comments to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published 
under Docket HM-220. RSPA is taking this action in response to 
petitions filed by the Compressed Gas Association, Inc. (CGA) and the 
National Welding Supply Association, Inc. (NWSA). The petitioners 
requested that RSPA provide additional time to allow shippers, the gas 
and cylinder industries, and other interested parties sufficient time 
to review and address the changes proposed in the NPRM.
    RSPA also is holding a second public meeting on January 28, 1999, 
in Washington, DC to discuss the proposals.

DATES: Comment Date. Comments must be received on or before May 28, 
1999.
    Public Meeting Date. A public meeting will be held on January 28, 
1999; from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; however, the meeting may end sooner.

ADDRESSES: Written Comments: Address comments to the Dockets Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, PL 401, 400 Seventh St., SW, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments should identify the docket number, 
RSPA 98-3684(HM-220), and should be submitted in two copies. Persons 
wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments should 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. The Dockets Management 
System is located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building, at the 
above address.
    Public dockets may be reviewed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, excluding Federal holidays. In addition, 
comments can be reviewed by accessing the DOT Homepage (http://
www.dot.gov). Comments may also be submitted by E-mail to 
``[email protected]''. In every case, the comment should refer to the 
Docket number set forth above.
    Public Meeting: The public meeting will be held in Room 3200-3204 
at the U.S. Department of Transportation's Nassif Building, 400 7th 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Freeman, telephone number (202) 
366-4545, Office of Hazardous Materials Technology, or Hattie Mitchell, 
telephone number (202) 366-8553, Office of Hazardous Materials 
Standards, Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 30, 1998, RSPA published an NPRM 
in the Federal Register under Docket HM-220 (63 FR 58460). RSPA 
proposes in the NPRM to amend certain requirements in the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations to establish four new DOT cylinder specifications 
and to revise the requirements for maintenance, requalification, repair 
and use of DOT specification cylinders. The NPRM also announced a 
public meeting held on December 8, in Washington, DC, to discuss the 
proposed changes.
    RSPA received two petitions for extension of the comment period to 
the NPRM. The CGA requested that the January 28, 1999 deadline be 
extended for an additional 120 days and the NWSA requested a 90-day 
extension. The CGA petition was supported by the National Propane Gas 
Association. The petitioners stated that additional time is needed to 
allow shippers, the gas and cylinder industries, and other interested 
parties sufficient time to review and provide substantive comments to 
the proposed changes. RSPA is pleased that industry is giving serious 
attention to this important rulemaking. Therefore, the comment period 
is being extended from January 28 to May 28, 1999.
    RSPA also is holding a second public meeting to discuss the 
proposals on January 28, in Washington, DC., at the above address.

    Issued in Washington DC on December 22, 1998.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-34404 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P