[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11528-11530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5756]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Research and Special Programs Administration


Notification of Department-wide Program Evaluation of the 
Hazardous Materials Transportation Program

AGENCY: Office of Inspector General and Research and Special Programs 
Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: DOT is announcing the initiation of an internal Department-
wide Program Evaluation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation 
Programs (HM Program Evaluation). This DOT-wide Program Evaluation is 
being led by the department's Office of Inspector General and RSPA. The 
objectives of the HM Program Evaluation are to document and assess the 
modal hazardous materials programs within the Department, and determine 
whether these programs can be accomplished more effectively and 
efficiently. The results of the ongoing HM Program Evaluation will be 
reported to the public in DOT's FY 1999 Program Performance Report no 
later than March 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Goff, 202-493-0326, or George

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Whitney, 202-366-4831, Co-Chairs, HM Program Evaluation Team, U.S. 
Department of Transportation; 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requires agencies 
to develop a schedule of program evaluations for inclusion in their 
strategic plans. The Department has initiated a Department-wide Program 
Evaluation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Program that was 
included in the DOT Strategic Plan 1997-2002. The overall purpose of 
any program evaluation is to provide a means to objectively assess the 
extent to which a program is contributing to certain outcome goals and 
trends. Together with performance measures to track our ongoing 
progress in achieving a goal, the results of program evaluations may be 
used as a management tool to assist us in better understanding our 
progress toward achieving a stated goal. Building on the list provided 
in the DOT Strategic Plan, the Department has identified 30 program 
evaluations in its Performance Plan for FY 2000. DOT's aim is to 
emphasize program evaluations that: (1) represent significant DOT 
activities contributing to our strategic goals; (2) are cross modal in 
nature, or would benefit from evaluation that is reviewed outside any 
single Operating Administration; and (3) would benefit from Department-
wide expertise and assistance during planning and review. This Program 
Evaluation meets all three of these aims. Collectively, our goal is to 
produce a Program Evaluation that is both credible and useful, meeting 
both the letter and spirit of GPRA.
    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Research and Special 
Programs Administration (RSPA) are jointly leading this ``ONE DOT'' 
activity to benefit the public and DOT. The HM Program Evaluation is 
staffed by 10 full-time persons, including at least one full-time 
person from the OIG and RSPA and each of the following Operating 
Administrations: the United States Coast Guard; the Federal Aviation 
Administration; the Federal Highway Administration; and the Federal 
Railroad Administration. The results of the ongoing HM Program 
Evaluation will be reported to the public in DOT's FY 1999 Program 
Performance Report no later than March 31, 2000.

II. Purpose and Objective

    The purpose of the HM Program Evaluation is to examine the Federal 
hazardous materials transportation law, the program structure defined 
by the delegation of authority within DOT, and to assess program 
delivery. The HM Program Evaluation is intended to allow DOT to 
determine the effectiveness of the current hazardous material programs, 
including the division of responsibilities across and within modes, and 
the allocation of resources dedicated to specific functions. This 
positions DOT to potentially increase safety and environmental 
protection when hazardous materials are in commerce.
    The HM Program Evaluation has two objectives. First, it will 
document current hazardous materials movements, programs, and program 
delivery. Second, it will assess the effectiveness of the hazardous 
materials programs as they intervene in and affect each step in the 
hazardous materials transportation process--from packaging manufacturer 
to destination. Each of the key elements of these objectives is 
enumerated below.
    A. Documentation of current hazardous materials activities will 
include:
    1. A description of the system of hazardous materials movement in 
commerce and of the forecast trends in hazardous materials 
transportation.
    2. A description of what DOT's hazardous materials program is 
intended to be as required by law and regulation, identifying key 
components.
    3. A description of what occurs in program delivery, documenting 
program implementation as applied to the system of hazardous materials 
movements in commerce. This will include an exposition of the points at 
which the current hazardous materials programs intervene in the 
transportation of hazardous materials, from packaging manufacturer, to 
offeror, to carrier, to receiver, and how intervention tools 
(regulation, education, training, outreach, compliance, and 
enforcement) are applied at each point.
    B. Analysis of program intervention and alternatives will include:
    1. An examination of candidate measures and outcomes that would 
indicate the effectiveness of DOT's hazardous materials program, 
including current performance goals and measures, as well as measures 
which further specify goals, or which provide a better measure of 
hazardous materials transportation safety.
    2. A critique of the current intervention approach. The HM Program 
Evaluation will consider all of the possible intervention points, to 
determine if the current approach is the most effective one for 
achieving adequate safety and environmental protection. The analysis 
will address how effectively intervention tools are applied at each 
point.
    3. Presentation of findings, conclusions and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Transportation.

III. Scope of the HM Program Evaluation

    The scope of the HM Program Evaluation will be limited to those 
activities covered by 49 CFR Parts 106 (Rulemaking Procedures) and 107 
(Hazardous Materials Program Procedures), and the Hazardous Materials 
Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR Parts 171-180, as authorized by the Federal 
hazardous materials transportation law to provide adequate protection 
against the risks to life and property inherent in the transportation 
of hazardous materials in commerce. By definition, hazardous materials 
transported in pipelines or bulk shipment by water, such as oil or 
liquefied petroleum gas tank vessels, are not within the scope of the 
HM Program Evaluation.
    The HM Program Evaluation will focus on cross modal issues. It will 
include a review of compliance, education, training, outreach 
activities, regulations (including exemptions and approvals), and 
relevant aspects of DOT's internal rulemaking process. Also included 
will be a determination of whether the current HMR achieves the stated 
purpose of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law. 
International shipments of hazardous materials will be included to 
permit a review of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code 
(IMDG) and the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical 
Instructions on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO), 
both of which are authorized by HMR as alternative standards for many 
of the requirements in the HMR for shipments destined for export or 
that are being imported.

IV. Participation by Interested Parties

    The team anticipates that a request for comments will be published 
in the Federal Register shortly and will serve as the primary means to 
involve the public. The request for comments will present a series of 
questions within the scope of the HM Program Evaluation as described in 
section III of this notice. When the request for comments is published, 
interested parties should take this opportunity to respond to these 
questions, provide supporting documentation and their overall 
observations of the Department's Hazardous Materials Program. 
Interested parties will be provided an opportunity

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to submit responses in writing or electronically. The comments received 
in response to the notice will assist in determining areas and issues 
for indepth review.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, 1999.
Jackie Goff,
Co-Chair, Hazardous Materials
Program Evaluation Team.

George Whitney,
Co-Chair, Hazardous Materials
Program Evaluation Team.
[FR Doc. 99-5756 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P