[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 162 (Monday, August 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 50741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21134]



[[Page 50741]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-2000-6944 (Notice No. 00-9)]


Information Collection Activities

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, RSPA 
invites comments on certain information collections pertaining to 
hazardous materials transportation for which RSPA intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management System, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590-0001. Comments should identify the Docket Number RSPA-2000-
6944 and be submitted in two copies. Persons wishing to receive 
confirmation of receipt of their comments should include a self-
addressed stamped postcard. Comments may also be submitted to the 
docket electronically by logging onto the Dockets Management System 
website at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help & Information'' to 
obtain instructions for filing the document electronically. In every 
case, the comment should refer to the Docket number ``RSPA-2000-6944''.
    The Dockets Management System is located on the Plaza Level of the 
Nassif Building, at the above address. Public dockets may be reviewed 
at the address above between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. In addition, the Notice and 
all comments can be reviewed on the Internet by accessing the Hazmat 
Safety Homepage at ``http://hazmat.dot.gov.''
    Requests for a copy of an information collection should be directed 
to Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10), at 
the address and telephone number listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Standards (DHM-10), Research and Special Programs 
Administration, Room 8422, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001, Telephone (202) 366-8553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal 
Regulations requires that RSPA provide interested members of the public 
and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information 
collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies 
information collections that RSPA is submitting to OMB for extension. 
The collections are contained in the Hazardous Materials Regulations 
(HMR; 49 CFR 171-180). RSPA has revised burden estimates, where 
appropriate, to reflect current reporting levels for adjustments based 
on changes in proposed or final rules published since the information 
collections were last approved. The following information is provided 
for each information collection: (1) Title of the information 
collection, including former title if a change is being made; (2) OMB 
control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; (4) 
description of affected public; (5) estimate of total annual reporting 
and recordkeeping burden; and (6) frequency of collection. RSPA will 
request a three-year term of approval for each information collection 
activity and, when approved by OMB, publish notice of the approval in 
the Federal Register.
    RSPA requests comments on the following information collection 
requests:
    Title: Hazardous Materials Shipping Papers & Emergency Response 
Information.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0034.
    Summary: This information collection consolidates and describes the 
information collection provisions in parts 172, 174, 175, 176, and 177 
of the HMR on the shipping paper and emergency response requirements 
for the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. Shipping 
papers and emergency response information are a basic communication 
tool used in the safe transportation of hazardous materials. They serve 
as a principal means of identifying hazardous materials during 
transportation, including emergencies, by providing the proper shipping 
name, hazard class, UN or NA identification number, packing group and 
quantity of each hazardous material being transported. Shipping papers 
also provide emergency response information for use in the mitigation 
of an incident, and an emergency response telephone number for use in 
the event of an emergency. The telephone number must be monitored at 
all times the hazardous material is in transportation, by a person who 
is either knowledgeable of the hazardous material being shipped and has 
comprehensive emergency response and incident mitigation information 
for that material, or has immediate access to a person who posses such 
knowledge and information. Shipping papers also serve as a means of 
notifying transport workers that hazardous materials are present, so 
that the proper loading, unloading, handling and safety procedures may 
be followed.
    Affected Public: Shippers and carriers of hazardous materials in 
intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping: 6,500,000.
    Number of Respondents: 250,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 260,000,000.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,500,000.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Title: Radioactive (RAM) Transportation Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0510.
    Summary: This information collection consolidates and describes the 
information collection provisions in the HMR (49 CFR parts 171-180) 
involving the transportation of radioactive materials in commerce. 
Information collection requirements for RAM include: shipper 
notification to consignees of the dates of shipment of RAM; expected 
arrival; special loading/unloading instructions; verification that 
shippers using foreign-made packages hold a foreign competent authority 
certificate and verification that the terms of the certificate are 
being followed for RAM shipments being made into this country; and 
specific handling instructions from shippers to carriers for fissile 
RAM, bulk shipments of low specific activity RAM and packages of RAM 
which emit high levels of external radiation. These information 
collection requirements help to establish that proper packages are used 
for the type of radioactive material being transported; external 
radiation levels do not exceed prescribed limits; packages are handled 
appropriately and delivered in a timely manner, so as to ensure the 
safety of the general public, transport workers, and emergency 
responders.
    Affected Public: Shippers and carriers of radioactive materials in 
commerce.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 14,480.
    Number of Respondents: 3,807.
    Total Annual Responses: 21,319.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,480.
    Frequency of Collection: Periodically.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2000.
Edward T. Mazzullo,
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-21134 Filed 8-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P