[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9926-9927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5089]



[[Page 9926]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 172

[Docket No. RSPA-2002-11675 (HM-145M)]
RIN 2137-AD65


Hazardous Materials: Revisions to the List of Hazardous 
Substances and Reportable Quantities

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this final rule, RSPA is amending the Hazardous Materials 
Regulations (HMR) by revising the ``List of Hazardous Substances and 
Reportable Quantities'' that appears in the table, ``Hazardous 
Substances other than Radionuclides''. This action is required by the 
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, which 
amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). These laws require RSPA to regulate all 
hazardous substances designated by the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA). This final rule will enable shippers and carriers to identify 
the affected CERCLA hazardous substances, comply with all applicable 
HMR requirements, and make the required notifications if a discharge of 
a hazardous substance occurs.

DATES: This amendment is effective on October 1, 2002. However, 
immediate compliance with the regulations as amended in this final rule 
is authorized.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Johnsen (202) 366-8553, Office 
of Hazardous Materials Standards, RSPA, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20590. Questions about hazardous substance designations or 
reportable quantities should be directed to the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) at the RCRA/Superfund hotline at (800) 424-9346 
or, in Washington, DC, (202) 382-3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 202 of SARA (Public Law 99-499) amended Section 306(a) of 
CERCLA (Public Law 96-510), 42 U.S.C. 9656(a), by requiring the 
Secretary of Transportation to list and regulate hazardous substances, 
listed or designated under Section 101(14) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 
9601(14), as hazardous materials under the Federal hazardous materials 
transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5101-5127). The Research and Special 
Programs Administration (RSPA, we) carries out the rulemaking 
responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation under the Federal 
hazardous materials transportation law, 49 CFR 1.53(b). This final rule 
is necessary to comply with 42 U.S.C. 9656(a), as amended by Section 
202 of SARA.
    In carrying out that statutory mandate, we have no discretion to 
determine what is or is not a hazardous substance or the appropriate 
reportable quantity (RQ) for materials designated as hazardous 
substances. This authority is vested in EPA. RSPA did not issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking prior to issuing this final rule. RSPA 
lacks discretion concerning the regulation of hazardous substances 
under the HMR, therefore, under the Administrative Procedure Act notice 
would serve no purpose and thus is unnecessary.
    Therefore, under the CERCLA scheme, EPA must issue final rules 
amending the list of CERCLA hazardous substances, including adjusting 
RQs, before RSPA can amend its list of hazardous substances. In the 
preamble to a final rule on this subject issued under Docket HM-145F 
(51 FR 42174; November 21, 1986), RSPA included the following 
statement:

``It is RSPA's intention to make changes from time to time to the list 
of hazardous substances or their RQ's in the Appendix as adjustments 
are made by EPA.''

    This final rule adjusts the ``List of Hazardous Substances and 
Reportable Quantities'' that appears in Table 1 of Appendix A to 
Sec. 172.101, based on the following EPA final rules that added or 
removed entries to the EPA table--List of Hazardous Substances and 
Reportable Quantities under CERCLA in 40 CFR 302.4:
    (1) March 17, 2000, rule (65 FR 14472) removed two listings (2,4,6-
Tribromophenol and K140);
    (2) November 8, 2000, rule (65 FR 67068) added two waste codes 
generated from the chlorinated aliphatics industry (K174 and K175); and
    (3) November 20, 2001, rule (66 FR 57258) added three waste codes 
from petroleum refining (K176, K177 and K178).
    In addition, this final rule corrects several errors to the ``List 
of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities'' that appears in 
Table 1 of Appendix A to Sec. 172.101:
    (1) The group of waste codes (K156, K157, K158, K169, K170, K171, 
and K172) that appear in the table under ``2,4,6-Tribromophenol'' is 
moved to the end of the list with the other K waste codes; and
    (2) The RQs for ``Chloromethyl methyl ether'', ``Dichloromethyl 
ether'', ``Methane, chloromethoxy-'' and ``Methane, oxybis(chloro-'' 
from 1 pound to 10 pounds.
    This final rule will enable shippers and carriers to identify 
CERCLA hazardous substances, comply with all applicable HMR and EPA 
requirements, and make required notifications if a discharge of a 
hazardous substance occurs. In addition to the reporting requirements 
of the HMR found in Secs. 171.15 and 171.16, a discharge of a hazardous 
substance is subject to EPA reporting requirements under 40 CFR 302.6 
and may be subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Coast 
Guard under 33 CFR 153.203.

Regulatory Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This final rule is not considered a significant regulatory action 
under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, was not 
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. The rule is not 
considered significant under the Regulatory Policies and Procedures of 
the Department of Transportation (44 FR 11034). Because of the minimal 
economic impact of this rule, preparation of a regulatory impact 
analysis or a regulatory evaluation is not warranted.

B. Executive Order 13132

    This final rule has been analyzed in accordance with the principles 
and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 (``Federalism''). This 
final rule preempts State, local and Indian tribe requirements but does 
not adopt any regulation that has substantial direct effects on the 
States, the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, the consultation and funding 
requirements of Executive Order 13132 do not apply.
    The Federal hazardous material transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101-
5127, contains an express preemption provision (49 U.S.C. 5125(b)) that 
preempts State, local, and Indian tribe requirements on certain covered 
subjects. Covered subjects are:
    (1) The designation, description, and classification of hazardous 
materials;
    (2) The packing, repacking, handling, labeling, marking, and 
placarding of hazardous materials;
    (3) The preparation, execution, and use of shipping documents 
related to

[[Page 9927]]

hazardous materials and requirements related to the number, contents, 
and placement of those documents;
    (4) The written notification, recording, and reporting of the 
unintentional release in transportation of hazardous materials; or
    (5) The design, manufacture, fabrication, marking, maintenance, 
recondition, repair, or testing of a packaging or container 
represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in 
transporting hazardous material.
    This final rule addresses covered subject items (1), (2), and (3) 
above and would preempt State, local, and Indian tribe requirements not 
meeting the ``substantively the same'' standard. This rule is required 
by law. Federal hazardous materials transportation law provides at Sec. 
5125(b)(2) that if RSPA issues a regulation concerning any of the 
covered subjects, RSPA must determine and publish in the Federal 
Register the effective date of Federal preemption. The effective date 
may not be earlier than the 90th day following the date of issuance of 
the final rule and not later than two years after the date of issuance. 
The effective date of Federal preemption for these requirements is June 
3, 2002.

C. Executive Order 13175

    This final rule has been analyzed in accordance with the principles 
and criteria contained in Executive Order 13175 (``Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments''). Because this final rule 
does not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of the Indian 
tribal governments, does not impose substantial direct compliance 
costs, and is required by law, the funding and consultation 
requirements of Executive Order 13175 do not apply.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires an 
agency to review regulations to assess their impact on small entities 
unless the agency determines that a rule is not expected to have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 
Regulatory Flexibility Act applies only to final rules that are 
preceded by notices of proposed rulemaking. Because this rule was not 
preceded by an NPRM, no assessment is required. EPA addressed the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act when it made the hazardous substances 
designations and changes reflected in this rule.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not impose any new information collection 
burdens.

F. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

    A regulation identifier number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory 
action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The 
Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in 
April and October of each year. The RIN contained in the heading of 
this document can be used to cross-reference this action with the 
Unified Agenda.

G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This final rule imposes no mandates and, thus, does not impose 
unfunded mandates under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

H. Environmental Assessment

    The revisions in this final rule to the list of hazardous 
substances regulated under the HMR are based on EPA rulemakings that 
modified the EPA list of hazardous substances and reportable quantities 
required by CERCLA. Readers should consult the EPA rulemaking dockets 
for detailed information on the expected environmental impacts of these 
changes.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 172

    Education, Hazardous materials transportation, Hazardous waste, 
Labeling, Markings, Packaging and containers, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    In consideration of the foregoing, Title 49, part 172 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 172--HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, HAZARDOUS 
MATERIALS COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION, AND 
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

    1. The authority citation for part 172 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101-5127; 49 CFR 1.53.


    2. In Appendix A to Sec. 172.101, Table 1 is amended by removing, 
revising, and adding, in alphanumeric order, the following entries to 
read as follows:

Appendix A to Sec. 172.101--List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable 
Quantities

* * * * *

  Table 1 to Appendix A--Hazardous Substances Other Than Radionuclides
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Reportable quantity (RQ) pounds
          Hazardous substance                      (kilograms)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[REMOVE]...............................
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
Dichloromethyl ether...................  1(0.454)
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
2,4,6-Tribromophenol...................  100
  K140.................................  100
  K156.................................  1
  K157.................................  1
  K158.................................  1
  K169.................................  10
  K170.................................  1
  K171.................................  1
  K172.................................  1
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
[REVISE]...............................
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
Chloromethyl methyl ether..............  10 (4.54)
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
Dichloromethyl ether...................  10 (4.54)
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
Methane, chloromethoxy-................  10 (4.54)
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
Methane, oxybis(chloro-................  10 (4.54)
 
                          *    *    *    *    *
[ADD]..................................
                          *    *    *    *    *
  K156.................................  1 (0.454)
 
  K157.................................  1 (0.454)
  K158.................................  1 (0.454)
  K169.................................  10 (4.54)
  K170.................................  1 (0.454)
  K171.................................  1 (0.454)
  K172.................................  1 (0.454)
  K174.................................  1 (0.454)
  K175.................................  1 (0.454)
  K176.................................  1 (0.454)
  K177.................................  5000 (2270)
  K178.................................  1 (0.454)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 22, 2002, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 1.
Ellen G. Engleman,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-5089 Filed 3-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P