[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50454-50455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21328]



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Part V





Department of Transportation





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Research and Special Programs Administration



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Revision of the Emergency Response Guidebook; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 161 / Wednesday, August 20, 2003 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-03-14793; Notice No. 03-10]


Revision of the Emergency Response Guidebook

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

ACTION: Notice of regulatory review; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises interested persons that the Research and 
Special Programs Administration (RSPA) is soliciting comments on the 
development of the Emergency Response Guidebook 2004 (ERG2004), 
particularly from those who have experience using the 2000 Emergency 
Response Guidebook (ERG2000) during hazardous materials incidents. The 
ERG2004 will supersede ERG2000. The development of ERG2004 is a joint 
effort involving the transportation agencies of the United States, 
Canada, and Mexico.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    [sbull] Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov . Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
    [sbull] Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    [sbull] Mail: Docket Management System; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
    [sbull] Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; Room PL-401 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number 
RSPA-03-14793 at the beginning of your comment. You should submit two 
copies of your comments, if you submit them by mail. If you wish to 
receive confirmation that we received your comments, you should include 
a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received will 
be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal 
information provided. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of 
all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Docket: You may view the public docket through the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management System office 
at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerre Thomas, Research and Special 
Programs Administration (DHM-50), 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20590-0001, phone number: (202) 366-4900. Internet e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal hazardous materials 
transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) empowers the Secretary of 
Transportation to issue and enforce regulations deemed necessary to 
ensure the safe transport of hazardous materials. In addition, the law 
directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide law enforcement and 
fire fighting personnel with technical information and advice for 
meeting emergencies connected with the transportation of hazardous 
materials.

I. Request for Comments

A. Background and Purpose

    RSPA developed the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) for use by 
emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response 
to hazardous materials incidents. Since 1980, it has been our goal for 
all public emergency response vehicles, including fire fighting, 
police, and rescue squad vehicles, to carry a copy of the ERG. To 
accomplish this, we have published seven editions of the ERG and have 
distributed over seven million copies to emergency services agencies, 
without charge.
    The ERG2004 is being jointly developed by RSPA, Transport Canada, 
and the Secretary of Communication and Transport of Mexico. ERG2004 
will supersede ERG2000 and will be published in English, French, and 
Spanish for use by emergency response personnel. Publication of ERG2004 
will facilitate the safe transport of hazardous materials through North 
America and increase public safety by providing consistent emergency 
response procedures for hazardous materials incidents in North America. 
In order to continually improve the ERG, RSPA actively solicits 
comments from interested parties, especially those who have experience 
using the ERG2000 during hazardous materials incidents.

B. Emergency Response Guidebook User Concerns

    Comments are solicited on Emergency Response Guidebook user 
concerns and on the following questions:
    (1) Have emergency responders experienced a problem of inconsistent 
guidance between ERG2000 and other sources of technical information? If 
so, in what way could ERG2004 be revised to reduce inconsistencies?
    (2) Have emergency responders experienced confusion or difficulty 
in understanding the scope or purpose of ERG2000? If so, in what way 
could ERG2004 be revised to reduce this difficulty?
    (3) Have emergency responders experienced confusion or difficulty 
in understanding the application of EGR2000? If so, in what way could 
ERG2004 be revised to reduce this difficulty?
    (4) How could the ``Table of Initial Isolation and Protective 
Action Distances'' or its introduction be made easier to comprehend and 
use?
    (5) In the ``Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action 
Distances,'' does the distinction between day and night protective 
action distances add useful information for the first responder? How 
could the distinction be improved?
    (6) Initial isolation and protective action distances were 
developed based on accident histories. Modeling for worst-case 
scenarios in the event of terrorism or sabotage indicates it may be 
appropriate to apply a factor of 1.5 or 2.0 to the values in the 
guidebook in those instances. What is the best way and format to alert 
the user to the need to consider increasing protective action distances 
when terrorism or sabotage is suspected? Should short, cautionary 
language to that effect be added to the guidebook?
    (7) Could the ``List of Dangerous Water-Reactive Material'' 
introduced in NAERG96 be enhanced or improved?
    (8) Have emergency responders experienced difficulty understanding 
the capabilities of chemical protective clothing, and the limitations 
of structural fire fighter's protective clothing in hazardous materials 
incidents? If so, in what way can ERG2004 be revised to improve 
understanding?
    (9) Have any identification numbers (ID No.) been incorrectly 
assigned to a material (Name or Material)?
    (10) Has any identification number/material been assigned to the 
``wrong'' guide? If so, please identify the material and the guide.
    (11) Are the responses on each guide appropriate for the material 
assigned to the guide?

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    (12) Have emergency responders experienced difficulty with 
legibility of ERG2000's print style, format, or durability?
    (13) Have emergency response agencies experienced difficulty in 
obtaining copies of ERG2000 for their vehicles?
    (14) Besides the Table of Placards, Rail Car Identification Chart, 
and Road Trailer Identification Chart, should other pictorial 
information be included?
    (15) Are the Table of Placards, Rail Car Identification Chart, and 
Road Trailer Identification Chart accurate and useful?
    (16) Are the terms listed in the Glossary defined satisfactorily?
    (17) Should additional terms be added to the Glossary?
    (18) How can this guidebook be enhanced to assist responders in 
responding to incidents of intentional release of chemical, 
radiological, nuclear, or biological agents?
    Supporting data and analyses will enhance the value of comments 
submitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2003 under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 106.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Research and 
Special Programs Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-21328 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
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