[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4207-4208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-726]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-22356]
RIN 2137-AE13


Hazardous Materials: Enforcement Procedures

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is inviting interested persons to participate in a 
series of public meetings that will address new hazardous materials 
transportation enforcement authority contained in the Hazardous 
Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Title VII of 
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users), enacted on August 10, 2005. This expanded authority 
permits DOT enforcement personnel to open the outer packaging(s) of a 
package believed to contain hazardous materials; order a package 
believed to contain hazardous

[[Page 4208]]

materials to be transported to an appropriate facility for examination 
and analysis; assist in the safe resumption of transportation of a 
package when practicable and an imminent hazard is found not to exist; 
and, when an imminent hazard may exist, remove a package from 
transportation or issue an emergency restriction, prohibition, recall, 
or out-of-service order.

DATES: Public meetings:
    (1) February 21, 2006, starting at 8 a.m., in Dallas, Texas;
    (2) March 8, 2006, starting at 9 a.m., in Washington, DC; and
    (3) March 15, 2006, starting at 3 p.m., in Seattle, Washington.

ADDRESSES: Public meetings:
    (1) Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria, 14901 Dallas 
Parkway, Dallas, TX 75254;
    (2) DOT Headquarters, Nassif Bldg., Room 2230, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590; and
    (3) Doubletree Guest Suites Seattle, South Center, 16500 South 
Center Parkway, Seattle, WA 98188. This meeting will be conducted in 
conjunction with the Multimodal Hazmat Transportation Training Seminar 
being held on March 14-15, 2006. To register for the Seminar (free to 
the first 450 pre-registrants), please complete and submit the 
registration form available on the Web site of PHMSA's Office of 
Hazardous Materials Safety (http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/training.htm).
    Oral presentations: Any person wishing to present an oral statement 
should notify Vincent Lopez, by telephone, e-mail, or in writing, at 
least four business days before the date of the public meeting at which 
the person wishes to speak. Oral statements will be limited to 15 
minutes per commenter. For information on facilities or services for 
persons with disabilities or to request special assistance at the 
meetings, contact Mr. Lopez by telephone or e-mail as soon as possible.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents 
including those referenced in this document go to http://dms.dot.gov 
and/or 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie K. Cho ([email protected]) or 
Vincent Lopez ([email protected]), Office of Chief Counsel, 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 8417, Washington, DC 
20590, (202) 366-4400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statutory Amendments to Inspection and Investigation Authority

    On August 10, 2005, the President signed the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144. Title VII of SAFETEA-
LU--the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 
2005--revised 49 U.S.C. 5121 to provide that a designated agent of the 
Secretary of Transportation may open and examine a package offered for, 
or in, transportation when an officer, employee, or agent has an 
objectively reasonable and articulable belief that the package may 
contain a hazardous material. If it is determined that a statutory or 
regulatory violation constitutes or is causing an imminent hazard, the 
Secretary may issue or impose emergency restrictions, prohibitions, 
recalls, or out-of-service orders without notice or an opportunity for 
a hearing, but only to the extent necessary to abate the imminent 
hazard. Such action will be in the form of a written emergency order 
describing the violation, condition, or practice underlying the 
imminent hazard; stating the restrictions, prohibitions, recalls, or 
out-of-service orders issued or imposed; and describing the standards 
and procedures for obtaining relief from the order. A petition for 
review of the action under section 554 of title 5 may be filed within 
20 calendar days of the date of issuance of the emergency order. If a 
petition for review of an action is timely filed and the review is not 
completed within 30 days from the date the petition is filed, the 
action will cease to be effective at the end of such period unless the 
Secretary determines, in writing, that the imminent hazard providing a 
basis for the action continues to exist.
    PHMSA invites interested persons to participate in a series of 
three public meetings to discuss the manner in which DOT should 
implement the authority in revised 49 U.S.C. 5121 (c) and (d).
    Among the topics to be addressed at the public meetings are the 
following:
    1. The types of outer packagings that could be opened by an 
inspector, if the person in possession of the package does not agree to 
open the package himself.
    2. Whether the legal standard for opening an outer packaging, i.e., 
``an objectively reasonable and articulable belief that the package may 
pose an imminent hazard,'' needs further explanation in the 
regulations.
    3. The locations at which a package would be observed and the 
relevance of this fact to the manner of opening the outer packaging 
and, if no imminent hazard is found, the manner of reclosing the 
package for further transportation in compliance with the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMR).
    4. The amount of time required to open an outer packaging, examine 
the inner container(s) or receptacle(s) and, when no imminent hazard is 
found, reclose the package for further transportation in compliance 
with the HMR.
    5. The circumstances under which a person would be required to have 
a package transported, opened, and the contents examined and analyzed, 
at an appropriate facility.
    6. The time and cost for the facility to examine and analyze the 
contents of a package.
    7. The value of the contents of a package which would be examined 
and analyzed at an appropriate facility.
    8. The effect upon an offeror or transporter subject to an 
emergency action or order, including removing a package from 
transportation or ordering a restriction, prohibition, recall, or out-
of-service order in order to abate an imminent hazard.
    9. Conditions that would be appropriate for including in an 
emergency restriction, prohibition, recall, or out-of-service order, 
such as allowing a vehicle to be moved to a safe location for 
inspection or vehicle repairs.
    10. The time and cost of preparing a petition for review of an 
emergency action or order.
    11. The criteria necessary to seek relief from the issuance of an 
emergency action or order.

Documents

    A copy of the relevant text of Title VII of SAFETEA-LU--the 
Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005 
revising 49 U.S.C. 5121 may be obtained from DOT Docket Management 
System Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. and/or 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2006, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 106.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-726 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P