[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 50 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12259-12260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4686]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Hazardous Materials: Improving the Safety of Railroad Tank Car 
Transportation of Hazardous Materials

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: As part of PHMSA's and the Federal Railroad Administration's 
(FRA) comprehensive review of design and operational factors that 
affect the safety of railroad tank car transportation of hazardous 
materials, the two agencies invite interested persons to participate in 
a public meeting addressing potential improvements to hazardous 
materials tank cars in order to improve the overall safety of hazardous 
materials shipments via railroad tank car.

DATES: Public meeting: March 30, 2007, starting at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Public meeting: The meeting will be held at The Westin 
O'Hare, 6100 River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018. For information on 
the facilities or to request special accommodations at the meeting, 
please contact Ms. Michele M. Sampson by telephone or e-mail as soon as 
possible.
    Written Comments: Written comments may be submitted identified by 
DOT DMS Docket Number FRA-2006-25169 by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitted comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: 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: Michele M. Sampson 
([email protected]), Railroad Safety Specialist, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20590 (202-493-
6475) or Lucinda Henriksen ([email protected]), Trial Attorney, 
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20590 (202-493-1345).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal hazardous materials 
transportation law (Federal hazmat law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., as 
amended by section 1711 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public 
Law 107-296 and Title VII of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible and 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)) 
authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to 
``prescribe regulations for the safe transportation, including 
security, of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign 
commerce.'' The Secretary has delegated this authority to PHMSA.
    The Secretary of Transportation also has authority over all areas 
of railroad safety (49 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.), and has delegated this 
authority to FRA. FRA has issued a comprehensive set of Federal 
regulations governing the safety of all facets of freight and passenger 
railroad operations (49 CFR parts 200-244). FRA inspects railroads and 
shippers for compliance with both FRA and PHMSA regulations. FRA also 
conducts research and development to enhance railroad safety.
    On May 24, 2006, PHMSA and FRA announced that the two operating 
administrations of the DOT were initiating a comprehensive review of 
design and operational factors that affect the safety of railroad tank 
car transportation of hazardous materials. 71 FR 30019. In order to 
facilitate public involvement in this review, FRA established a public 
docket (docket no. FRA-2006-25169) to provide interested parties with a 
central location to both send and review relevant information 
concerning the safety of railroad tank car transportation of hazardous 
materials. See 71 FR 37974 (July 3, 2006). In addition, PHMSA and FRA 
held public meetings on May 31-June 1, 2006 and on December 14, 2006 
(see 71 FR 30019 and 71 FR 67015 (Nov. 17, 2006)). The primary purpose 
of the first meeting was to surface and prioritize issues relating to 
the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials by railroad 
tank car. The primary purpose of the second meeting was to solicit 
input and comments in response to specific questions posed by the 
agencies. In addition, at the December meeting, FRA announced the 
agency's commitment to develop an enhanced tank car standard by 2008.
    This document announces that PHMSA and FRA have scheduled a third 
public meeting as part of DOT's comprehensive review. The meeting will 
be held on the date specified in the DATES section of this document and 
at the location specified in the ADDRESSES section of this document. At 
this meeting, FRA intends to share its preliminary research results 
regarding tank car survivability and provide an update on the agency's 
progress towards developing an enhanced tank car standard. FRA also 
invites interested parties to participate in the meeting by presenting 
any relevant comments, information, or data, regarding potential 
enhancements or modifications to hazardous materials tank cars in order 
to improve the overall safety and security of hazardous material 
shipments via railroad tank car. As with the previous public meetings, 
although DOT's review includes both tank car design and operational 
factors that affect railroad tank car safety, this public meeting is 
intended to focus on the issue of potential improvements to hazardous 
materials tank cars themselves. In order to facilitate discussion, FRA 
will post the materials to be presented at this meeting in the docket 
established for this proceeding (Docket Number FRA-2006-25169) by March 
23, 2007. We encourage

[[Page 12260]]

interested parties to review the posted materials prior to the meeting.
    PHMSA and FRA encourage all interested persons to participate in 
this meeting. The agencies ask that commenters provide data in the most 
detail possible, including costs of design, installation, and 
maintenance.
    The agencies also invite interested parties who are unable to 
attend the public meeting, or who otherwise desire to submit written 
comments or data responsive to the questions raised above, to submit 
any relevant information, data, or comments to the DOT Docket 
Management System Docket Number FRA-2006-25169. Comments may be 
submitted by any method noted in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 9, 2007, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 106.
Robert Richard,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-4686 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
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