[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 91 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 26864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9066]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-07-3]


Hazardous Materials: Reducing the Risk of Hazardous Materials 
Incidents During Loading and Unloading Operations

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

ACTION: Notice of public workshop on loading/unloading practices.

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SUMMARY: As part of PHMSA's efforts to review bulk loading and 
unloading of hazardous materials and to develop risk reduction 
strategies, the agency invites interested persons to participate in a 
public workshop that will examine industry data, identify industry best 
practices and standards, discuss the role of recommended practices for 
loading and unloading, and consider industry actions that have the 
potential to reduce risk during loading and unloading. PHMSA seeks the 
broadest participation of industry, federal agencies, state and local 
government, standards organizations, the emergency response community, 
employee groups, environmental and public interest organizations, and 
the public. PHMSA seeks individuals and organizations willing to speak 
at the public workshop. Interested persons are invited to submit papers 
on related topics.

DATES: Public meeting: June 14, 2007, starting at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Public meeting: The meeting will be held at Lowe's L'Enfant 
Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. For 
information on the facilities or to request special accommodations at 
the meeting, please contact Mr. Rick Boyle by telephone or e-mail as 
soon as possible.
    Written Comments: Written comments may be submitted and identified 
by DOT DMS Docket Number PHMSA-07-3 by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting 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: Mr. Rick Boyle, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Technology, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Technology, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, phone number: (202) 366-
4545, e-mail: [email protected], or, Mr. Douglas Reeves, Office of 
Hazardous Materials Technology, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Technology, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, phone 
number: (202) 366-4545, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    A recent PHMSA review of bulk loading and unloading incidents over 
the past decade suggests roughly one quarter to one half of overall 
hazardous materials transportation incidents may be attributable to 
loading and unloading operations, particularly bulk packages. We also 
note that a significant proportion of National Transportation Safety 
Board (NTSB) hazardous materials accident reports over this period 
address safety concerns regarding bulk loading or unloading operations.

II. Purpose of Public Workshop

    PHMSA is using an enterprise approach, bringing all stakeholders 
together for conceptual discussions, to examine the bulk loading and 
unloading issue and the range of potential industry actions to reduce 
risk in the transportation of hazardous materials. This public workshop 
is an early step in this effort.
    The workshop will consist of a series of panel presentations on 
specific topics followed by discussions of the issues involved. We 
anticipate that the panels will cover incident data and relevant NTSB 
accident reports; loading and unloading procedures, including existing 
recommended practices and potential gaps; assessment; training; and 
emergency response. An ad-hoc industry working group has submitted a 
draft recommended practice on contents of bulk loading and unloading 
procedures. PHMSA encourages all stakeholders to review the draft 
available in the docket as a starting point for discussions.
    The public may attend and participate in this workshop without 
prior notification; however, to structure the event to best utilize 
technical experience in attendance, PHMSA asks that individuals submit 
information, if possible, on their areas of expertise and interests 
prior to the workshop. Individuals who wish to make presentations on 
the panels should contact Mr. Rick Boyle or Mr. Douglas Reeves and make 
arrangements to participate on the panels prior to the workshop. PHMSA 
plans to invite specific individuals and Federal agency representatives 
to make presentations as the workshop agenda is developed.
    Advance material that should be reviewed prior to the workshop can 
be found in the docket or at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings. 
Directions to the workshop location, the workshop agenda, an attendee 
information submittal form, and the draft recommended practice on 
contents of bulk loading and unloading procedures can be found at these 
locations.
    PHMSA also invites interested persons who are unable to attend the 
public workshop and who have an interest in bulk loading and unloading 
of hazardous materials to submit comments pertinent to panels and 
topics identified in the workshop agenda or to provide any relevant 
information or data to the DOT Docket Management System Docket Number 
PHMSA-07-3. Comments may be submitted by any method noted in the 
ADDRESSES section above.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 7, 2007, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR part 106.
Theodore L. Willke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-9066 Filed 5-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P