[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 155 (Monday, August 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45302-45303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15741]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-07-28590 (Notice No. 07-6)]


Hazardous Materials: Request for Comments on Issues or Problems 
Concerning International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe 
Transport of Radioactive Materials

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are 
jointly seeking comments on issues or problems concerning requirements 
in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations for the 
Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (referred to as TS-R-1). The 
IAEA is considering revisions to the TS-R-1 regulations as part of its 
review cycle for a 2011 edition.

DATES: Submit comments by September 5, 2007. Comments received after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so; however, we 
are only able to assure consideration for proposals received on or 
before this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number 
PHMSA-07-28590 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; Room W12-
140 on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., 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 
PHMSA-07-28590 or the Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this 
notice at the beginning of your proposal. For detailed instructions on 
submitting proposals and additional information on the rulemaking 
process, see the Public Participation section of this document. Note 
that all proposals received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the 
Privacy Act section of this document.
    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: 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The IAEA is the world's center of cooperation in the nuclear field. 
The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide 
to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. The IAEA 
established and maintains an international standard, Regulations for 
the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-R-1), to promote the 
safe and secure transportation of radioactive material. The IAEA 
periodically revises its Regulations for the Safe Transport of 
Radioactive Material to reflect new information and accumulated 
experience. The DOT is the U.S. competent authority before the IAEA for 
radioactive material transportation matters. The NRC provides technical 
support to the DOT in this regard, particularly with regard to Type B 
and fissile transportation packages.
    The IAEA recently initiated the review cycle for a potential 2011 
edition of its regulations. To assure opportunity for public 
participation in the international regulatory development process, the 
DOT and the NRC are soliciting comments and information concerning 
issues or problems with the IAEA Regulations.
    The focus of this solicitation is to identify issues or problems 
with the 2005 edition of TS-R-1. While it is helpful to identify 
potential changes or solutions to resolve the identified issues or 
problems, you need not provide a proposed change to accompany each 
identified issue or problem. This information will assist the DOT and 
the NRC to consider the full range of views as the agencies develop the 
proposed issues the United States will submit to the IAEA.

II. Public Participation

    Proposed issues or identified problems should identify docket 
number PHMSA-07-28590 (Notice No. 07-6). Persons wishing to receive 
confirmation of receipt of their proposals should include a self-
addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may access all proposals 
received by the U.S. Department of Transportation at http://dms.dot.gov.
    Proposals must be submitted in writing (electronic file on disk in 
Microsoft Word format preferred) and should include:
     Name;
     Address;
     Telephone number;
     E-mail address;
     Principal objective of issue or identified problem (e.g., 
required to provide adequate protection to health

[[Page 45303]]

and safety of public and occupational workers, needed to define or 
redefine level of protection to health and safety of public and 
occupational workers, required for consistency within the IAEA 
Transport Regulations, required as a result of advances in technology, 
needed to improve implementation of the IAEA Transport Regulations);
     A description of the issue or the identified problem by 
reference to or using the table of contents of TS-R-1 (2005 Edition) 
and the Advisory Material for the IAEA Regulations for the Safe 
Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-G-1.1 (ST-2));
     Justification for proposed change--a clear statement of 
the main objectives of the proposed change and the solution ``path'' 
(e.g., change to regulations, additional guidance, a research project);
     An assessment of the benefits and impacts of the proposed 
change, including identification of affected parties, changes in public 
and occupational exposure, changes in accident risk, and effects on 
health, safety or the environment;
     Paragraphs of the current regulations (TS-R-1) affected 
(existing text, and proposed new text);
     Paragraphs affected and proposed text change to IAEA 
advisory material in TS-G-1.1;
     A listing of any applicable reference documents; and
     Expected cost of implementation (negligible, low, medium 
or high).
    The DOT and the NRC will review the proposed issues and rationales. 
In addition to issues proposed in response to this notice, the DOT is 
considering submitting issues regarding nuclear power plant large 
component transport and clarification of TS-R-1 paragraph 619 on 
pressure requirements for air transport of packages.
    Proposed issues and identified problems from all Member States and 
International Organizations will be considered at an IAEA Transport 
Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) Meeting to be convened by IAEA on 
October 1-5, 2007, in Vienna, Austria.
    Prior to that meeting, the DOT and the NRC will consider convening 
a public meeting to discuss the U.S. proposals submitted to the IAEA.

III. Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all proposed 
changes received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the proposed change (or signing the proposed change, 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 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 7, 2007.
Theodore L. Willke,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-15741 Filed 8-10-07; 8:45 am]
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