[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 51902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4426]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; 
Public Meeting

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will 
conduct a public meeting in preparation for the twenty-first meeting of 
the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods 
Panel (DGP) to be held November 5-16, 2007 in Montreal, Canada.

DATES: Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the new DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, Oklahoma City Conference Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Duane Pfund, Director, Office of 
International Standards, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-0656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of this public meeting 
will be to discuss draft U.S. positions on the proposals that will be 
considered during the 21st Meeting of the ICAO DGP. Agenda items 
include:
    Agenda Item 1: Development of proposals, if necessary, for 
amendments to Annex 18--Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.
    Agenda Item 2: Development of recommendations for amendments to the 
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air 
(Doc 9284) for incorporation in the 2009-2010 Edition.
    Agenda Item 3: Development of recommendations or amendments to the 
Supplement to the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of 
Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284) for incorporation in the 2009-2010 
Edition.
    Agenda Item 4: Amendments to the Emergency Response Guidance for 
Aircraft Incidents involving Dangerous Goods (Doc 9481) for 
incorporation in the 2009-2010 Edition.
    Agenda Item 5: Resolution, where possible, of the non-recurrent 
work items identified by the Air Navigation Commission or the panel.
    5.1: Principles governing the transport of dangerous goods on cargo 
only aircraft.
    5.2: Reformatting of the packing instructions.
    5.3: Review of provisions for dangerous goods carried by passengers 
and crew.
    5.4: Review of provisions for dangerous goods relating to lithium 
batteries.
    5.5: Review of amendment process for the Technical Instructions for 
the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284).
    In addition, we are soliciting comments on PHMSA's international 
agenda as it relates to PHMSA's work with the ICAO DGP. In particular, 
input is requested on any air-mode specific harmonization issues 
regarding the requirements of the ICAO Technical Instructions (ICAO TI) 
and the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (U.S. HMR). Discussion 
topics include but are not limited to:

--How can PHMSA more closely align the limited quantity and consumer 
commodity provisions within the U.S. HMR and the ICAO TI?
--What efforts should be undertaken to address differences between the 
U.S. HMR and the ICAO TI related to packaging requirements and inner 
packaging quantity limits;
--What specific operational requirements differ between the U.S. HMR 
and the ICAO TI and how should those differences be addressed?
--PHMSA is interested in partnering with the regulated industry to 
identify a comprehensive list of differences between the U.S. HMR and 
the ICAO TI, and determine the most appropriate manner in which to 
address these differences.
--What aspects of the U.S. HMR could be better aligned with the ICAO 
TI, and conversely, are there any provisions within the U.S. HMR that 
could be considered by the ICAO DGP for inclusion in the ICAO TI?
--PHMSA is soliciting input relative to the use of the U.S. HMR or ICAO 
TI (as an alternative to the U.S. HMR) for domestic air transportation 
and the necessity for specific U.S. HMR exceptions applicable only to 
domestic air transport.

    For more information on the ICAO DGP and to check for updates on 
information related to this public meeting visit PHMSA's International 
Standards Web site at http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/intstandards.htm. 
To download papers which will be considered by the Panel visit the DGP 
Web site at http://www.icao.int/anb/FLS/DangerousGoods/flsdg.cfm.

Robert A. Richard,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-4426 Filed 9-10-07; 8:45 am]
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