[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14612-14613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7042]


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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 35th session of the 
United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous 
Goods (UNSCOE TDG) to be held June 22-26, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. 
During this meeting, PHMSA is also soliciting comments relative to 
potential new work items which may be considered for inclusion in its 
international agenda, and comments relative to a potential future 
rulemaking action regarding the use and applicability of international 
standards.

Information Regarding the UNSCOE TDG Meeting

DATES: Wednesday, June 17, 2009; 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, Oklahoma City Conference Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Conference Call Capability/Live Meeting Information: Conference 
call-in and ``live meeting'' capability will be provided for this 
meeting. Specific information on call-in and live meeting access will 
be posted when available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of this meeting will be 
to prepare for the 35th session of the UNSCOE TDG. The 35th session of 
the UNSCOE TDG is the first meeting in the current 2009-2010 biennium. 
The UNSCOE will consider proposals for the 16th Revised Edition of the 
United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods 
Model Regulations which will come into force in the international 
regulations from January 1, 2013. Topics on the agenda for the UNSCOE 
TDG meeting include:
     Explosives and related matters;
     Listing, classification and packing;
     Electric storage systems;
     Miscellaneous proposals of amendments to the Model 
Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods;
     Electronic data interchange (EDT) for documentation 
purposes;
     Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA);
     Global harmonization of transport of dangerous goods 
regulations with the UN Model Regulations;
     Guiding principles for the Model Regulations; and
     Issues relating to the Globally Harmonized System of 
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
    In addition, PHMSA is soliciting comments on how to further enhance 
harmonization for international transport of hazardous materials. PHMSA 
has finalized a broad international strategic plan and welcomes input 
on items which stakeholders believe should be included as specific 
initiatives within this plan. PHMSA's Office of International Standards 
Strategic Plan can be accessed at: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/intemational.
    Finally, PHMSA is soliciting comments regarding a potential future 
rulemaking action regarding the use of international regulations, in 
particular the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical 
Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous

[[Page 14613]]

Goods by Air (ICAOTI) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods 
Code (IMDG Code). PHMSA is considering proposing to mandate the use of 
these regulations for the international transportation (see 49 CFR 
171.8) of hazardous materials by aircraft or vessel. PHMSA requests 
comments regarding this prospective proposal. PHMSA is interested in 
comments including, but not limited to, comments related to the safety 
and economic implications of mandating the use of these regulations for 
international shipments, as well as implications to training of 
personnel.
    The public is invited to attend without prior notification. Due to 
the heightened security measures participants are encouraged to arrive 
early to allow time for security checks necessary to obtain access to 
the building. Following the 35th session of the UNSCOE TDG, PHMSA will 
place a copy of the Sub-Committee's report and a summary of the results 
on PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Safety Homepage at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international.

Documents

    Copies of documents for the UNSCOE TDG meeting and the meeting 
agenda may be obtained by downloading them from the United Nations 
Transport Division's Web site at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/c32009.html. PHMSA's site at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international also provides additional information regarding the 
UNSCOE TDG and related matters such as summaries of decisions taken at 
previous sessions of the UNSCOE TDG.

Theodore L. Willke,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
 [FR Doc. E9-7042 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M