[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46292-46293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21415]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Hazardous Materials-Automated Cargo Communication for Efficient 
and Safe Shipments HM-ACCESS) Initiative; 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 to receive input and guidance for the upcoming 
Proof-of-Concept Study on the use of

[[Page 46293]]

electronic data sharing in lieu of paper hazardous materials shipping 
documents.

DATES: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Wednesday October 
14, 2009 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    Notification: Persons planning to attend should send an e-mail to 
[email protected] including their name and contact information 
(company/address/telephone).
    Conference Call Capability/Live Meeting Information: Due to the 
nature and length of the meeting, remote access/call-in capability will 
not be provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ryan Paquet, P.G., Assistant 
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 the forthcoming HM-ACCESS Proof of Concept Study and 
specify requirements to be included in the Study's statement of work. 
In holding this public meeting, PHMSA seeks to receive feedback from a 
wide audience, representing myriad portions of the HM industry, 
including HM shippers, transporters, freight forwarders, emergency 
responders, other government agencies, technology providers, etc.
    PHMSA's HM-ACCESS initiative aims to identify and eliminate 
barriers to the use of paperless tracking and hazard communications 
technologies, thereby (1) improving the availability and accuracy of 
hazard information; (2) improving the speed by which information is 
available to emergency responders when incidents occur; (3) and 
allowing U.S. companies to compete more effectively in the global 
economy by using the best tools available.
    Spurred by competitive demands, just-in-time delivery requirements, 
and the globalization of supply chains, the transportation and 
logistics industries have embraced modern communication technologies; 
yet hazardous materials transport remains in a world of paper. The HM 
sector has harnessed many of the same technologies for streamlining 
commercial interchange, but information about shipments and packages is 
conveyed by markings on the package, placards on the vehicle, and 
shipping papers. Paper-based communication is slow, limits the 
information available, and is fraught with the potential for error. 
Inefficiencies and errors in the handling of hazardous materials 
produce increased risk throughout the transport chain due to increased 
storage time, mishandling, and ineffective or inaccurate hazard 
communication. Moreover, paper-based communication may be least 
effective at the very time when hazard communication is most critical--
in the immediate aftermath of a transportation incident.
    We expect the integration of electronic transfer of shipping 
information to be generational. A number of hazardous materials 
carriers, vessel, rail, and air transport organizations have stated 
that they are ready to begin utilizing electronic shipping paper 
technology, subject only to regulatory authorization. In the highway 
mode, the larger, technologically-advanced companies may be prepared to 
implement electronic systems, but widespread use among the industry is 
a longer-term proposition. In any case, however, no part of the HM 
transportation sector can transition to new hazard communication 
systems without ensuring that emergency response officials are prepared 
and equipped to receive the hazard information at least as quickly and 
reliably as under the current system.
    Discussion points include:
    1. What are shipping papers used for?
    2. What information from a shipping paper should be immediately 
conveyed to emergency responders in the event of an incident?
    3. What work has been/is being done on standardizing shipping paper 
information?
    4. When electronic shipping papers are used, how is required 
information shared with emergency responders (professional, volunteer, 
urban, rural, etc.)? How is it shared with compliance inspectors/
officers?
    5. What benefits will electronic shipping papers have for companies 
shipping HM? HM transporters? Freight forwarders? Emergency responders? 
Other government agencies?
    6. What challenges will electronic shipping papers create for 
companies shipping HM? HM transporters? Freight forwarders? Emergency 
responders? Other government agencies?
    7. What existing efforts (government or private) are related to HM-
ACCESS? Can these efforts be coordinated?
    For more information on the HM-ACCESS and to check for updates on 
information related to this public meeting visit PHMSA's HM-ACCESS Web 
site at http://hazmat.dot.gov/HM-ACCESS/index.html.

R. Ryan Posten,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-21415 Filed 9-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M