[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68829-68830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28815]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0246; Notice No. 11-11]


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 40th session of the 
United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous 
Goods (UNSCOE TDG) to be held November 28 to December 7, 2011, 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.
    Information Regarding the UNSCOE TDG Meeting:

DATES: Thursday, November 17, 2011; 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, Conference Rooms 8-10, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Registration: Pre-registration for this meeting is not required. 
Participants are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for security 
checks necessary to obtain access to the building.
    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. Shane Kelley, Senior 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 40th session of the UNSCOE TDG. The 40th session of 
the UNSCOE TDG is the second of four meetings scheduled for the 2011-
2012 biennium. The UNSCOE will consider proposals for the 18th Revised 
Edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of 
Dangerous Goods Model Regulations which will be implemented within 
relevant domestic, regional, and international regulations from January 
1, 2015. Copies of proposals and the meeting agenda may be obtained 
from the United Nations Transport Division's Web site at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/c32011.html.
    General topics on the agenda for the UNSCOE TDG meeting include:
     Listing, classification and packing
     Electric storage systems
     Miscellaneous proposals of amendments to the Model 
Regulations
     Electronic data interchange (EDI) for documentation 
purposes
     Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA)
     Global harmonization of transport of dangerous goods 
regulations
     Guiding principles for the Model Regulations
     Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling 
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

[[Page 68830]]

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/international.
    Following the 40th 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 Web site at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international. PHMSA's site at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international provides additional 
information regarding the UNSCOE TDG and related matters such as 
summaries of decisions taken at previous sessions of the UNSCOE TDG.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2011.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 2011-28815 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
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