[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 70876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28698]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Revised Guidance for Requesting One-Time Movement Approvals 
(OTMA)

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: FRA is notifying the public of the availability of revised 
guidance for requesting one-time movement approvals (OTMA) for the 
transportation by rail of nonconforming or leaking bulk hazardous 
materials packages.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Alexy, Staff Director, Hazardous 
Materials Division, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, FRA, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590; 
telephone: (202) 493-6245; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) 
issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA) govern the rail transportation of hazardous materials. Title 49 
Code of Federal Regulations Section 174.50 of the HMR forbids the 
transportation by rail of a bulk packaging that no longer conforms to 
HMR or that is leaking, unless otherwise approved by FRA's Associate 
Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer. These approvals 
are generally referred to as OTMAs.
    Recently, FRA revised its OTMA procedures to streamline the overall 
OTMA process and to minimize unnecessary administrative burdens. On 
January 31, 2012, FRA issued Hazardous Materials Guidance Number HMG-
127, which explained these revised procedures and the criteria for 
issuance of OTMAs. Based on experience with the procedures and comments 
received from industry, FRA modified and reissued the procedures in 
Revision 2 of HMG-127, dated October 31, 2012. The revised HMG-127 is 
available for review on FRA's Web site at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/789.shtml. In addition, FRA revised the OTMA application, which 
is available on FRA's Web site at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/rrs/pages/fp_1799.shtml. FRA staff can provide copies of these documents for 
review upon request if contacted at the address and telephone number 
listed above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2012.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-28698 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P