[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43263-43268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17363]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0124, Notice No. 13-7]


Paperless Hazard Communications Pilot Program

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: PHMSA invites volunteers for a pilot program to evaluate the 
effectiveness of paperless hazard communications systems and comments 
on an information collection activity associated with the pilot 
program. ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act'' (MAP-21) 
authorizes PHMSA to conduct a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility 
and effectiveness of using paperless hazard communications systems. In 
accordance with MAP-21, in conducting the pilot projects, PHMSA may not 
waive the current shipping paper requirements. In addition, MAP-21 
indicates that PHMSA must consult with organizations representing fire 
and other emergency responders, law enforcement, and regulated 
entities. Upon completion of the pilot projects, PHMSA must evaluate 
the feasibility and effectiveness of paperless hazard communications 
systems and make a recommendation to Congress regarding regulatory 
changes that would permanently authorize the use of paperless hazard 
communications systems. The report is due to Congress by October 1, 
2014. The intent of this notice is to: (1) Describe the current 
regulatory requirements for shipping papers; (2) describe authority 
granted under MAP-21; (3) explain the goal, scope, and intent of the 
pilot program; (4) seek volunteers to participate in the pilot projects 
and describe criteria for selecting pilot participants from the 
volunteers; and (5) seek comment on the request for information to be 
collected in conducting the pilot projects and in consulting with 
organizations representing fire and other emergency responders, law 
enforcement, and regulated entities. Information gathered will enable 
PHMSA to generate a report to Congress detailing: (1) The performance 
of each paperless hazard communications system tested during the pilot 
projects; (2) PHMSA's assessment of the safety and security impacts on 
stakeholders; (3) the associated costs and benefits; and (4) PHMSA's 
regulatory recommendation(s).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, and statements of interest to 
volunteer, identified by the docket number (PHMSA-2013-0124) by any of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     FAX: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, Routing Symbol M-30, West Building, 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: Docket Operations, West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice at the beginning of the comment. To avoid 
duplication, please use only one of these four methods. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov 
and will include any personal information you provide.
    Docket: For access to the dockets to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or DOT's Docket 
Operations Office (see ADDRESSES).

[[Page 43264]]

    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any 
written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by 
the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the 
document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in 
the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you 
may visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2000-04-11/pdf/00-8505.pdf

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James O. Simmons, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Engineering and Research Division (PHH-23), Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone 
(202) 366-4545. Requests for a copy of the information collection 
should be directed to T. Glenn Foster, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Standards and Rulemaking Division (PHH-12), Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone 
(202) 366-8553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1320.8 (d), Title 5, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) requires that PHMSA provide interested members of the 
public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information 
collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies an 
information collection activity PHMSA is undertaking to evaluate the 
effectiveness of a paperless hazard communications pilot program 
authorized under Title III, Section 33005, of the Hazardous Materials 
Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2012 (H.R. 4348), also 
referenced as the ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act'' 
(H.R. 4348, ``MAP-21''). This notice also seeks volunteers (shippers, 
carriers, law enforcement, and emergency response personnel) who are 
interested in participating in the pilot projects. The pilot projects 
and the information collection activity identified in this notice have 
been designed to ensure full collaboration with modal administrations, 
law enforcement personnel, fire services and emergency response 
providers, and regulated entities (shippers and carriers who transport 
hazardous materials by air, highway, rail, and water) to test the 
feasibility and then evaluate both the feasibility and effectiveness of 
using paperless hazardous materials (e-HM) communications systems (e-
systems). The following sections describe the: (1) Current regulatory 
requirements for shipping papers; (2) authority granted under MAP-21; 
(3) goal, scope, and intent of the pilot program and request for 
volunteers to participate in the pilots; (4) criteria used for 
selecting pilot participants; and (5) request for information to be 
collected in conducting the pilot projects and in consulting with 
organizations representing fire and other emergency responders, law 
enforcement, and regulated entities.

1. History of and Current Regulatory Requirements for Shipping Papers

    The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) 
require a person who offers hazardous materials for transportation in 
commerce to describe the hazardous materials on a shipping paper in the 
manner required in 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart C. The shipping paper 
requirements identify key hazard communication information (e.g., UN 
number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, type and 
quantity of packaging, and emergency response telephone number). Unless 
an exception from the shipping paper requirements is provided in the 
regulations, a paper copy of the shipping paper must accompany a 
hazardous material during transportation. A shipping paper includes ``a 
shipping order, bill of lading, manifest or other shipping document 
serving a similar purpose and containing the information required by 
Sec. Sec.  172.202, 172.203, and 172.204'' (49 CFR 171.8, definition of 
``shipping paper''). A hazardous waste manifest ``may be used as the 
shipping paper'' if it contains all the information required by Part 
172, Subpart C (49 CFR 172.205(h)).
    In 1994, Congress amended the Federal hazardous materials 
transportation law (Federal hazmat law) to require that, after a 
hazardous material ``is no longer in transportation,'' all offerors and 
carriers of a hazardous material must retain the shipping paper ``or 
electronic image thereof for a period of 1 year to be accessible 
through their respective principal places of business'' (49 U.S.C. 
5110(e), added by Pub. L. 103-311, Title I, Sec.  115, 108 Stat. 1678 
(Aug. 26, 1994)). That section also requires that the offeror and 
carrier ``shall, upon request, make the shipping paper available to a 
Federal, State, or local government agency at reasonable times and 
locations.''
    On September 12, 2001, the Research and Special Programs 
Administration (the predecessor to PHMSA) issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the HMR to conform with Sec.  5110(e) (66 FR 
47443). The 2001 NPRM indicated an electronic image includes an image 
transmitted by a facsimile (FAX) machine, an image on the screen of a 
computer, or an image generated by an optical imaging machine. To 
facilitate compliance with, and enforcement of, the hazardous materials 
shipping paper requirement, in 2002 PHMSA further amended the HMR 
regarding the retention and information requirements associated with 
shipping papers. Amendments included extending the retention period to 
375 days; requiring the copy to include the date that the shipment is 
accepted for transportation by the initial carrier; and requiring that 
the shipping paper copy or its electronic image be accessible at or 
through the principal place of business of each person required to 
prepare or maintain it during transportation. Consideration for 
allowing the use of electronic communication while hazardous materials 
are actually in transportation is the next step in the evolution of 
hazard communication.
    The implementation of e-systems has already begun and will evolve 
if industry determines that investing in technology is economically 
beneficial for its businesses. Spurred by competitive demands, just-in-
time delivery requirements, and the globalization of supply chains, 
many transportation and logistics industries have embraced modern 
innovations to communicate. However, the HMR requires the use of a 
paper copy of the shipping document. The rationale behind a paper-based 
system is to convey the necessary information in a consistent manner 
that is widely understood and accepted by all regulated entities, law 
enforcement, and emergency responders.

2. Authority Granted Under MAP-21

    Section 33005 of MAP-21 provided PHMSA the authority to conduct 
paperless hazard communications pilot projects. PHMSA will conduct the 
pilot projects to evaluate the feasibility of using e-systems to convey 
the same information that is contained on a paper copy of a shipping 
document. MAP-21, Section 33005 states that PHMSA: (1) Cannot waive the 
current statutory shipping paper requirements, and (2) must consult 
with organizations representing fire and other emergency responders, 
law enforcement, and regulated entities. In addition, at least one 
pilot project must take place in a rural area.

[[Page 43265]]

    Upon completion of the pilot projects, PHMSA must prepare a report 
that provides: (1) A detailed description of the pilot projects; (2) an 
evaluation of each pilot project to include an evaluation of the 
performance of the e-systems; (3) an assessment of the safety and 
security impacts of using e-systems to include the impact on the 
public, emergency responders, law enforcement, and on conducting 
inspections and investigations; (4) an analysis of the associated 
benefits and costs of using e-systems for each mode of transportation; 
and (5) a recommendation whether e-systems should be permanently 
incorporated into the Federal hazmat regulations. The Secretary shall 
submit the report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the U.S. Senate and to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives 
by October 2014, two years after the enactment of the Hazardous 
Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2012.

3. Goal, Scope, and Intent of the Pilot Program and Request for 
Volunteers To Participate in the Pilot Projects

    Beginning in 2007, PHMSA initiated actions to implement paperless 
hazard communications. PHMSA has conducted activities including: (1) 
Building a cooperative effort between transportation entities and 
regulatory agencies; (2) publishing a notice on the use of electronic 
data sharing; (3) conducting stakeholder public meetings to receive 
feedback on the use of electronic data sharing to communicate hazardous 
material shipping information; (4) collaborating with the 
Transportation Research Board on a study on the use of electronic 
hazardous materials shipping papers; (5) hosting workshops for 
stakeholders to communicate outreach findings of paperless hazardous 
communications; and (6) publishing e-HM information papers, which 
highlight the collective hazardous material transportation community's 
priorities, gaps, and concerns for implementing paperless hazard 
communications.
    PHMSA strongly believes, through its prior efforts and activities, 
paperless hazard communication is possible and that this pilot program 
will demonstrate the capabilities of e-systems. PHMSA has developed a 
strategy for conducting the pilot projects that will enable PHMSA to 
evaluate paperless hazard communication systems capabilities from a 
real-world perspective.
    The goal of the paperless hazard communications pilot program is to 
determine if e-systems are a feasible and effective means of providing 
hazard communication. In addition, if they are feasible and effective, 
PHMSA will use the information it gathers to assess the level of safety 
and security, as well as the associated benefits and costs, of e-
systems as compared to the current hazardous materials shipping paper 
requirements. It is PHMSA's intent that any pilot project (test) 
conducted under the authority granted by MAP-21 will study the 
performance, safety and security impacts, and the associated benefits 
and costs of using e-systems for hazardous materials shipments, without 
disrupting the normal flow of commerce. During the pilot projects, 
emergency response providers and law enforcement officials will 
continue to perform their duties and respective roles according to 
existing emergency and inspection requirements, procedures, and 
policies. The emergency responders and law enforcement officials may 
continue to rely on the written shipping paper, even if companies are 
operating under a pilot project.
    MAP-21 indicates that PHMSA must consider both the feasibility and 
the effectiveness of paperless hazard communications. Under this pilot 
program, PHMSA will be collaborating with regulated entities, law 
enforcement personnel, emergency response providers, and modal 
administrations to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 
allowing e-HM communication for hazardous materials shipments. The 
pilot projects will focus on the use of e-systems:
     While shipping hazardous materials from point of origin to 
final destination using different transportation conveyances (i.e., 
trucks, railcars, maritime vessels, and airplanes), and
     During inspections and emergency response simulations.
    PHMSA is seeking shippers, carriers, law enforcement personnel, and 
emergency responders that may be interested in volunteering to 
participate in the pilot projects. In response to a web posted 
announcement entitled, ``Defining the HM ACCESS Pilot Test,'' 64 
entities expressed interest in participating. Some of these entities 
may satisfy the pilot project and MAP-21 qualification criteria and 
possess the capability and capacity to aid in testing a variety of 
scenarios. PHMSA strongly encourages the 64 entities that previously 
expressed interest in participating in the pilot projects to respond to 
this notice and provide the information identified within this notice. 
To ensure that we have the broadest range of participation in the pilot 
projects, PHMSA encourages other interested entities who have not 
previously expressed an interest in participating to volunteer. PHMSA 
will evaluate all volunteers (the previous 64 and those who respond to 
this notice) according to the criteria and qualifications identified in 
the following section and will select participants that satisfy the 
pilot test qualification requirements, meet the criteria specified in 
MAP-21, and are best able to aid in testing a variety of scenarios. 
Shippers, carriers, law enforcement, and emergency responders 
interested in participating in the pilot projects should provide 
statements of interest to the addresses identified in this notice. The 
statement of interest should include information describing the 
organization, point(s) of contact (name, title, address, phone, and 
email), self-identification of stakeholder type (shipper, carrier, law 
enforcement, or emergency responder), location, and capabilities. It 
should be noted, however, that responding to this notice does not 
guarantee selection for participation in the pilot projects.

4. Criteria Used for Selecting Pilot Project Participants

    PHMSA intends that any pilot conducted under the authority granted 
by MAP-21 will study the performance, safety and security impacts, and 
associated benefits and costs of using e-systems for hazardous 
materials shipments, without disrupting the normal flow of commerce. 
Further, hardcopy shipping documents will still be required to 
accompany each shipment during the pilot projects, in accordance with 
the HMR.
    PHMSA will conduct pilot tests in three, and potentially four, 
regions of the U.S.: The Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and 
Southwest, with at least one pilot test conducted in a rural area 
within one or more of the regions, as prescribed by MAP-21. PHMSA will 
focus the pilot tests in geographical regions possessing high 
concentrations of hazardous materials registrants and presenting 
historically high numbers of hazardous material incidents resulting in 
deaths and injuries.

Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Volunteers

    Desired law enforcement and emergency responder pilot test 
participants are those that operate within the regions of the pilot 
tests and are willing to assist in the collection of information during 
the tests, as described later in this document.

Shipper and Carrier Volunteers

    Desired shipper and carrier pilot test participants are those who 
offer hazardous materials for transportation

[[Page 43266]]

and/or transport hazardous materials by a variety of modes and interact 
with other intermodal carriers for hazardous materials transfers. It is 
not PHMSA's intention to test vendors of electronic communication 
technologies or products. To volunteer and be selected as a volunteer, 
interested shipper and carrier participants will need to ship and/or 
transport hazardous materials within areas of high concentrations of 
hazardous materials registrants and hazardous materials incidents. In 
addition to the regions and modal criteria, potential participants 
must, at a minimum, satisfy the following requirements:
     Possess e-system(s) capable of managing and communicating 
the hazardous materials shipping paper information at their own 
expense,
     Possess their own equipment and personnel and/or 
contractor resources necessary to transport hazardous materials 
shipments,
     Be willing to allow, and participate in, inspections and 
emergency response simulations during the pilot tests,
     Be willing to provide feedback on experiences regarding e-
HM communication during the pilot tests, including providing actual e-
HM communications data from the pilot tests,
     Be willing to provide information on the basic function 
and capabilities of their e-system(s),
     Be willing to provide information on administrative, 
business, training, equipment, and operational-related benefits and 
costs associated with implementing e-system(s),
     Transport hazardous materials within the targeted test 
regions of the U.S., and
     Be in good standing with all levels of government and 
demonstrate compliance with all applicable regulations governing the 
safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials.
    As part of PHMSA's participant evaluation and selection process, 
each shipper and carrier submitting a statement of interest will need 
to answer a list of on-line participant questions to verify its 
qualifications and capabilities. These questions will help PHMSA select 
those shipper and carrier participants that are best positioned to aid 
in testing a variety of test scenarios and criteria as specified in 
MAP-21. PHMSA anticipates the burden on shipper and carrier volunteers 
will be low and will involve the use of on-line questions (no more than 
35 questions) with answers to most questions designed to be ``yes,'' 
``no,'' or multiple choice.

Shipper and Carrier Participant Questions

    PHMSA will publish a 30-day Notice in response to comments received 
to this 60-day Notice; the 30-day Notice will provide the shipper and 
carrier questions for those shippers and carriers who express an 
interest in volunteering in the pilot tests. PHMSA will use these 
questions to collect the following types of information from each 
shipper and carrier volunteer:
     Organization's name and general information.
     Hazardous material transport role (shipper, carrier, or 
both).
     Geographic area of business.
     Understanding of and ability to satisfy pilot test 
requirements and data needs.
     Technology of e-system(s).
     Capability of e-system(s) (scalability, accessibility, 
etc.).
     Equipment and process for transmitting data.
     Format of electronic data exchange.
     Class(es) of HM being shipped.
     Type of shipments(s) (less than truck load, bulk, etc.).
     Shipment route information (origin, destination, etc.).
     Mode(s) of transport associated with shipment(s).
    PHMSA does not anticipate that completing the participant questions 
will impose a significant burden on shipper and carrier respondents. 
PHMSA estimates no more than 80 regulated entities (including those 
that have already replied to the web announcement and the additional 
volunteers that may reply to this Notice) will be asked to answer a 
list of shipper and carrier participant questions. PHMSA estimates it 
will take each respondent approximately 30 minutes to answer the list 
of participant questions. The resulting estimated total burden is 40 
hours (80 respondents x 0.5 hour per respondent = 40 hours) for the 
shipper and carrier participant question data collection.

5. Request for Information (Following Selection of Pilot Test 
Participants)

    PHMSA is seeking to collect: (1) Information and data as part of 
the pilot tests to support evaluation; and (2) data and information 
outside of the pilot tests for analyzing potential impacts (safety, 
security, benefits, and costs) of using e-systems.
    PHMSA understands that this information collection effort may 
impose a burden on respondents. The information obtained will:
     Assist the agency in improving safety, hazard 
communication products, and/or hazard communication materials, and in 
potentially reducing current burden hours for completing shipping 
papers;
     Be provided strictly on a voluntary basis; and
     Be collected primarily utilizing on-line questions with 
answers to most questions designed to be ``yes,'' ``no,'' or multiple 
choice.
    Volunteer modal inspectors and emergency responders will be 
responsible for conducting inspection and emergency response 
simulations and the majority of the data collection during the pilot 
tests. This approach limits the information burden on regulated 
entities, while minimizing information bias. Modal inspectors 
(typically law enforcement) will test the feasibility and effectiveness 
of e-systems by performing simulated modal inspections of regulated 
entities (shippers and carriers) participating in the pilot tests 
utilizing e-HM shipping papers. The inspectors will conduct each 
simulation following their established inspection protocols using their 
own existing equipment and resources. The only difference during the 
simulations will be that the shipping paper information will be 
communicated electronically. Following each inspection simulation, the 
participating inspector will answer a list of on-line questions related 
to the simulation and submit to PHMSA a copy of the e-HM shipping paper 
received. Emergency responders will follow a similar process to test 
the feasibility and effectiveness of e-systems during a simulated 
incident response involving HM shipments using electronic shipping 
papers. PHMSA will use the answers to the on-line questions and the e-
HM shipping papers provided by the inspectors and emergency responders 
to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the e-system involved.
    PHMSA plans to administer the questions on-line q, with a maximum 
of 50 questions, and with answers to most questions designed to be 
``yes,'' ``no,'' or multiple choice. The following sections summarize 
the types of information that will be requested as part of the pilot 
program.

Shipper and Carrier Information

    Shippers and carriers will not be required to answer the list of 
on-line inspection and emergency response simulation questions 
described in the next section as part the pilot project. However, PHMSA 
does anticipate that the information provided by inspectors and 
emergency responders in conducting the simulations may

[[Page 43267]]

necessitate follow-up discussions with the shippers and/or carriers 
involved. Limited information may need to be collected from shippers 
and carriers as a result of these follow-up discussions, potentially 
including copies of e-HM shipping papers.
    PHMSA does not anticipate that follow-up discussions with shippers 
and carriers and the associated information collection will impose a 
significant burden on respondents. PHMSA anticipates a total of 30 
shippers and carriers (assuming 10 respondents for each of three test 
regions) and a burden of no more than four hours per shipper and 
carrier for the entirety of the test period. The resulting estimated 
total burden is 120 hours (30 respondents x 4.0 hour per respondent = 
120 hours) for follow-up discussions and associated information 
collection with shippers and carriers.

Inspection Simulation Questions

    For each hazardous materials inspection simulation, inspectors (law 
enforcement and/or Federal and state modal inspectors) involved in the 
simulation will answer a list of online inspection simulation questions 
and provide an electronic copy of the hazardous materials shipping 
paper they received during the simulation. Analysis of the e-HM 
shipping papers for required hazard communication information will 
enable PHMSA to verify the integrity of the data transfer. PHMSA will 
provide the list of inspection simulation questions with the 30-day 
Notice PHMSA will publish in response to comments received to this 60-
day Notice. The inspection simulation questions will be designed to 
collect the following types of information:
     Organization's name and general information.
     Mode of transport inspected during simulation.
     Information about the organization's e-system(s).
     Activity triggering data transfer.
     Process and equipment used for data receipt and 
transmission.
     Hazardous materials data received from carrier or shipper.
     Hazardous materials data transmitted (to home office, 
other entity, etc.).
     Electronic data exchange format used.
     Actual time for data receipt (and transmission, if 
applicable).
     Human involvement.
     ``Readability'' of data.
     Electronic connectivity.
     Impacts to stakeholders (regulated entities, law 
enforcement, emergency responders, and the public).
     Impediments to using e-systems.
     Actual and potential benefits realized by stakeholders 
(regulated entities, law enforcement, emergency responders, and the 
public).
    PHMSA does not anticipate that answering the list of inspection 
simulation questions will impose a significant burden on inspectors. 
PHMSA anticipates no more than 240 inspection simulations will be 
conducted (encompassing all pilot tests, all participants, and each 
test region throughout the entirety of the test period), resulting in a 
total of 240 respondents. PHMSA estimates it will take each inspector 
approximately 60 minutes to answer the list of inspection simulation 
questions and to submit a copy of the e-HM shipping paper to PHMSA. The 
resulting estimated total burden is 240 hours (240 respondents x 1.0 
hour per respondent = 240 hours) for the inspection simulation question 
data collection.

Emergency Response Simulation Questions

    For each hazardous materials emergency response simulation, 
emergency response providers and/or investigators involved in the 
simulation will answer a list of online emergency response simulation 
questions and provide an electronic copy of the hazardous materials 
shipping paper as received during the simulation. Analysis of the e-HM 
shipping papers for required hazard communication information will 
enable PHMSA to verify the integrity of the data transfer. PHMSA will 
provide the list of emergency response simulation questions with the 
30-day Notice PHMSA will publish in response to comments received to 
this 60-day Notice. The emergency response simulation questions will be 
designed to collect the following types of information:
     Organization's name and general information.
     Mode of transport involved in the emergency response 
simulation.
     Information about the emergency response organization's e-
system(s).
     Activity triggering data transfer.
     Process and equipment used for data receipt and 
transmission.
     Hazardous materials data received from carrier or shipper.
     Hazardous materials data transmitted (to first responders, 
etc.).
     Electronic data exchange format used.
     Actual time for data receipt (and transmission, if 
applicable).
     Human involvement.
     ``Readability'' of data.
     Electronic connectivity.
     Impacts to stakeholders (regulated entities, law 
enforcement, emergency responders, and the public).
     Impediments to using e-systems.
     Actual and potential benefits realized by stakeholders 
(regulated entities, law enforcement, emergency responders, and the 
public).
    PHMSA does not anticipate that answering the list of emergency 
response simulation questions will impose a significant burden on 
investigators and emergency responders. PHMSA anticipates no more than 
12 emergency response simulations will be conducted, resulting in a 
total of no more than 24 respondents (12 emergency response providers 
and 12 investigators). PHMSA estimates it will take each respondent 
approximately 60 minutes to answer the list of emergency response 
simulation questions and to submit a copy of the electronic shipping 
paper to PHMSA. The resulting estimated total burden is 24 hours (24 
respondents x 1.0 hour per respondent = 24 hours) for the emergency 
response simulation question data collection.

Impact Analysis Questions

    PHMSA is seeking to collect information and data from shippers, 
carriers, law enforcement, and emergency responders to aid in the 
assessment of potential impacts associated with using e-systems for 
each mode of transportation, as required under MAP-21. Potential 
impacts to be assessed include benefits, costs, safety, and security 
impacts on the public, emergency responders, and law enforcement. 
Similar to the pilot test simulation questions, PHMSA is planning to 
develop a list of impact analysis questions to be administered on-line, 
with a maximum of 75 questions, with answers to most questions designed 
to be ``yes,'' ``no,'' or multiple choice. PHMSA anticipates the list 
of impact analysis questions will not be limited to pilot test 
participants but will be available to all hazardous materials 
stakeholders to voluntarily answer. PHMSA will post the list of online 
impact analysis questions to the HM-ACCESS public Web site and 
distribute to industry via the HM-ACCESS email serve list. PHMSA will 
provide the list of impact analysis questions with the 30-day Notice 
PHMSA will publish in response to comments received to this 60-day 
Notice. The following list summarizes the types of information PHMSA 
plans to request as part of the impact analysis questions:
     Costs for required technology, including up-front capital 
costs for

[[Page 43268]]

equipment and ongoing costs for operations and maintenance (including 
telecommunications, any third-party service providers, maintenance of 
equipment, etc.).
     Costs for training personnel.
     Costs for conducting outreach/education to customers on 
the new approach.
     Changes in administrative costs and time requirements for:
     Generating e-HM shipping papers (vs. current hardcopy 
approach), including data entry.
     Filing, storing, and retrieving hardcopy shipping papers.
     Coordinating between shipper and carrier and between 
different carriers/modes in the supply chain (e.g., any changes in the 
paperwork that is created when a shipment goes from rail to truck).
     Impacts on operations (e.g. transport times, vehicle 
utilization, employee productivity, etc.).
     Any associated changes to other business processes (e.g., 
switching from paper to electronic invoices) and their costs/impacts.
     Changes in error rates for shipping papers.
     Information on the administrative, business, training, 
equipment, and operational-related costs and benefits associated with 
implementing e-system(s).
     Insurance and risk management issues/cost impacts.
     Any associated information that must be included to 
communicate hazard information.
     Limitation of e-system capability to communicate 
information and identifying the redundancy if failure exists.
     Information concerning the release of commercially-
sensitive information.
     Unintentional release of information from unauthorized 
access.
    PHMSA does not anticipate that answering the list of impact 
analysis questions will impose a significant burden on respondents 
(shippers, carriers, law enforcement, and emergency responders). PHMSA 
estimates no more than 200 respondents will complete the impact 
analysis questions, and that it will take each respondent approximately 
90 minutes to answer the questions. The resulting estimated total 
burden is 300 hours (200 respondents x 1.5 hours per respondent = 300 
hours) for the impact analysis question data collection.
    The information previously described is intended to ensure that 
evaluation and feasibility reports focus on results and include 
quantitative data on the recommendation and possible implementation of 
e-systems into the Federal hazardous materials transportation safety 
program. This information and data will enable PHMSA to more accurately 
assess the safety and security impacts of using e-systems and to 
analyze the associated benefits and cost of using the e-systems.

6. Total Information Collection Burden

    The total information collection burden for the Paperless Hazard 
Communication Pilot Program is as follows:

 
 
 
Participant Questions:........  80 respondents x 0.5   =   40 hours
                                 hr..
Shipper and Carrier             30 respondents x 4.0   =   120 hours
 Information:.                   hr..
Inspection Questions:.........  240 respondents x      =   240 hours
                                 1.0 hr..
Emergency Response Questions:.  24 respondents x 1.0   =   24 hours
                                 hr..
Impact Analysis Questions:....  200 respondents x      =   300 hours
                                 1.5 hr..
Total Information Collection    574 respondents.....  ...  724 hours
 Burden:.
 

    Title: Paperless Hazard Communications Pilot Program.
    Type of Request: Request for Comments to Information Collection 
Burden for Paperless Hazard Communications Pilot Program.
    Abstract: PHMSA is submitting an information collection to OMB in 
support of a paperless hazard communications pilot program under Title 
III, Section 33005 of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety 
Improvement Act of 2012 (MAP-21).
    Affected Public: Carriers, Shippers, Emergency Response Providers, 
and Law Enforcement Personnel
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 574.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 574.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 724.
    Estimated Annual Burden Costs: $24,300.
    Frequency of collection: Single occasion.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 16, 2013.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 2013-17363 Filed 7-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P