[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20922-20923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08262]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD


Public Forum--Rail Safety: Transportation of Crude Oil and 
Ethanol

    On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22-23, 2014, The National 
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene a forum titled Rail 
Safety: Transportation of Crude Oil and Ethanol. The forum will begin 
at 9:00 a.m., on both days and is open to all. Attendance is free, and 
no registration is required. NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will 
serve as the presiding officer of the forum, and all five NTSB board 
members will serve as members of the Board of Inquiry. The forum is 
organized into four topic areas covering:

 Tank Car Design, Construction, and Crashworthiness
 Rail Operations and Approaches to Risk Management
 Emergency Response to Tank Car Releases of Crude Oil and 
Ethanol
 Federal Oversight and Industry Initiatives Related to Crude 
Oil and Ethanol Transportation by Rail

    The forum will also review tank car accidents involving crude oil 
and ethanol releases and the NTSB recommendations associated with these 
accidents. The forum's goal is to better understand how railroads 
currently manage crude oil and ethanol transportation, how to reduce 
accidents and improve emergency preparedness, and what steps are needed 
to improve tank car design to minimize risks to the safety of first 
responders and the public during and immediately following accidents. 
In addition, the forum will update the Board on the progress being made 
to address NTSB recommendations dealing with tank car design, emergency 
response, and risk assessment. Invited panelists will include the 
Federal Railroad Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, railroad owners and operators, researchers, 
emergency responders, and industry groups. Below is the preliminary 
agenda

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

    1. Opening Statement by Chairman Hersman
    2. Opening presentations by the NTSB
    3. Presentations on: Tank Car Design, Construction, and 
Crashworthiness
    4. Questions from the Technical Panel and Board of Inquiry
    5. Presentations on: Rail Operations and Approaches to Risk 
Management
    6. Questions from the Technical Panel and Board of Inquiry
    7. Closing Statement by Chairman Hersman

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

    1. Opening Statement by Chairman Hersman
    2. Presentations on: Emergency Response to Tank Car Releases of 
Crude Oil and Ethanol
    3. Questions from the Technical Panel and Board of Inquiry
    4. Presentations on: Federal Oversight and Industry Initiatives 
Related to Crude Oil and Ethanol Transportation by Rail
    5. Questions from the Technical Panel and Board of Inquiry
    6. Closing Statement by Chairman Hersman
    The full agenda and a list of participants can be found at the 
following web address: http://www.ntsb.gov/crudeandethanolforum.
    The hearing docket is DCA14SS004.
    The forum will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference 
Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza E. SW., Washington, DC. The 
public can view the hearing in person or by live webcast at 
www.ntsb.gov. Webcast archives are generally available by the end of 
the next day following the hearing, and webcasts are archived for a 
period of 3 months from after the date of the event.
    Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation and/or wheelchair 
access directions should contact Ms.

[[Page 20923]]

Rochelle Hall at (202) 314-6305 or by email at [email protected] 
by Wednesday, April 16, 2014.
    NTSB Media Contact: Eric [email protected].
    NTSB Forum Manager: Matthew [email protected].

    Dated: April 4, 2014.
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-08262 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P