[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54465-54466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24981]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2017-0084; Notice No. 2017-03]


Hazardous Materials: Proposed Termination of M-Number and R-
Number Approvals Issued Without an Expiration Date

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: To standardize manufacturer and reconditioner approvals, PHMSA 
is proposing to terminate any M-number and R-number approvals that were 
previously issued without an expiration date. The termination of these 
approvals will take effect one year from the publication date of this 
notice. Approval holders must either show cause why their approvals 
should not be terminated or apply for a modification of their approval 
prior to the effective date to avoid termination. Once terminated, 
requests for reconsideration of the termination must be submitted 
within 20 days of the date of termination.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ryan Paquet, Director, Approvals 
and Permits Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, (202) 366-
4512, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590 or at 
[email protected].
    Correspondence regarding the proposed M-number and R-number 
terminations should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line 
``Termination of M-numbers/Termination of R-numbers.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    PHMSA is proposing to terminate the approvals discussed below to 
standardize all approvals issued by the Approvals and Permits Division. 
Previously approved R-numbers and M-numbers that were issued without an 
expiration date will be terminated unless approval holders either show 
cause why their approvals should not be terminated as provided in 49 
CFR 107.713(c)(1) or apply for a modification of their approval in 
accordance with 49 CFR 107.705 prior to the effective date. Modified 
approvals will conform to the Approvals and Permits Division's 
standardized format in which all approvals have a 5-year expiration 
date.

II. Background

    The Approvals and Permits Division issues registration numbers, 
referred to as ``M-numbers,'' to companies that manufacture or 
recondition packaging related to hazardous materials. This registration 
number is used for identification purposes in place of the manufacturer 
or reconditioner's name and address, as authorized in 49 CFR 178.503. 
In previous years, PHMSA issued reconditioner approvals, known as an 
``R-number,'' to companies that reconditioned packages related to 
hazardous materials. PHMSA no longer issues R-numbers and now issues M-
numbers in their place. However, many R-number approvals are still 
active.
    Standardization of the M-number and R-number approval processes 
will allow PHMSA to regularly review approval documents and track 
changes. It will ensure that all applicants are subject to the same 
renewal timelines and requirements to contact PHMSA when pertinent 
information pertaining to the approval holder has changed. PHMSA is 
concerned that holders of approvals issued without expiration dates may 
have stopped operations, or changed their names or principal places of 
business without notifying PHMSA. Requiring these holders to modify 
their approvals will require them to re-establish contact and 
communication with PHMSA. Although this process will assist PHMSA in 
monitoring and communicating with the regulated industry, PHMSA has 
also communicated with the regulated community on its proposed actions, 
at various public meetings with several companies and industry 
associations, to gauge the effect and benefits of this action to the 
regulated public. The comments received by PHMSA from the regulated 
public reflect that this action will greatly assist the regulated 
community by allowing approval holders, and other entities, to monitor 
the validity of their approval, renew in a timely manner, and search 
and determine compliance by using the updated listing on PHMSA's Web 
page. Lastly, this action will allow companies that are still 
identifiable and known within the public realm, by a previously 
registered ``R-Number,'' to maintain their public notoriety, while 
updating their approval to current standards and requirements without 
disruption.

III. Action

    The proposed termination of these approvals will take effect one 
year from the publication date of this notice. Holders of R-numbers and 
any M-numbers that were issued without an

[[Page 54466]]

expiration date must either show cause why their approvals should not 
be terminated as provided in 49 CFR 107.713(c)(1) or apply for a 
modification of their approval in accordance with 49 CFR 107.705 prior 
to the effective date to avoid termination. R-number modification 
applicants will be issued an M-number but may continue to use their R-
number. All modified approvals will be standardized and will have a 5-
year expiration date.
    A holder of an M-number or R-number that is terminated according to 
this notice may request that the Associate Administrator reconsider the 
termination. Pursuant to 49 CFR 107.715, such a request must: (1) Be in 
writing and filed within 20 days of the date of termination; (2) state 
in detail any alleged errors of fact and law; (3) enclose any 
additional information needed to support the request to reconsider; and 
(4) state in detail the modification of the final decision sought. This 
notice serves as service of process pursuant to 49 CFR 105.35(a)(3).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2017, under authority 
of 49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, as delegated in 49 CFR part 107.
William S. Schoonover,
Associate Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-24981 Filed 11-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4909-60-P