[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 65012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17291]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2024-0117; Notice No. 2024-11]


Hazardous Materials: Notice of Public Meeting on the 
Transportation of Hazardous Materials by Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Security and Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that PHMSA and FAA will host a public 
meeting to solicit input on implementing provisions in the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2024. This section relates to the transportation 
of hazardous materials by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

DATES: This meeting will take place on August 22, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 
4 p.m., Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be a web conference. Specific 
information for this meeting will be posted on the PHMSA website under 
``Upcoming Events'' at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/hazardous-materials-standards-and-rulemaking-overview. This 
information will include the public meeting date, time, conference 
dial-in number, and details for registration. You must register to 
attend the meeting, please register here: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/64a51604-bd84-4423-aae9-27e3955cd18c@c4cd245b-44f0-4395-a1aa-3848d258f78b.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Steven Andrews, 202-366-8553, Standards and Rulemaking Division, 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 
or
    Lori Ambers, 405-954-0088, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On May 16, 2024, President Biden signed the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 \1\ into law. Section 
933 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, titled ``Special Authority 
for Transport of Hazardous Materials by Commercial Package Delivery 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems'' directs the Secretary of Transportation to 
use a risk-based approach to establish the operational requirements, 
standards, or special permits necessary to approve or authorize an air 
carrier to transport hazardous materials by UAS providing common 
carriage under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 135, or under 
successor authorities, as applicable, based on the weight, amount, and 
type of hazardous material being transported and the characteristics of 
the operations subject to such requirements, standards, or special 
purposes (see Sec.  933, subsection (a)). Section 933, subsection 
(e)(1) requires the Secretary to hold a public meeting within 180 days 
of the enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to obtain input 
on the changes necessary to implement Sec.  933.
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    \1\ https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3935/text.
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    This joint public meeting, hosted by PHMSA and the FAA, addresses 
the statutory requirement in Sec.  933, subsection (e)(1) of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act. PHMSA and the FAA encourage participation in this 
public meeting from stakeholders and the public to help advance the 
development of policy for UAS delivery of packages containing hazardous 
materials.

II. Agenda

    At this meeting, PHMSA and the FAA will provide a brief background 
discussion on Sec.  933 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. 
Following this introduction, PHMSA and the FAA will solicit input from 
the public on actions necessary to implement Sec.  933.

III. Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public; however, any member of the 
public who wishes to attend must RSVP to obtain login instructions and 
access using the following: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/64a51604-bd84-4423-aae9-27e3955cd18c@c4cd245b-44f0-4395-a1aa-3848d258f78b. If you plan to present or provide input at this meeting, 
please file a written copy of your remarks and provide a copy of any 
visual aids to Mr. Steven Andrews ([email protected]) and Ms. Lori 
Ambers ([email protected]) by August 19, 2024.
    PHMSA is committed to providing equal access for all citizens and 
ensuring that information is available in appropriate alternative 
formats to meet the requirements of persons who have a disability. If 
you require an alternative version of files provided or alternative 
accommodations, please contact [email protected] by August 
15, 2024.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2024.
William S. Schoonover,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-17291 Filed 8-7-24; 8:45 am]
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