[Federal Register: January 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 17)]
[Notices]
[Page 3912]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja07-174]
[[Page 3912]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods;
Public Meeting
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA's
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety's Office of International
Standards will conduct a public meeting to review and solicit input on
the program of work agreed to by the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN SCOE) for its 2007-2008 biennium and
in particular, to solicit input relative to requirements for the
transport of dangerous goods in limited quantities, including consumer
commodities, which is a major item on this program of work. In
addition, the Office of International Standards is developing a five
year work plan to address international and domestic harmonization
efforts taking into account its role in representing the U.S. in
international forums. The public is invited to comment on any areas of
a general or specific interest which should be included in this plan.
DATES: February 28, 2007; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at DOT Headquarters, Nassif
Building, Room 3200, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Duane Pfund, Director, Office of
International Standards, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety,
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-0656.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At its December 2006 session, the UN SCOE
discussed a program of work for its 2007-2008 biennium. Proposals
adopted during the 2007-2008 biennium will form the basis for the 16th
Revised Edition of the UN Model Regulations which will come into force
in the relevant national and international regulations from January 1,
2011. A major item on the program of work anticipated to be of interest
to our stakeholders is requirements for the transport of dangerous
goods in limited quantitites, including consumer commodities. These
requirements are found in Chapter 3.4 of the UN Model Regulations and
have been adopted to various extents within national and international
regulations including the International Civil Aviation Organization's
Technical Instructions on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air,
the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and the European
Agreement for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. During the
public meeting a presentation outlining the various requirements of
these regulations will be provided and input will be solicited as to
possible ways to improve the current system taking into account the
different views which exist world-wide on this topic. The goal of the
limited quantities discussion will be to develop a strategy for the
U.S. position on the issue and to solicit comments on approaches for
any U.S. proposals on the topic which may be submitted to the UN SCOE
this biennium.
In addition, the Office of International Standards is developing a
work plan to better focus its efforts and resources over the next five
years. The goal is to develop the plan in partnership with affected
parties to ensure an enterprise approach which fosters a plan capable
of meeting the needs of its stakeholders. The specific elements of the
items on the work plan are a work in progress but some general areas
include:
--Enhancing safety through improvements to hazard communication,
packaging, and classification requirements.
--Enhancing security by ensuring that international and national
regulations adequately address new technologies with potential for
improving the secure transport of hazardous materials.
--Enhancing safety and security through improved exchange and review of
private and public sector data relevant to the transport of hazardous
materials.
--Improving cross-sector regulatory consistency by ensuring that
international and domestic transport requirements are properly
integrated with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification
and Labeling of Chemicals.
--Facilitating global trade by improving mutual recognition of
approvals granted by competent authorities, particularly those issued
in relation to cylinders and portable tanks.
--Ensuring stakeholder needs are met by improved dialogue and outreach
to affected parties to ensure that changes to the regulations are in
step with the marketplace realities.
--Improve supply-chain efficiencies through the use of electronic
documentation.
The public is invited to attend without prior notification. Due to
the heightened security measures participants are encouraged to arrive
early to allow time for security checks necessary to obtain access to
the building.
Additional Information
For more information on the UNSCOE visit the United Nations
Transport Division's Web site at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/c3age.html.
This site may also be accessed through PHMSA's
Hazardous Materials Safety Homepage at http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/intstandards.htm.
PHMSA's site provides additional information
regarding the UNSCOE and related matters such as summaries of decisions
taken at previous sessions of the UNSCOE.
Duane Pfund,
Director of International Standards for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-341 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M