2018-21437. Hazardous Materials: Public Meeting Notice for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces that on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, PHMSA will host two public meetings. The first meeting—led by PHMSA—will solicit public input on current proposals and discuss potential new work items for inclusion in the agenda of the 54th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG). The second meeting—led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)—will discuss proposals in preparation for the 36th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS).

Time and Location: Both public meetings will be held at DOT Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Conference Center, Washington, DC 20590-0001 on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

PHMSA Public Meeting: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

OSHA Public Meeting: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Registration: DOT requests that attendees pre-register for these meetings by completing the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/​r/​XGN8J7X. Attendees may use the same form to pre-register for both meetings. Failure to pre-register may delay access into the DOT Headquarters building. Additionally, if attending in person, please arrive early to allow time for clearing required building security checks.

Conference call-in and “Skype meeting” capability will be provided for both meetings. Specific information about remote meeting access information will be posted when available at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/​international-program/​international-program-overview under “Upcoming Events”.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Steven Webb or Mr. Aaron Wiener, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC. Telephone: [phone]. Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

PHMSA Public Meeting

The primary purpose of PHMSA's meeting is to prepare for the 54th session of the UNSCOE TDG. This session represents the final meeting scheduled for the 2017-2018 biennium. UNSCOE will consider proposals for the 21st Revised Edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (Model Regulations), which may be incorporated into relevant domestic, regional, and international regulations from January 1, 2021. Copies of working documents, informal documents, and the meeting agenda may be obtained from the United Nations (UN) Transport Division's website at; https://www.unece.org/​trans/​main/​dgdb/​dgsubc3/​c32018.html.

General topics on the agenda for the UNSCOE TDG meeting include:

• Explosives and related matters;
• Listing, classification, and packing;
• Electric storage systems;
• Transport of gases;
• Global harmonization of regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods with the Model Regulations;
• Guiding principles for the Model Regulations;
• Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency;
• New proposals for amendments to the Model Regulations;
• Issues relating to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS); and
• Miscellaneous pending issues.

Following the 54th session of the UNSCOE TDG, a copy of the Sub-Committee's report will be available at the UN Transport Division's website at http://www.unece.org/​trans/​main/​dgdb/​dgsubc3/​c3rep.html. Additional information regarding the UNSCOE TDG and related matters can be found on PHMSA's website at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/​international-program/​international-program-overview.

OSHA Public Meeting

The Federal Register notice and additional detailed information relating to OSHA's public meeting will be available upon publication at www.federalregister.gov. (Docket No. OSHA-2016-0005). OSHA is hosting the meeting in preparation for the 36th session of the UNSCEGHS. It will provide interested groups and individuals with an update on GHS-related issues, as well as solicit input on the development of U.S. Government positions on proposals submitted to the UNSCEGHS.

Signed on September 27, 2018 at Washington, DC.

William S. Schoonover,

Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.