[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58324-58325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29081]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
49 CFR Part 199
[Docket RSPA-97-2995, Notice No. 6]
Control of Drug Use and Alcohol Misuse in Natural Gas, Liquefied
Natural Gas, and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operations Alcohol Misuse
Prevention Program
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Announcement of random drug testing rate.
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SUMMARY: RSPA has received and evaluated the 1997 Management
Information System (MIS) Data Collection forms for the drug testing of
pipeline industry personnel. The RSPA determined that the random
positive drug testing rate for the pipeline industry for the period of
January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1997, is 0.7 percent. Therefore,
the minimum random drug testing rate will be maintained at 25 percent
of covered pipeline employees for the period of January 1, 1999,
through December 31, 1999.
DATES: Effective January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catrina Pavlik, Drug/Alcohol Program Analyst, Research and Special
Programs Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, Room 7128, 400
Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-6199,
Fax: (202) 366-4566, e-mail: [email protected] Information
is also available on the Office Pipeline Safety's internet home pages
at `OPS.dot.gov.'
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on December 23,
1993 (58 FR 68257), RSPA announced that it would require operators of
gas, hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines, and liquefied
natural gas facilities, who are subject to 49 CFR parts 192, 193 and
195, to implement, maintain, and submit an annual report of their drug
testing program data. Operators with 51 or more covered employees are
required to submit this information on an annual basis. Operators with
50 or fewer covered employees are required to maintain this
information, and RSPA randomly selected 100 operators in this category
to submit their data. The drug testing statistical data is essential
for RSPA to analyze its current approach to deterring and detecting
illegal drug abuse in the
[[Page 58325]]
pipeline industry, and, as appropriate, plan a more efficient and
effective approach. In 1997, RSPA lowered the random drug testing rate
to 25 percent. Since the positive random testing rate continues to be
less than 1 percent industry-wide, the RSPA announces in accordance
with Sec. 199.11(c)(3), that the minimum random drug testing rate will
be maintained at 25 percent of covered pipeline employees for the
period of January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999.
Submission of MIS reports are due to the Office of Pipeline Safety,
Research and Special Programs Administration, DPS-23, Room 7128, 400
7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590, not later than March 15 of each
calendar year. Notice of statistical data will be published in the
future to report results of each calendar year's MIS Data Collection
results. At that time, the RSPA will also publish whether or not the
random rate will be reduced or increased for the pipeline industry
pursuant to Sec. 199.11.
Issued in Washington, DC on October 23, 1998.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-29081 Filed 10-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M
