[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 27, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 60206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30317]
[[Page 60206]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
49 CFR Part 199
[Docket PS-150, 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: Notice of lower random drug testing rate.
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SUMMARY: RSPA has received and evaluated the 1995 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 pipeline industry for the period of
January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1995, was 0.8 percent. Since this
is the second year that data has been collected and the random positive
rate for the second year is less than 1 percent, the random testing
rate for RSPA is being reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent for
calendar year 1997. This means that for calendar year 1997, the
operator must randomly select a minimum 25 percent of their covered
employees to be tested.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catrina M. Pavlik, Office of Pipeline
Safety, Compliance and State Programs, (DPS-23), Research and Special
Programs Administration, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590,
telephone (202) 366-6199.
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 on drug
testing program data. Any operator with 51 or more covered employees
must submit this information on an annual basis. Operators with 50 or
fewer covered employees must 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
pipeline industry, and, as appropriate, to plan a more efficient and
effective approach. The data collected in 1995 was the second year that
the data was submitted. Now that RSPA has received two consecutive
years of MIS Data Collection forms and the positive random testing rate
has been less than 1 percent industry-wide, RSPA announces that in
accordance with Sec. 199.11(c)(3) the minimum random drug testing rate
is lowered to 25 percent of covered pipeline employees for the period
of January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1997.
MIS reports must be submitted to the Office of Pipeline Safety,
Research and Special Programs Administration, DPS-23, Room 2335, 400
7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590, not later than March 15 of each
calendar year. A notice of statistical data will be published in the
future to report results of each calendar year's MIS Data Collection
results. 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 November 21, 1996.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-30317 Filed 11-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
