[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30985]
[[Page 66788]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
49 CFR Part 199
[Docket RSPA-97-2995; Notice 7]
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 revision of random drug testing.
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SUMMARY: RSPA has received and evaluated the 1999 Management
Information System (MIS) Data Collection forms for the drug testing
pipeline industry personnel. RSPA determined that the random positive
drug testing rate for pipeline industry for the period of January 1,
1998, through December 31, 1998, was 0.7 percent. Therefore, the
minimum random drug testing rate for the pipeline industry will be
maintained at 25 percent of the covered employees for the period of
January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000.
DATES: Effective January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000.
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., Room 7128, 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 of their drug
testing program data. Any operator with 51 or more covered employees
had to submit this information on an annual basis. Operators with 50 or
fewer covered employees had to maintain this information, and RSPA
randomly selected 100 operators in this category to submit their data.
The drug testing statistical data was essential for RSPA to use the
data to analyze its current approach to deterring and detecting illegal
drug abuse in the 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, RSPA announces that
in accordance with Section 199.11(c)(3) the minimum random drug testing
rate is 25 percent of covered pipeline employees for the period of
January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000.
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 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. RSPA will also publish at that time whether or not the random
rate will be reduced or increased for the pipeline industry pursuant to
Section 199.11.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 23, 1999.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-30985 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
