01-14316. Information Collection Activities

AGENCY:

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, RSPA invites comments on certain information collections pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which RSPA intends to request renewal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to the Dockets Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL 401, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket number, RSPA-01-XXXX (Notice No. 01-07) and the appropriate Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number(s) at the beginning of your comments and submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. You may also submit comments by e-mail by accessing the Dockets Management System website at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on “Help & Information” to obtain instructions for filing the document electronically.

The Dockets Management System is located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the U.S. DOT at the above address. You can view public dockets between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. You can also view comments on-line at http://dms.dot.gov.

Requests for a copy of an information collection should be directed to Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10), Research and Special Programs Administration, Room 8102, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10), Research and Special Programs Administration, Room 8102, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 1320.8 (d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations requires that RSPA provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies information collections that RSPA is submitting to OMB for renewal and extension. These collections are contained in 49 CFR Parts 110 and 130 and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180. RSPA has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect current reporting levels or adjustments based on changes in proposed or final rules published since the information collections were last approved. The following information is provided for each information collection: (1) Title of the information collection, including former title if a change is being made; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; (4) description of affected public; (5) estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden; and (6) frequency of collection. RSPA will request a three-year term of approval for each information collection activity and, when approved by OMB, publish notice of the approval in the Federal Register.

RSPA requests comments on the following information collections:

Title: Testing, Inspection and Marking Requirements for Cylinders.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0022.

Summary: Requirements in § 173.34 for qualification, maintenance and use of cylinders require that cylinders be periodically inspected and retested to ensure continuing compliance with packaging standards. Information collection requirements address registration of retesters and marking of cylinders by retesters with their identification number and retest date following conduct of tests. Records showing the results of inspections and retests must be kept by the cylinder owner or designated agent until expiration of the retest period or until the cylinder is reinspected or retested, whichever occurs first. These requirements are intended to ensure that retesters have the qualifications to perform tests and to identify to cylinder fillers and users that cylinders are qualified for continuing use. Information collection requirements in § 173.303 require that fillers of acetylene cylinders keep, for at least 30 days, a daily record of the representative pressure to which cylinders are filled.

Affected Public: Fillers, owners, users and retesters of reusable cylinders.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Number of Respondents: 139,352.

 Total Annual Responses: 153,287.

 Total Annual Burden Hours: 168,431.

 Frequency: On occasion.

Title: Hazardous Materials Incident Reports.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0039.

Summary: This collection is applicable upon occurrence of incidents as prescribed in §§ 171.15 and 171.16. Basically, a Hazardous Materials Incident Report, DOT Form F5800.1, must be completed by a carrier of hazardous materials when a hazardous material transportation incident occurs, such as a release of materials, serious accident, evacuation or highway shutdown. Serious incidents meeting criteria in § 171.15 also require a telephonic report by the carrier. This information collection enhances the Department's ability to evaluate the effectiveness of its regulatory program, determine the need for regulatory changes, and address emerging hazardous materials transportation safety issues. The requirements apply to all interstate and intrastate carriers engaged in the transportation of hazardous materials by rail, air, water, and highway.

Affected Public: Carriers of hazardous materials.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Number of Respondents: 825.

 Total Annual Responses: 20,600.

 Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,942.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Flammable Cryogenic Liquids.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0542.

Summary: Provisions in § 177.818 require the carriage on a motor vehicle of written procedures for venting flammable cryogenic liquids and for responding to emergencies. Paragraph (h) of § 177.840 specifies certain safety procedures and documentation requirements for drivers of these motor vehicles. These requirements are intended to ensure a high level of safety when transporting flammable cryogenics due to their extreme flammability and high compression ratio when in a liquid state.

Affected Public: Carriers of cryogenic materials.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Total Respondents: 65.

 Total Annual Responses: 18,200.

 Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,213.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Testing Requirements for Non-bulk Packaging.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0572.

Summary: Detailed packaging manufacturing specifications have been replaced by a series of performance tests that a non-bulk packaging must be capable of passing before it is authorized to be used for transporting hazardous materials. The HMR require proof that packagings meet these testing requirements. Manufacturers must retain records of design qualification tests and periodic retests. Manufacturers must notify, in writing, persons to whom packagings are transferred of any specification requirements that have not been met at the time of transfer. Subsequent distributors, as well as manufacturers must provide written notification. Performance-oriented packaging standards allow manufacturers and shippers much greater flexibility in selecting more economical packagings.

Affected Public: Each non-bulk packaging manufacturer that tests packagings to ensure compliance with the HMR.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Annual Respondents: 5,000.

 Annual Responses: 15,000.

 Annual Burden Hours: 30,000.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Container Certification Statement.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0582.

Summary: Shippers of explosives, in freight containers or transport vehicles by vessel, are required to certify on shipping documentation that the freight container or transport vehicle meets minimal structural serviceability requirements. This requirement is intended to ensure an adequate level of safety for transport of explosives aboard vessel and ensure consistency with similar requirements in international standards.

Affected Public: Shippers of explosives in freight containers or transport vehicles by vessel.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Annual Respondents: 650.

 Annual Responses: 860,000 HM Containers & 4400 Explosive Containers.

 Annual Burden Hours: 14,409.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0586.

Summary: Part 110 of 49 CFR sets forth the procedures for reimbursable grants for public sector planning and training in support of the emergency planning and training efforts of States, Indian tribes and local communities to deal with hazardous materials emergencies, particularly those involving transportation. Sections in this part address information collection and recordkeeping with regard to applying for grants, monitoring expenditures, reporting and requesting modifications.

Affected Public: State and local governments, Indian tribes.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Annual Respondents: 66.

 Annual Responses: 1.

 Annual Burden Hours: 4,082.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Response Plans for Shipments of Oil.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0591.

Summary: In recent years several major oil discharges damaged the marine environment of the United States. Under authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, RSPA issued regulations in 49 CFR Part 130 that require preparation of written spill response plans.

Affected Public: Carriers that transport oil in bulk, by motor vehicle or rail.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Annual Respondents: 8,000.

 Annual Responses: 8,000.

 Annual Burden Hours: 10,560.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Title: Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles in Liquefied Compressed Gas Service.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0595.

Summary: These information collection and recordkeeping requirements pertain to the manufacture, certification, inspection, repair, maintenance, and operation of DOT specification MC 330, MC 331, and certain nonspecification cargo tank motor vehicles used to transport liquefied compressed gases. These information collection and recordkeeping requirements are to ensure that certain cargo tank motor vehicles used to transport liquefied compressed gases are operated safely and to minimize the potential for catastrophic releases during unloading and loading operations. They include: (1) Requirements for operators of cargo tank motor vehicles in liquefied compressed gas service to develop operating procedures applicable to unloading operations and carry them on each vehicle; (2) inspection, maintenance, marking and testing requirements for the cargo tank discharge system, including delivery hose assemblies; and (3) requirements for emergency discharge control equipment on certain cargo tank motor vehicles transporting liquefied compressed gases that must be installed and certified by a Registered Inspector. (See sections 180.416(b)(d)(f); 180.405;180.407(h); 177.840(l); 173.315(n)).

Affected Public: Carriers in liquefied compressed gas service, manufacturers and repairers.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping:

 Annual Respondents: 6,958.

 Annual Responses: 920,530.

 Annual Burden Hours: 200,615.

 Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2001.

Edward T. Mazzullo,

Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards.