00-21134. 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 approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to the Dockets Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments should identify the Docket Number RSPA-2000-6944 and be submitted in two copies. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments should include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Comments may also be submitted to the docket electronically by logging onto the Dockets Management System website at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on “Help & Information” to obtain instructions for filing the document electronically. In every case, the comment should refer to the Docket number “RSPA-2000-6944”.

The Dockets Management System is located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building, at the above address. Public dockets may be reviewed at the address above between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. In addition, the Notice and all comments can be reviewed on the Internet by accessing the Hazmat Safety Homepage at “http://hazmat.dot.gov.”

Requests for a copy of an information collection should be directed to Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10), at the address and telephone number listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM-10), Research and Special Programs Administration, Room 8422, 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 extension. The collections are contained in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR 171-180). RSPA has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect current reporting levels for 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 collection requests:

Title: Hazardous Materials Shipping Papers & Emergency Response Information.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0034.

Summary: This information collection consolidates and describes the information collection provisions in parts 172, 174, 175, 176, and 177 of the HMR on the shipping paper and emergency response requirements for the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. Shipping papers and emergency response information are a basic communication tool used in the safe transportation of hazardous materials. They serve as a principal means of identifying hazardous materials during transportation, including emergencies, by providing the proper shipping name, hazard class, UN or NA identification number, packing group and quantity of each hazardous material being transported. Shipping papers also provide emergency response information for use in the mitigation of an incident, and an emergency response telephone number for use in the event of an emergency. The telephone number must be monitored at all times the hazardous material is in transportation, by a person who is either knowledgeable of the hazardous material being shipped and has comprehensive emergency response and incident mitigation information for that material, or has immediate access to a person who posses such knowledge and information. Shipping papers also serve as a means of notifying transport workers that hazardous materials are present, so that the proper loading, unloading, handling and safety procedures may be followed.

Affected Public: Shippers and carriers of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping: 6,500,000.

Number of Respondents: 250,000.

Total Annual Responses: 260,000,000.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,500,000.

Frequency of Collection: Annually.

Title: Radioactive (RAM) Transportation Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0510.

Summary: This information collection consolidates and describes the information collection provisions in the HMR (49 CFR parts 171-180) involving the transportation of radioactive materials in commerce. Information collection requirements for RAM include: shipper notification to consignees of the dates of shipment of RAM; expected arrival; special loading/unloading instructions; verification that shippers using foreign-made packages hold a foreign competent authority certificate and verification that the terms of the certificate are being followed for RAM shipments being made into this country; and specific handling instructions from shippers to carriers for fissile RAM, bulk shipments of low specific activity RAM and packages of RAM which emit high levels of external radiation. These information collection requirements help to establish that proper packages are used for the type of radioactive material being transported; external radiation levels do not exceed prescribed limits; packages are handled appropriately and delivered in a timely manner, so as to ensure the safety of the general public, transport workers, and emergency responders.

Affected Public: Shippers and carriers of radioactive materials in commerce.

Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 14,480.

Number of Respondents: 3,807.

Total Annual Responses: 21,319.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,480.

Frequency of Collection: Periodically.

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2000.

Edward T. Mazzullo,

Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards.