[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62906-62907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5544]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; 
Public Notice

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will 
conduct a public meeting in preparation for the 32nd session of the 
United Nation's Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous 
Goods (UNSCOE) to be held December 3-7, 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. In 
addition, input will be solicited on a five year agenda prioritizing 
PHMSA's international work.

DATES: Tuesday, November 27, 2007; 9:30 am-1:30 pm.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the new DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, Oklahoma City Conference Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Duane Pfund, Director, Office of 
International Standards, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-0656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of this meeting will be 
to prepare for the 32nd session of the UNSCOE and to discuss draft U.S. 
positions on UNSCOE proposals. The 32nd session of the UNSCOE is the 
second meeting in the current biennium cycle. The UNSCOE will consider 
proposals for the 16th Revised Edition of the United Nations 
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations 
which will come into force in the international regulations from 
January 1, 2011. Topics to be covered during the public meetings 
include:
    Transport of limited quantities and consumer commodities, 
classification of corrosive substances, provisions for training of 
personnel, use of electronic documentation, subsidiary labeling for 
toxic by inhalation liquids, requirements for cryogenic receptacles, 
provisions for impact testing of portable tanks, requirements for 
lithium batteries, fumigated units and dry ice, harmonization with the 
IAEA Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive materials, 
guiding principles for the development of the Model Regulations, and 
various miscellaneous proposals related to listing, classification, and 
hazard communication.
    In addition to the discussion on proposals to be submitted to the 
UNSCOE, time will be provided to discuss two issues of importance to 
our stakeholders: (1) Transport of limited quantities and consumer 
commodities, and (2) docket HM-215F. The discussion on limited 
quantities will be for the purpose of summarizing progress made during 
the first year of the biennium and identifying a way forward for 
further work during the second year. The discussion on HM-215F will 
include a review of the recently issued corrections document under the 
same docket, and will provide time for any additional comments 
regarding the conditions and limitations for the use of international 
regulations.
    Finally, PHMSA is soliciting comments on how to further enhance 
harmonization for international transport of hazardous materials. PHMSA 
is developing a five year plan to address international harmonization 
and welcomes input on items which stakeholders believe should be 
included in this plan.
    The public is invited to attend without prior notification. Due to 
the heightened security measures participants are encouraged to arrive 
early to allow time for security checks necessary to obtain access to 
the building. In lieu of conducting a public meeting after the 32nd 
session of the UNSCOE to present the results of the session, PHMSA will 
place a copy of the Sub-Committee's report and an updated copy of the 
pre-meeting summary document on PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Safety 
Homepage at http://

[[Page 62907]]

hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/intstandards.htm.

Documents

    Copies of documents for the UNSCOE meeting and the meeting agenda 
may be obtained by downloading them from the United Nations Transport 
Division's Web site at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/c32007.html. This site may also be accessed through PHMSA's Hazardous 
Materials Safety Web site at: http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/intstandards.htm. PHMSA's site provides additional information 
regarding the UNSCOE and related matters such as a summary of decisions 
taken at previous sessions of the UNSCOE.

Robert A. Richard,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-5544 Filed 11-6-07; 8:45 am]
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