[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26460-26461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12778]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket Number PHMSA-2009-0139 (Notice No. 09-3)]


Hazardous Materials: Request for Comments on Issues or Problems 
Concerning International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe 
Transport of Radioactive Materials

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are 
jointly seeking comments on issues or problems concerning requirements 
in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations for the 
Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (referred to as TS-R-1). The 
IAEA is considering revisions to the TS-R-1 regulations as part of its 
periodic two-year review cycle for a 2013 Edition.

DATES: Submit comments by June 15, 2009. Comments received after this 
date will be considered if it is practical to do so; however, we are 
only able to assure consideration for proposals received on or before 
this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number 
(PHMSA-2009-0139) by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing 
Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: To Docket Operations, Room W12-140 on the 
ground floor of the West Building, 1200

[[Page 26461]]

New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice at the beginning of the comment. Note 
that all comments received will be posted without change to the docket 
management system, including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the dockets to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov, or DOT's Docket 
Operations Office (see ADDRESSES).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rick Boyle, Office of Hazardous 
Materials Technology, (202) 366-4545, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any 
written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by 
the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the 
document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in 
the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you 
may visit http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The IAEA works with its Member States and multiple partners 
worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. 
The IAEA established and maintains an international standard, 
Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-R-1), to 
promote the safe and secure transportation of radioactive material. The 
IAEA periodically reviews, and as deemed appropriate revises, its 
Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material to reflect 
new information and accumulated experience. The DOT is the U.S. 
competent authority before the IAEA for radioactive material 
transportation matters. The NRC provides technical support to the DOT 
in this regard, particularly with regard to Type B and fissile 
transportation packages.
    The IAEA recently initiated a review cycle for its regulations. To 
assure opportunity for public participation in the international 
regulatory development process, the DOT and the NRC are soliciting 
comments and information concerning issues or problems with the IAEA 
Regulations.
    The focus of this solicitation is to identify issues or problems 
with the 2009 of TS-R-1. Although IAEA has not yet published the 2009 
Edition of TS-R-1, a draft version suitable for this review process is 
available on http://www.regulations.gov (use the search tool to locate 
the docket number for this notice). The IAEA has already identified a 
number of issues with that draft; a table showing draft proposed 
changes to the 2009 Edition is also available through this docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    It would be helpful to recommend potential changes or solutions to 
resolve any identified issues or problems. This information will assist 
the DOT and the NRC to consider the full range of views and 
alternatives as the agencies develop the proposed issues the United 
States will submit to the IAEA.

II. Public Participation

    Proposals must be submitted in writing (electronic file in 
Microsoft Word format preferred).
    The DOT and the NRC will review the proposed issues and identified 
problems. Proposed issues and identified problems from all Member 
States and International Organizations will be initially considered at 
an IAEA Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) Meeting to be 
convened by IAEA on October 5-9, 2009, in Vienna, Austria. Prior to 
that meeting, the DOT and the NRC will consider convening a public 
meeting to discuss the U.S. proposals submitted to the IAEA.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2009.
Theodore L. Willke,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-12778 Filed 6-1-09; 8:45 am]
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