Document ID: PHMSA-2015-0101-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Meetings: International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
Posted Date: 2015-05-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26617-26618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11104]

[[Page 26617]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0101, Notice No. 15-6]

International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for information on 
proposed alternative classification criteria for Class 8 (corrosive) 
materials.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested persons that on Wednesday, 
June 10, 2015, PHMSA will conduct a public meeting to discuss proposals 
in preparation for the 47th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee 
of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) to be held 
June 22 to June 26, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. During this meeting, 
PHMSA is also soliciting comments relative to potential new work items 
which may be considered for inclusion in its international agenda and 
feedback on issues that PHMSA may put forward for consideration by the 
Sub-Committee such as enhanced recognition of alternative test methods 
relevant to the classification of corrosive materials (see further 
discussion under the supplementary information section below). PHMSA 
will also provide an update on recent actions to enhance transparency 
and stakeholder interaction through improvements to the international 
standards portion of its Web site.
    Also, on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, the Department of Labor, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a 
public meeting (see Docket No. OSHA-H022K-2006-0062) to discuss 
proposals in preparation for the 29th session of the United Nations 
Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of 
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) to be held June 29 
to July 1, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland.
    Time and Location: Both meetings will be held at the DOT 
Headquarters, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
    PHMSA public meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EDT.
    OSHA public meeting: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT.
    Advanced Meeting Registration: The DOT requests that attendees pre-
register for these meetings by completing the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3XTD2TB. Attendees may use the same form to pre-
register for both the PHMSA and the OSHA meetings. Failure to pre-
register may delay your access to the DOT Headquarters building. If 
participants are attending in person, arrive early to allow time for 
security checks necessary to obtain access to the building.
    Conference call-in and ``live meeting'' capability will be provided 
for both meetings. Specific information on call-in and live meeting 
access will be posted when available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international and at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven Webb or Mr. Aaron Wiener, 
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Department of Transportation, 
Washington, DC 20590; 202/366-8553.
    Supplementary Information on the PHMSA Meeting: The primary purpose 
of PHMSA's meeting will be to prepare for the 47th session of the 
UNSCOE TDG. The 47th session of the UNSCOE TDG is the first of four 
meetings scheduled for the 2015-2016 biennium. The UNSCOE will consider 
proposals for the 20th Revised Edition of the United Nations 
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations, 
which may be implemented into relevant domestic, regional, and 
international regulations from January 1, 2019. Copies of working 
documents, informal documents, and the meeting agenda may be obtained 
from the United Nations Transport Division's Web site at http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc3/c3age.html.
    General topics on the agenda for the UNSCOE TDG meeting include:
     Explosives and related matters
     Listing, classification and packing
     Electric storage systems
     Transport of gases
     Miscellaneous pending issues
     Global harmonization of transport of dangerous goods 
regulations with the Model Regulations
     Guiding principles for the Model Regulations
     Electronic data interchange for documentation purposes
     Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA)
     New proposals for amendments to the Model Regulations
     Issues relating to the Globally Harmonized System of 
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
    PHMSA specifically solicits comments relative to efforts by the UN 
TDG and GHS Sub-Committees relevant to enhancing recognition of 
additional Class 8 (corrosive) classification assessment methods that 
are currently included within the GHS but not within the UN Model 
Regulations for Transport. At its previous session the Sub-Committee 
considered a U.S. proposal that addressed optional methods for 
classification of mixtures based on pH and the use of ``bridging 
principles'' consistent with the current GHS. During the meeting a 
number of Sub-Committee members expressed support for the proposal in 
principle, but suggested the proposal should also address use of the 
``additivity'' classification method consistent with the GHS. Based on 
comments received, PHMSA is considering submission of a revised 
proposal including the additivity method as an additional option while 
maintaining the methods addressed under the previous U.S. paper on this 
topic (see http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2014/dgac10c3/ST-SG-AC.10-C.3-2014-99_ST-SG-AC.10-C.4-2014-18e.pdf). PHMSA continues 
to support the inclusion of alternative classification methods which 
ensure an equivalent level of safety while reducing the need for in-
vitro and/or in-vivo testing where practicable. Comments on the Class 8 
classification work, potential new work items which may be considered 
for inclusion in PHMSA's international agenda, or any working documents 
or informal documents to be considered at the 47th session of the 
UNSCOE TDG may be provided in person at the public meeting or via email 
to PHMSAInternationalStandards@dot.gov.
    Following the 47th session of the UNSCOE TDG, a copy of the Sub-
Committee's report will be available at the United Nations Transport 
Division's Web site at http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc3/c3rep.html. PHMSA's Web site at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/international provides additional information regarding the UNSCOE TDG 
and related matters.
    Supplementary Information on the OSHA Meeting: The Federal Register 
notice and additional detailed information relating to OSHA's public 
meeting will be available upon publication at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket No. OSHA-H022k-2006-0062) and on the OSHA 
Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/.

[[Page 26618]]

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 4, 2015.
Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 2015-11104 Filed 5-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P