Document ID: PHMSA-2014-0099-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Guidance: Emergency Response Guidebook Revisions
Posted Date: 2014-09-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52106-52107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20683]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0099; Notice No. 14-11]

Hazardous Materials: Revisions of the Emergency Response 
Guidebook

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for input.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises interested persons that the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is accepting input on 
ways to improve the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) as it develops 
the 2016 version (ERG2016), particularly from those who have experience 
using the ERG. The ERG is for use by emergency services personnel to 
provide guidance for initial response to hazardous materials incidents. 
The development of the ERG2016 is a joint effort involving the 
transportation agencies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

ADDRESSES: An email address has been established for interested persons 
to

[[Page 52107]]

submit their input: ``ERGComments@dot.gov''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzette Paes, Outreach, Training and 
Grants Division (PHH-50), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration (PHMSA), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Telephone number: (202) 366-4900, email: 
suzette.paes@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background and Purpose

    The Federal hazardous materials transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 
et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to 
issue and enforce regulations deemed necessary to ensure the safe 
transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. In addition, the law 
directs the Secretary to provide law enforcement and fire-fighting 
personnel with technical information and advice for responding to 
emergencies involving the transportation of hazardous materials.
    PHMSA developed the United States version of the ERG for use by 
emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response 
to hazardous materials incidents. Since 1980, it has been the goal of 
PHMSA that all public emergency response vehicles (e.g., fire-fighting, 
police, and rescue squads) have immediate access to the ERG. To date 
and without charge, PHMSA has distributed more than 13 million copies 
of the ERG to emergency service agencies, and developed free online and 
mobile apps to make the ERG more accessible. Since 1996, PHMSA, 
Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communication and Transport of 
Mexico have developed the ERG as a joint effort, with assistance of 
interested parties from government and industry including the 
collaboration of CIQUIME of Argentina. The ERG2016 will be published in 
English, French, and Spanish.
    Publication of the ERG2016 will increase public safety by providing 
consistent emergency response procedures for hazardous materials 
incidents in North America. To continually improve the ERG, PHMSA is 
publishing this notice to alert interested parties of an open-ended 
method to relate their experiences using the ERG and on ways the ERG 
could be modified or improved.
    In addition to this notice, PHMSA will publicize its interest in 
receiving input on the ERG2016 through future announcements to 
emergency responder associations, during training and education 
seminars, and during activities with State and local government 
agencies. PHMSA has established an email address for interested persons 
to submit their input: ``ERGComments@dot.gov''.

William S. Schoonover,
Deputy Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-20683 Filed 8-29-14; 8:45 am]
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