Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/08/2019-14226/incorporation-by-reference-north-american-standard-out-of-service-criteria-hazardous-materials
Timestamp: 2019-07-18 21:44:23
Document Index: 543563413

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 51', 'art 173', 'art 173', 'art 173', 'art 173', 'art 173', 'art 173', '§\u2009385', '§\u2009385', 'art 173', 'art 173', 'art 51', 'art 173', '§\u2009385', '§\u2009385']

A Rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on 07/08/2019
This final rule is effective July 8, 2019. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 as of July 8, 2019.
32323-32326 (4 pages)
FMCSA-2018-0165
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-14226 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-14226
FMCSA amends its Hazardous Materials Safety Permit regulations to incorporate by reference the April 1, 2018, edition of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.” The Out-of-Service Criteria provide uniform enforcement tolerances for roadside inspections to enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners.
Petitions for Reconsideration of this final rule must be submitted to the FMCSA Administrator no later than August 7, 2019.
Petitions for reconsideration must be written in English and mailed or delivered to: Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Mr. Michael Huntley, Chief, Vehicle and Roadside Operations Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or by telephone at 202-366-9209. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.
For access to docket FMCSA-2018-0165 to read background documents and comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time, or to Docket Services at U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
This rulemaking updates an incorporation by reference found at 49 CFR 385.4 and referenced at 49 CFR 385.415(b). Section 385.4(b) currently references the April 1, 2016, edition of CVSA's “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.” The Out-of-Service Criteria, while not regulations, provide uniform enforcement tolerances for roadside inspections to enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners. In this final rule, FMCSA incorporates by reference the April 1, 2018, edition, which includes changes adopted in the April 1, 2017 edition.
Congress has enacted several statutory provisions to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous materials in interstate commerce. Specifically, in provisions codified at 49 U.S.C. 5105(d), relating to inspections of motor vehicles carrying certain hazardous material, and 49 U.S.C. 5109, relating to motor carrier safety permits, the Secretary of Transportation is required to promulgate regulations as part of a comprehensive safety program on hazardous materials safety permits. The FMCSA Administrator has been delegated authority under 49 CFR 1.87(d)(2) to carry out the rulemaking functions vested in the Secretary of Transportation. Consistent with that authority, FMCSA has promulgated regulations to address the congressional mandate on hazardous materials. Those regulations on hazardous materials are the underlying provisions to which the material incorporated by reference discussed in this final rule is applicable.
In 1986, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and CVSA entered into a cooperative agreement to develop a higher level of inspection procedures, out-of-service conditions and/or criteria, an inspection decal, and a training and certification program for inspectors to conduct inspections on shipments of transuranic waste and highway route controlled quantities of radioactive material. CVSA developed the North American Standard Level VI Inspection Program for Transuranic Waste and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Material. This inspection program for select radiological shipments includes inspection procedures, enhancements to the North American Standard Level I Inspection, radiological surveys, CVSA Level VI decal requirements, and the “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.” As of January 1, 2005, all vehicles and carriers transporting highway route controlled Start Printed Page 32324quantities of radioactive material are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. All highway route controlled quantities of radioactive material must pass the North American Standard Level VI Inspection prior to the shipment being allowed to travel in the U.S. All highway route controlled quantities of radioactive material shipments entering the U.S. must also pass the North American Standard Level VI Inspection either at the shipment's point of origin or when the shipment enters the U.S.
Section 385.415 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, prescribes operational requirements for motor carriers transporting hazardous materials for which a hazardous materials safety permit is required. Section 385.415(b)(1) requires that motor carriers must ensure a pre-trip inspection is performed on each motor vehicle to be used to transport a highway route controlled quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material, in accordance with the requirements of CVSA's “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.” It is necessary to update the reference to ensure that motor carriers and enforcement officials have convenient access to the correctly identified inspection criteria that are referenced in the rules. Copies of the reference are available to the public from CVSA either through its website, or by contacting CVSA at the address, and phone number provided, and from additional sources of information associated with future incorporations by reference.
According to 2012-2017 data from FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), approximately 3.5 million Level I-Level VI roadside inspections were performed annually. Nearly 97 percent of these were Level I,[1] Level II,[2] and Level III [3] inspections. During the same period, an average of 842 Level VI inspections were performed annually, comprising only 0.024 percent of all roadside inspections. On average, out-of-service violations were cited in only 10 Level VI inspections annually (1.19 percent), whereas on average, out-of-service violations were cited in 269,024 Level I inspections (25.3 percent), 266,122 Level II inspections (22.2 percent), and 66,489 Level III inspections (6.2 percent) annually. Based on these statistics, CMVs transporting transuranics and highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials are clearly among the best maintained and safest CMVs on the highways today, due largely to the enhanced oversight and inspection of these vehicles because of the sensitive nature of the cargo being transported.
FMCSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 31, 2018 (83 FR 67705). Whereas the incorporation by reference found at 49 CFR 385.4 and referenced at 49 CFR 385.415(b) references the April 1, 2016, edition of CVSA's “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403,” the NPRM proposed to incorporate by reference the April 1, 2018, edition, which also captures changes adopted in the April 1, 2017 edition. Cumulatively, 15 updates distinguish the April 1, 2018, edition from the 2016 edition. Each of the changes was described and discussed in detail in the NPRM. Generally, the changes serve to clarify or provide additional guidance to inspectors regarding uniform implementation and application of the out-of-service criteria, and none is expected to affect the number of out-of-service violations cited during Level VI inspections. The incorporation by reference of the 2018 edition did not change what constitutes a violation of FMCSA regulations.
FMCSA received one comment to the NPRM. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) commended FMCSA for publishing the NPRM, and encouraged FMCSA to finalize the rule and update the incorporation by reference because “the current reference of the April 1, 2016 edition is outdated and does not reflect the most up to date standard.” In addition, CVSA noted that the “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403” is updated annually, and encouraged FMCSA to take the necessary action to update the regulations accordingly at that time.
FMCSA revises §§ 385.4 (a) and 385.415 (b) to conform to formatting requirements of the Office of the Federal Register; to update the reference in § 385.4(b) from the April 1, 2016, edition to the April 1, 2018, edition of the “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403;” and to clarify that copies are available to the public from CVSA either through its website, or by contacting CVSA at the address, and phone number provided, and from additional sources of information associated with future incorporations by reference.
FMCSA has determined that this action is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, as supplemented by E.O. 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011), Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review. Accordingly, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not reviewed it Start Printed Page 32325under that Order. It is also not significant within the meaning of DOT regulatory policies and procedures (DOT Order 2100.6 dated Dec. 20, 2018).
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), Public Law 96-354, 94 Stat. 864 (1980), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of the regulatory action on small business and other small entities and to minimize any significant economic impact. The term “small entities” comprises small businesses and not-for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000.[4] In compliance with the RFA, FMCSA evaluated the effects of the proposed rule on small entities. The rule incorporates by reference the April 1, 2018, edition of CVSA's “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.” DOT policy requires an analysis of the impact of all regulations on small entities, and mandates that agencies strive to lessen any adverse effects on these entities.
When an Agency issues a rulemaking proposal, the RFA requires the Agency to “prepare and make available an initial regulatory flexibility analysis” that will describe the impact of the proposed rule on small entities (5 U.S.C 603(a)). Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, instead of preparing an analysis, if the final rule is not expected to impact a substantial number of small entities. The final rule is largely editorial and provides guidance to inspectors and motor carriers transporting transuranics in interstate commerce. Accordingly, I hereby certify that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce or otherwise determine compliance with Federal regulations to the Small Business Administration's Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of FMCSA, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). DOT has a policy regarding the rights of small entities to regulatory enforcement fairness and an explicit policy against retaliation for exercising these rights.[5]
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. The Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $161 million (which is the value equivalent to $100,000,000 in 1995, adjusted for inflation to 2017 levels) or more in any one year. This final rule will not result in such an expenditure.
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the OMB for each collection of information they conduct, sponsor, or require through regulations. FMCSA determined that no new information collection requirements are associated with this final rule.
Section 522 of title I of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, enacted December 8, 2004 (Pub. L. 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, 3268, 5 U.S.C. 552a note), requires the Agency to conduct a privacy impact assessment (PIA) of a regulation that will affect the privacy of individuals. This rule does not require the collection of personally identifiable information (PII).Start Printed Page 32326
The E-Government Act of 2002, Public Law 107-347, section 208, 116 Stat. 2899, 2921 (Dec. 17, 2002), requires Federal agencies to conduct a PIA for new or substantially changed technology that collects, maintains, or disseminates information in an identifiable form. No new or substantially changed technology will collect, maintain, or disseminate information as a result of this rule. Therefore, FMCSA has not conducted a PIA.
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through OMB, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) are standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. FMCSA does not intend to adopt its own technical standard, thus there is no need to submit a separate statement to OMB on this matter. The standard being incorporated in this final rule is discussed in greater detail in sections IV, V and VII above, and is reasonably available at FMCSA and through the CVSA website.
FMCSA analyzed this rule consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and determined this action is categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under FMCSA Order 5610.1 (69 FR 9680, March 1, 2004), Appendix 2, paragraph (6)(b). The Categorical Exclusion (CE) in paragraph 6.t.(2) includes regulations to ensure that the States comply with the provisions of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. The content in this rule is covered by this CE, there are no extraordinary circumstances present, and the final action does not have any effect on the quality of the environment. The CE determination is available for inspection or copying in the Regulations.gov website listed under ADDRESSES.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 113, 504, 521(b), 5105(d), 5109, 5113, 13901-13905, 13908, 31135, 31136, 31144, 31148, 31151 and 31502; Sec. 350, Pub. L. 107-87, 115 Stat. 833, 864; and 49 CFR 1.87.
(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that specified in this section, FMCSA must publish notification of the change in the Federal Register and the material must be available to the public. All approved material is available for inspection at Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; Attention: Chief, Compliance Division at (202) 366-1812, and is available from the sources listed in paragraph (b) of this section. It is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.
(1) “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403,” April 1, 2018, incorporation by reference approved for § 385.415(b).
3. In § 385.415, remove paragraph (b)(2), redesignate paragraph (b)(1) as paragraph (b), and add a heading for newly redesignated paragraph (b) to read as follows:
(b) Inspection of vehicle transporting Class 7 (radioactive) materials. * * *
Issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.87 on June 27, 2019.
4. 5 U.S.C. 601.
5. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). “The Rights of Small Entities to Enforcement Fairness and Policy Against Retaliation.” Available at: https://www.transportation.gov/​sites/​dot.gov/​files/​docs/​SBREFAnotice2.pdf (accessed April 20, 2018).
[FR Doc. 2019-14226 Filed 7-5-19; 8:45 am]