Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/01/05/2010-33316/hazardous-materials-transportation-revisions-of-special-permits-procedures
Timestamp: 2016-02-07 21:53:11
Document Index: 636848322

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5103', 'art 107', '§ 107', '§ 171', '§ 107', 'art 107', '§ 171', 'art 172', '§ 107', '§ 105', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 105', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 5103', '§ 105', '§ 105', 'art 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', 'art 171', '§ 171', '§ 171']

-464 (11 pages)
Document Number: 2010-33316
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2010-33316 Related Topics
The Federal hazardous material transportation law (Federal hazmat law), 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous material in commerce. (49 U.S.C. 5103) Section 5117(a) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a special permit from a regulation prescribed in §§ 5103(b), 5104, 5110, or 5112 of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law to a person transporting, or causing to be transported, hazardous material in a way that achieves a safety level at least equal to the safety level required under the law, or consistent with the public interest, if a required safety level does not exist. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the administration within the Department of Transportation (DOT) primarily responsible for implementing the Federal hazmat law and issuing special permits.
PHMSA independently reviews and evaluates the information provided in the special permit application to determine whether the special permit will achieve an equal level of safety as provided by the HMR or, if a required level of safety does not exist, that the special permit is consistent with the public interest. This review includes a technical analysis of the alternative proposed in the application, an evaluation of the past compliance history of the applicant (including incident history, enforcement actions, etc.), and coordination, as applicable, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Coast Guard to gather additional information relevant to the application and ensure the agency's concurrence with PHMSA's conclusions.
In this final rule, PHMSA is revising the special permits application procedures by clarifying existing requirements and requiring additional, more detailed information to enable the agency to strengthen its oversight of the special permits program. The revisions to the application procedures will allow PHMSA to more effectively assess the level of safety that will be achieved under a special permit. The revisions will also enable PHMSA to better evaluate the fitness of an applicant, including its ability to safely conduct the operations that may be authorized under a special permit. The additional information will further enhance PHMSA's ability to monitor operations conducted under a special permit and to take corrective actions if necessary to ensure safety. In addition, PHMSA is removing the word “exemption” from Part 107 and from the definition of a “special permit” in § 107.1, Definitions, and § 171.8, Definitions and Abbreviation because the term is inaccurate. Further, § 107.1 is being revised following the publication of a final rule entitled “Hazardous Materials: Incorporation of Special Permits Into Regulations,” published on May 14, 2010 (75 FR 27205) under Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0289 (HM-233A). The May 14, 2010 final rule revised the definition for “special permit” in 49 CFR part 107 to permit the Associate Administrator of Hazardous Materials Safety to designate signature authority at the Office Director level. The same revision to the definition for “special permit” was made in § 171.8. Both revisions are reflected in this final rule.
V. Section-by-Section Review Back to Top
In paragraph (a)(1)(iii), PHMSA proposed to provide the option for applicants to submit applications on-line through the PHMSA Web site. PHMSA received comments from Veolia Environmental Services, IME, ATA, and COSTHA in support of providing applicants the option of submitting special permit applications on-line. PHMSA did not receive any comments opposing this requirement. Therefore, this requirement is being adopted as proposed.
PHMSA proposed to revise paragraph (c)(3) to require that alternative hazard communication, including labeling and marking requirements, be included in the detailed description of the proposed special permit. PHMSA received comments from the Association of HAZMAT Shippers and the American Coatings Association objecting to these requirements. Specifically, both commenters indicate that such requirements are already covered in part 172 of the HMR. While PHMSA agrees that these requirements can be found in other sections of the HMR, we believe it is necessary to require this information with respect to specific special permit applications to ensure that these shipments are being transported in a safe manner. Therefore, PHMSA is incorporating this requirement as proposed.
In § 107.107, PHMSA proposed to revise the requirements for submitting an application for party status to an application or an existing special permit. In paragraph (a), PHMSA proposed to editorially revise the sentence “Any person eligible to apply for a special permit may apply to be made a party” by removing the word “made.”
In paragraph (b)(3), PHMSA proposed to require applicants to submit the same information that would be required from an applicant for a special permit, including the physical address(es) of all known locations where the special permit would be used, a point of contact, the name of the company president or CEO, and DUNS identifier. For clarification, we editorially revised the language in paragraph (b)(4) to specify that if the applicant is not a resident of the United States, the applicant must identify and designate an agent for service in accordance with § 105.40. PHMSA also proposed to add a new (b)(6) to require a certification that the applicant has not previously been granted party status to the special permit. If the applicant has previously been granted party status, the applicant would follow renewal procedures as specified in § 107.109. PHMSA received comments from PPG Industries, American Coatings Association, and Stericycle Inc. repeating the previous concerns from the comments to the proposed requirements for § 107.105 regarding the requirement to provide the CEO name and DUNS number. Stericycle Inc. expresses concern that revealing a list of all known locations where a special permit will be used would require them to reveal proprietary information. We note that the HMR already has procedures in § 105.30(a) for applicants who wish to protect proprietary information. Under this section, information is submitted to PHMSA with “confidential” written on each page along with an explanation on why the information should remain confidential. PHMSA then notifies the applicant on whether or not its information will be treated as confidential. PHMSA believes that requiring this information is essential to ensuring that an applicant is fit to conduct business under the guidelines of a special permit and is adopting this requirement as proposed.
Section 107.109 of the HMR specifies the requirements for submitting an application for renewal of a special permit or party status to a special permit. In paragraph (a)(3), PHMSA proposed to require the applicant to submit the same information that would be required from an applicant for the special permit including the applicant's physical address(es) of all known new locations not previously identified in the application where the special permit will be used and all locations not previously identified where the special permit was used, a point of contact, the name of the company president or CEO and a DUNS identifier. PHMSA received comments from DGAC, Norris Cylinder, American Coatings Association, and Stericycle Inc. again questioning the proposed requirement that applicants report all known locations where a special permit would be used. Commenters note this proposed revision would require some applicants to list hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of locations where the special permit will be used. We addressed similar comments pertaining to this issue in the discussion found under § 107.105. However, we reiterate the importance for applicants to list to the best of their knowledge all known locations using the best available information when applying for a special permit. Therefore, PHMSA is incorporating this requirement as proposed.
§ 107.113 Application processing and evaluation. § 107.121 Modification, suspension or termination of special permit or grant of party status.
This final rule is published under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 5103(b), which authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation, including security, of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce. 49 U.S.C. 5117(a) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a special permit from a regulation prescribed in §§ 5103(b), 5104, 5110, or 5112 of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law to a person transporting, or causing to be transported, hazardous material in a way that achieves a safety level at least equal to the safety level required under the law, or consistent with the public interest, if a required safety level does not exist. The final rule amends the regulations to revise the special permit application requirements and provide an on-line capability for applications.
This final rule was analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13175 (“Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments”). Because this final rule does not have Tribal implications and does not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian Tribal governments, the funding and consultation requirements of Executive Order 13175 do not apply. E. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Order 13272, and DOT Procedures and Policies
2.In § 105.35, paragraph (a)(4) is added to read as follows: § 105.35 Serving documents in PHMSA proceedings.
3.The authority citation for part 107 continues to read as follows: Authority:
4.In § 107.1, the definition for “special permit” is revised to read as follows: § 107.1 Definitions.
5.Section 107.105 is revised to read as follows: § 107.105 Application for special permit.
(iii) Be submitted electronically by e-mail to: Specialpermits@dot.gov or on-line at: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a.
6.Section 107.107 is revised to read as follows: § 107.107 Application for party status.
(b) Each application filed under this section must conform to the following requirements:— (1) The application must:
7.Section 107.109 is revised to read as follows: § 107.109 Application for renewal.
(iii) Be submitted electronically by e-mail to: Specialpermits@dot.gov; or on-line at: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a.
(b) If, at least 60 days before an existing special permit expires the holder files an application for renewal that is complete and conforms to the requirements of this section, the special permit will not expire until final administrative action on the application for renewal has been taken.
8.In § 107.113, paragraphs (a), (d), (f)(5), (g), and (h) are revised to read as follows: § 107.113 Application processing and evaluation.
9.In § 107.117, paragraph (d)(5) is revised to read as follows: § 107.117 Emergency processing.
10.Section 107.121 is revised to read as follows: § 107.121 Modification, suspension or termination of special permit or grant of party status.
11.Section 107.123 is revised to read as follows: § 107.123 Reconsideration.
12.In § 107.125, paragraphs (a)(1) and (c) are revised to read as follows: § 107.125 Appeal.
13.The authority citation for part 171 continues to read as follows: Authority:
14.In § 171.8, the definition for “Special permit” is revised to read as follows: § 171.8 Definitions and abbreviations.