Request for Comments on Rail Safety

FRA 09-06 ANPRM request for comments.pdf

On September 06, 2013 (78 FR 54849), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to consider revisions to its Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) in 49 CFR Parts 173 – 180 improving the safety of hazardous materials transported by rail. The revisions are based on eight petitions received from the regulated community and four National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations which are referenced by a petition. In this ANPRM, PHMSA outline the petitions and NTSB recommendations, identify a preliminary estimate of costs and benefits from the petitions, pose several questions, and solicit comments and data from the public. The questions posed in this ANPRM and responses by commenters will be used in conjunction with a retrospective review of existing requirements aimed to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal existing rules that are outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome. Comments must be received by November 5, 2013.