[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65148-65149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20440]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 65148]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
49 CFR Parts 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0031 (HM-265A)]
RIN 2137-AF47
Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations To Improve Safety
and Efficiency; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; Extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: On July 5, 2023, PHMSA published an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking, titled ``Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations to
Improve Safety and Efficiency (HM-265A),'' seeking comment of 46 topics
related to modernizing the hazardous materials regulations to increase
efficiency while maintaining and improving safety. In response to a
request for an extension of the comment period submitted by the
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, PHMSA is
extending the comment period for the HM-265A notice for an additional
60 days. Comments to the HM-265A notice will now be due by December 4,
2023.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published July 5, 2023,
at 88 FR 43016, is extended. Comments should be received on or before
December 4, 2023. To the extent possible, PHMSA will consider late-
filed comments.
ADDRESSES: Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0031 (HM-
265A) and may be submitted in the following ways:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Dockets Management System, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Dockets Operations, M-30, Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System: Room W12-
140 on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
Docket Number (PHMSA-2019-0031) for this notice at the beginning of the
comment. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four
methods. All comments received will be posted without change to the
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) and will include any personal
information you provide.
Docket: For access to the dockets to read associated documents or
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov or DOT's Docket
Operations Office (see ADDRESSES).
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its process. DOT posts these
comments without change, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to https://www.regulations.gov, as described in the
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
https://www.dot.gov/privacy.
Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both
customarily and treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA; 5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this ANPRM contain
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as
private, that you treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive
to this ANPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN'' for ``proprietary information.'' Submissions
containing CBI should be sent to Eamonn Patrick, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Any commentary that PHMSA receives that is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eamonn Patrick, Standards and
Rulemaking Division, 202-366-8553, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On July 5, 2023, PHMSA published the HM-265A advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) \1\ which seeks comment on 46 topics
related to modernizing the requirements of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171 through180) to increase efficiency
while maintaining or improving the safety of hazardous materials
transportation.
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\1\ 88 FR 43016.
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II. Comment Period Extension
PHMSA initially provided a 90-day comment period for the HM-265A
ANPRM, which closes on October 3, 2023. In response to a request to
extend the comment period from the American Short Line and Regional
Railroad Association (ASLRRA),\2\ PHMSA is extending the comment period
for an additional 60 days. ASLRRA requested the extension to allow for
additional time to gather feedback on the numerous topics addressed in
the ANPRM from its member railroads, the majority of which are small
businesses. The comment period will now close on December 4, 2023. This
extension provides the public with an additional 60 days and should
provide adequate opportunity for the public and stakeholders to submit
comments; however, PHMSA may, at its discretion, extend the comment
period further if necessary. To the extent possible, PHMSA will also
consider late-filed comments.
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\2\ ASLRRA's comment may be reviewed at: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/PHMSA-2019-0031-0011.
[[Page 65149]]
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Issued in Washington, DC, on September 15, 2023, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR part 1.97.
William S. Schoonover,
Associate Administrator of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-20440 Filed 9-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P