
[Federal Register: June 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 106)]
[Notices]               
[Page 31543]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn08-132]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

 
International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; 
Public Meeting

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will 
conduct a public meeting in preparation for the 33rd session of the 
United Nation's Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous 
Goods (UNSCOE) to be held June 30-July 9, 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. 
In addition, PHMSA is soliciting comments relative to any potential new 
work items which may be considered for inclusion in its international 
agenda.

DATES: Wednesday, June 18, 2008; 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the new DOT Headquarters, West 
Building, Oklahoma City Conference Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Conference Call Capability Information: Call-in capability will be 
provided for this meeting. To participate by telephone, dial 1 (888) 
395-1810 and enter participant passcode 63672. During the call, please 
press *6 to mute/unmute your individual line. This will ensure 
participants are not subjected to any background noise from individual 
lines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Duane Pfund, Director, Office of 
International Standards, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-0656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of this meeting will be 
to prepare for the 33rd session of the UNSCOE and to discuss draft U.S. 
positions on UNSCOE proposals. The 33rd session of the UNSCOE is the 
third meeting in the current biennium cycle. The UNSCOE will consider 
proposals for the 16th Revised Edition of the United Nations 
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations 
which will come into force in the international regulations from 
January 1, 2011. Topics to be covered during the public meetings 
include: Transport of limited quantities and consumer commodities, 
provisions for training of personnel, use of electronic documentation, 
subsidiary labeling for toxic by inhalation liquids, requirements for 
cryogenic receptacles, requirements for lithium batteries, fumigated 
units and dry ice, harmonization with the IAEA Regulations for the safe 
transport of radioactive materials, guiding principles for the 
development of the Model Regulations, and various miscellaneous 
proposals related to listing, classification, and hazard communication.
    Finally, PHMSA is soliciting comments on how to further enhance 
harmonization for international transport of hazardous materials. PHMSA 
is developing a five year plan to address international harmonization 
and welcomes input on items which stakeholders believe should be 
included in this plan.
    The public is invited to attend without prior notification. Due to 
the heightened security measures participants are encouraged to arrive 
early to allow time for security checks necessary to obtain access to 
the building. In lieu of conducting a public meeting after the 33rd 
session of the UNSCOE to present the results of the session, PHMSA will 
place a copy of the Sub-Committee's report and an updated copy of the 
pre-meeting summary document on PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Safety 
Homepage at http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/intstandards.htm.

Documents

    Copies of documents for the UNSCOE meeting and the meeting agenda 
may be obtained by downloading them from the United Nations Transport 
Division's web site at:http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/
c32008.html. This site may also be accessed through PHMSA's Hazardous 
Materials Safety Web site at http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/intl/
intstandards.htm. PHMSA' s site provides additional information 
regarding the UNSCOE and related matters such as a summary of decisions 
taken at previous sessions of the UNSCOE.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2008.
Theodore L. Willke,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
 [FR Doc. E8-12060 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-60-M
