[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 19999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09299]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No.: PHMSA-2018-0096; Notice No. 2018-16]


Hazardous Materials: Public Meeting Notice for the 2020 Emergency 
Response Guidebook (ERG2020)

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) will hold 
a public meeting to solicit input on the development of the 2020 
edition of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2020). The meeting will 
take place on June 17, 2019, in Washington, DC.
    PHMSA developed the United States version of the Emergency Response 
Guidebook (ERG) for use by emergency services personnel to provide 
guidance for initial response to hazardous materials transportation 
incidents. Since 1980, it has been PHMSA's goal that all public 
emergency response personnel (e.g., fire-fighting, police, and rescue 
squads) have free and immediate access to the ERG. To date, PHMSA has 
distributed more than 14.5 million copies of the ERG to emergency 
service agencies and developed free online resources and downloadable 
mobile applications to make the ERG more accessible. Since 1996, PHMSA, 
Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communication and Transport of 
Mexico have collaborated in development of the ERG, with interested 
parties from government and industry providing additional assistance, 
including Argentina's Chemical Information Center for Emergencies 
(CIQUIME). ERG2020 will be published in English, French, and Spanish 
and will increase public safety by providing consistent emergency 
response procedures for hazardous materials transportation incidents 
throughout North America.
    During the meeting, PHMSA will respond to stakeholder requests for 
a public discussion of the methodology used to determine the 
appropriate response protective distances for poisonous vapors 
resulting from spills involving dangerous goods considered toxic by 
inhalation in the ERG2016 ``Green Pages.'' To pursue our objective of 
continually improving the ERG, PHMSA will solicit comments related to 
new methodologies and considerations for future editions of the ERG. 
Additionally, the meeting will include discussions on the outcomes of 
field experiments, ongoing research efforts to better understand 
environmental effects on airborne toxic gas concentrations, and updates 
to be published in the ERG2020.
    Time and Location: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department 
of Transportation Conference Center at 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, 
Washington, DC 20590 on June 17, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time.
    Registration: DOT requests that attendees pre-register for this 
meeting by completing the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/82Z6KYM.
    Conference call-in and ``live meeting'' capability will be 
provided. Specific information about conference call-in and live 
meeting access will be posted, when available, at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/research-and-development/hazmat/rd-meetings-and-events.
    DOT is committed to providing equal access for all Americans and 
ensuring that information is available in appropriate alternative 
formats to meet the requirements of persons who have a disability. If 
you require an alternative version of files provided or alternative 
accommodations, please contact PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov no later 
than June 3, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Vierling or Shante Goodall, 
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, 
DC. Telephone: (202) 366-4620 and (202) 366-4545. Email: 
ryan.vierling@dot.gov or 6f1c070e011b0a410800000b0e0303410c1b1d2f0b001b41080019.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 2, 2019.
William S. Schoonover,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 2019-09299 Filed 5-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4909-60-P


