Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Requirements for Real-Time Train Consist Information by Rail

Passage 1[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 6451-6456] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2017-01240] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0015 (HM-263)] RIN 2137-AF21 Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Requirements for Real-Time Train Consist Information by Rail AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: PHMSA requests comment on certain provisions of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. The FAST Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to require Class I railroads that transport hazardous materials to generate accurate, real-time, and electronic train consist information. Further, the FAST Act includes provisions for the railroads to provide fusion centers with electronic train consist information to share with State and local first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel during an accident, incident, or emergency. In support of developing regulations to implement the FAST Act mandates, PHMSA specifically requests comments and information on baseline changes, affected entities, and costs and benefits related to fusion centers collecting train consist information from railroads and disseminating this information in the event of an emergency. DATES: Comments must be received by April 19, 2017.#

Passage 2ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2016- 0015 (HM-263) by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Fax: 1-202-493-2251. Mail: Docket Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Routing Symbol M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 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 for this ANPRM 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), including any personal information. Docket: For access to the dockets to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or DOT's Docket Operations Office (see ADDRESSES). Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register (See 65 FR 19477, April 11, 2000), or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dirk Der Kinderen, (202) 366-4460, Standards and Rulemaking Division, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.#

Passage 3ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security DOJ Department of Justice DOT Department of Transportation EOC Emergency Operations Center FAST Act Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015 FDMS Federal Docket Management System FR Federal Register Fusion Center State and Major Urban Area Fusion Center HHFT High-Hazard Flammable Liquid Train HMR Hazardous Materials Regulations IT Information Technology MOU Memorandum of Understanding NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking O&M Operations and Management PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration RIA Regulatory Impact Analysis RIN Regulation Identifier Number SAR Suspicious Activity Reporting SERC State Emergency Response Commission U.S.C. United States Code I. Background A. FAST Act B. Fusion Centers II. Request for Public Comment A. Affected Entities Questions B. Baseline Questions C. Implementation Questions D. Costs Questions E. Benefits Questions III. Regulatory Analysis#

Passage 4On December 4, 2015, President Barack Obama signed legislation titled, ``Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015,'' or the ``FAST Act.'' (See Pub. L. 114-94.) The FAST Act includes the ``Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015'' (sections 7001 through 7311), which instructs the Secretary of Transportation (``Secretary'') to make specific regulatory amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). The FAST Act requires Class I railroads to generate accurate, real-time, and electronic train consist information that can be provided ``to State and local first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel that are involved in the response to or investigation of an accident, incident, or public health or safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials'' and request such electronic train consist information. Section 7302 of the FAST Act is structured as follows: Section 7302(a)(1), (2), (5), and (7) apply to the sharing of the accurate, real-time, and electronic train consist information covering all hazardous materials with fusion centers. Section 7302(a)(3) and (4) apply to sharing advance notification and information on high-hazard flammable trains (HHFTs) with State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) in accordance with Emergency Order DOT-OST-2014-0067. Section 7302(a)(6) establishes security and confidentiality protections to prevent the public release of security- sensitive electronic train consist information or the advance notification of HHFT movements to unauthorized persons. PHMSA intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that will propose regulations to address Sec. Sec. 7302(a)(1), (2), (5), (6) and (7) of the FAST Act. PHMSA is addressing the SERC notification portion of the FAST Act (Sec. Sec. 7302(a)(3), (4) and (6)) in a separate rulemaking titled ``Hazardous Materials: Oil Spill Response Plans and Information Sharing for High-Hazard Flammable Trains'' (RIN: 2137-AF08).\1\ Sections 7302(a)(1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of the FAST Act are discussed in greater detail as follows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 5\1\ On July 29, 2016, PHMSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=PHMSA-2014-0105-0240. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 6Section 7302(a)(1)(A) directs the Secretary to issue regulations requiring Class I railroads transporting hazardous materials to generate accurate, real-time, and electronic train consist information, including: The identity, quantity, and location of hazardous materials on a train; The point of origin and destination of the train; Any emergency response information or resources required by the Secretary; and An emergency response point of contact designated by the Class I railroad. Subparagraph (a)(1)(B) further directs the Secretary to issue regulations requiring Class I railroads to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each applicable fusion center to provide the fusion center with secure and confidential access to the electronic train consist information for each train transporting hazardous materials in the jurisdiction of the fusion center. Section 7302(a)(2) directs the Secretary to issue regulations requiring each applicable fusion center to provide the electronic train consist information to State and local first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel who are involved in the response to or investigation of an accident, incident, or public health or safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials and request such electronic train consist information. Section 7302(a)(5) directs the Secretary to issue regulations prohibiting any Class I railroad, employee, or agent from withholding, or causing to be withheld, the train consist information from first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel described in Sec. 7302(a)(2) in the event of an incident, accident, or public health or safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials. Section 7302(a)(6) directs the Secretary to issue regulations establishing security and confidentiality protections, including protections from the public release of proprietary information or security-sensitive information, to prevent the release of real-time train consist information to unauthorized persons. Section 7302(a)(7) instructs the Secretary to issue regulations allowing each Class I railroad to enter into an MOU with any Class II railroad or Class III railroad that operates trains over the Class I railroad's line to incorporate the Class II railroad or Class III railroad's (i.e., regional and#

Passage 7short line railroads) train consist information within the existing framework described in Sec. 7302(a)(1).\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Classification of carriers (railroads) in based on annual operating revenues. A breakout of Class I, II and III railroads can be reviewed at 49 CFR part 1201--Railroad Companies under the General Instructions at 1-1(a). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The FAST Act requires the Secretary to issue regulations requiring fusion centers to participate in the gathering and dissemination of electronic train consist information. Section 7302(b)(4) of the FAST Act indicates that the term ``fusion center'' means a collaborative effort of two or more Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agencies that combines resources, expertise, or information with the goal of maximizing the ability of such agencies to detect, prevent, investigate, apprehend, and respond to criminal or terrorist activity (6 U.S.C. 124(j)(1)). Since 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have published guidance to support the development and implementation of fusion centers as centralized entities to improve the sharing of threat-related information related to criminal or terrorist activity. Located in states and major urban areas throughout the country, fusion centers are owned, operated, and staffed by State and local agencies with support from Federal partners. The federal support consists of deployed personnel, training, technical assistance, exercise support, security clearances, and connectivity to federal systems, technology, and grant funding to detect, prevent, investigate, apprehend, and respond to criminal or terrorist activity.\3\ Specifically, grants from Federal agencies, including DHS and DOJ, are leveraged by states to support fusion center operations in executing their respective missions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See https://www.dhs.gov/national-network-fusion-centers-fact-sheet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 8Fusion centers (1) are owned and operated by State and local entities and designated by their respective governor; \4\ (2) serve as primary focal points within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of criminal or terrorist threat-related information among Federal, State, local, Tribal,\5\ and territorial partners; and (3) contribute to the Information Sharing Environment through their role in receiving threat information from the Federal government; analyzing that information in the context of their local environment; disseminating that information to local agencies; and gathering tips, leads, and suspicious activity reporting (SAR) from local agencies and the public. Fusion centers receive information from a variety of sources, including SAR from stakeholders within their jurisdictions, as well as federal information and intelligence. They analyze the information, reports and threat to disseminate to their customers (e.g., law enforcement and homeland security officials), thereby assisting homeland security partners at all levels of government to identify and address immediate and emerging threats. The mission and scope of a fusion center's operation is guided by the State or local agency that oversees its operations. Some fusion centers only process terrorism information, while others also address criminal- related information. This focus is directed by the respective State and/or local agency. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ See https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-center-locations-and-contact-information. \5\ See http://www.it.ojp.gov/documents/TribalParticipationinFusionCenters.pdf. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 9The intelligence and information collected, analyzed, and shared may be strategic, as well as tactical. Information gathering and dissemination occur on an ongoing basis. Fusion centers are in a unique position to empower front-line law enforcement, public safety, fire service,\6\ emergency response,\7\ public health,\8\ critical infrastructure protection,\9\ and private sector security personnel to gather lawfully and share threat-related information, in accordance with the fusion centers' missions and authorities. They provide interdisciplinary expertise and situational awareness to inform decision-making at all levels of government. Fusion centers conduct analyses and facilitate information sharing, assisting law enforcement and homeland security partners in preventing, protecting against, and responding to crime and terrorism. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ See http://it.ojp.gov/docdownloader.aspx?ddid=1280. \7\ See https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-centers-and-emergency-operations-centers. \8\ See http://www.it.ojp.gov/docdownloader.aspx?ddid=1450. \9\ See http://www.it.ojp.gov/docdownloader.aspx?ddid=1136. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A fusion center differs from an emergency operations center (EOC). Fusion centers and EOCs serve distinct, but complementary roles in supporting the country's homeland security efforts. Fusion centers empower homeland security partners through the lawful gathering, analysis, and sharing of threat-related information, while EOCs primarily provide information and support to incident management and response/recovery coordination activities.\10\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ See https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-centers-and-emergency-operations-centers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 10With respect to the FAST Act mandate to develop regulations applicable to fusion centers, PHMSA is requesting comment and information specific to the impact on State and local government fusion center operations and first responders, emergency response officials, law enforcement personnel, railroads, and any other entity that is impacted by this mandate. The purpose of this ANPRM is to inform the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of this rulemaking. The request for comment, including information and data are focused on the baseline changes, implementation, and costs and benefits affecting entities--fusion centers, railroads, and first responders-- that would be impacted by a rulemaking outlining regulations to prepare, gather, share, and acquire train consist information. While most of these questions are focused on fusion center operations, we welcome comments from all stakeholders on any of these questions. 1. How many fusion centers are located in your State, including those associated with major urban areas? 2. How many fusion centers in your State, including those associated with major urban areas, would be affected by the provisions of Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act? How many would be required to collect and disseminate information? Would it be possible to designate one fusion center within your State to collect and disseminate train consist data? 3. How many Class II and III railroads would be affected by Sec. 7302(a)(7) of the FAST Act? This section of the FAST Act allows Class I railroads to enter into an MOU with any Class II or Class III railroad that operates trains over the Class I railroad's line to incorporate the Class II or Class III railroads' train consist information within the existing framework described in Sec. 7302(a)(1). How many Class I railroads would enter into an MOU?#

Passage 114. Are fusion centers in your State 24/7 operations? If not, describe the coverage of operations on a daily/weekly basis? 5. Per the DHS Web site description of fusion center activities referenced in the subsection titles ``Fusion Centers,'' how frequently do fusion centers in your State receive, analyze, gather, and share threat-related information? Do fusion centers in your State currently perform these activities for hazardous materials on trains? Does performance of the activities occur based on a shipment or is it more routine and constant (i.e., a 24/7 operation)? 6. Describe the current level of information technology (IT) and data collection and information management system capabilities of your State's fusion centers. Do they have the ability to receive and disseminate real-time train consist information? 7. How many employees work at your State's fusion centers? How many fusion center employees are employees of your State, employees of localities, and other types of employees? 8. How does your State fund fusion center operations? How are grants used? Please provide any data on the current cost and budget of your State's fusion center operations. What are the break-out costs by labor and IT? 9. How do first responders currently receive information, or train consist information, for hazardous materials in your State? 10. How do railroads transmit train consist information for hazardous materials incidents? Do railroads currently send information on hazardous materials train consists to fusion centers? If so, is this information sent electronically, such as by the AskRail app, or by some other means? \11\ Do railroads send this information to both state and large urban area fusion centers? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ For more information on the AskRail App, see https://askrail.us/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Do railroad employees use electronic devices to update train consist information? Are these devices proprietary rail-specific devices, or off-the-shelf tablets or smartphones with apps that enable train consists to be updated and that information relayed to Railinc or some other railroad database? \12\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Passage 12\12\ For more information on Railinc, see https://www.railinc.com/rportal/web/guest/home. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. PHMSA is also aware of handheld readers.\13\ Are these readers capable of tracking changes to train consists and interfacing with rail databases such as Railinc to update train consist information in real- time by cellular or wifi connections? If such devices are not currently capable of performing this task, is development of this capability in process? How much do these devices cost, what is their read range, and what are the ongoing service costs for these devices? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ See http://www.aeitag.com/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. Have all Class I railroads developed means by which changes to hazardous material train consists can be updated in real-time and relayed electronically to the railroads or other entities? 14. Are there electronic systems that operate on a 24/7 basis to relay changes to train consists in real-time at all hours and locations throughout the day?#

Passage 13The following questions relate to how stakeholders would implement Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act. 15. Would your State identify a particular fusion center to collect and disseminate information for your entire State, including major urban areas? If not, what other implementation alternatives would your State consider? 16. What type of IT solutions would you consider or require for your State's fusion center operations to receive, route, and disseminate real-time train consist information? Are there any IT or network solutions that would provide automated collection and routing to first responders on a 24/7 basis? 17. Would your State's fusion centers use the same employees to conduct criminal, terrorism, and hazardous material information collection and dissemination activities? Would employees require specialization in these areas? 18. How many and what types of additional employees would be required to implement the provisions of Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act? 19. How many real-time train consist notifications would be received and disseminated by your State's fusion center operations? How long would it take to process, analyze, and disseminate notifications? 20. How would railroads transmit this information to fusion centers? If no system to relay this information to fusion centers exists, what resources and investments would be necessary to develop such a system (e.g., IT development, IT hardware to record changes to train consists in real-time, etc.)? 21. If further IT development or other implementation resources are required, what is a reasonable time frame for railroads to develop these resources? What barriers might prevent the timely development and deployment of these resources? 22. How would first responders receive real-time train consist information? Would first responders need any additional communication and technology equipment or enhancements?#

Passage 1423. What is the additional cost to your State's fusion center operations to implement the provisions of Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act? What are the initial startup planning and capital investment costs and how long would initial startup take in terms of months? What are the recurring operations and management (O&M) costs? What are the costs and frequencies of any upgrades beyond initial startup and O&M costs? What are the initial and recurring training costs? Please provide quantitative data if possible. 24. What is the cost to collect, maintain, and disseminate real- time train consist notification? 25. What are the costs associated with electronic devices to record and relay changes to train consists in real-time? 26. What are the costs to establish security and confidentiality protections, including protections from the public release of proprietary information or security-sensitive information, to prevent the release of real-time train consist information to unauthorized persons? 27. What are the costs for Class I railroads to enter into an MOU with any Class II railroad or Class III railroad that operates trains over the Class I railroad's line to incorporate the Class II railroad's or Class III railroad's train consist information within the existing framework described in Sec. 7302(a)(1)? 28. What are the costs for Class I railroads to enter into an MOU with each applicable fusion center to provide the fusion center with secure and confidential access to the electronic train consist information for each train transporting hazardous materials in the jurisdiction of the fusion center? 29. What are the costs to first responders to receive information disseminated from fusion centers? 30. How and where would State fusion centers recover costs to implement the provisions of Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act? Would implementation require grant funding? If so, from where or whom?#

Passage 1531. As a result of implementing Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act, would there be a reduction in the response time and incident-related costs and damages? Would there be a reduction in the duration of evacuations? Please provide quantitative data if possible. 32. What kind of avoided consequences and benefits to communities will be realized as a result of implementing the provisions of Sec. 7302 of the FAST Act? Avoided consequences may include reduced risks of harm to the public and environment in terms of fatalities, injuries and hospitalizations, property loss, and damages associated with release of hazardous materials into the environment. 33. Would railroads experience any business benefits from having accurate electronic records of train consists in real-time (e.g., better ability to update customers on shipment location or delivery times/dates, more efficient utilization of railroad resources, etc.)? If so, please quantify to the extent possible. A. Executive Order 12866, Executive Order 13563, and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures This ANPRM has not been designated a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this ANPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is not considered to be a significant regulatory action under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures of February 26, 1979. See 44 FR 11034. Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' 76 FR 3821 (Jan. 21, 2011), supplements and reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review that were established in Executive Order 12866. Together, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 require agencies to regulate in the ``most cost- effective manner,'' to make a ``reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs,'' and to develop regulations that ``impose the least burden on society.'' Additionally, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 require agencies to provide a meaningful opportunity for public participation. Therefore, PHMSA solicits comment on the questions raised in this ANPRM.#

Passage 16Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 10, 1999), requires agencies to assure meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that may have ``substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' We invite State and local governments with an interest in this rulemaking to comment on any effect that revisions to the HMR relative to the FAST Act mandate may cause. Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination and Indian Tribal Governments,'' 65 FR 67249 (Nov. 9, 2000), requires agencies to assure meaningful and timely input from Indian tribal government representatives in the development of rules that ``significantly or uniquely affect'' Indian communities and impose ``substantial and direct compliance costs'' on such communities. We invite Indian tribal governments to provide comment(s) on any potential impacts of a rulemaking to implement the FAST Act mandate. D. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Order 13272, and DOT Policies and Procedures#

Passage 17The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires agencies to consider whether a rulemaking would have a ``significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' Small entities include small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations under 50,000. As such, PHMSA solicits input from small entities on the questions presented in this ANPRM. If you believe the FAST Act mandate would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, please submit a comment to PHMSA. In your comment, explain the extent of the impact, and whether there may be alternative approaches to consider that would minimize any significant impact on small business while still meeting the agency's statutory safety objectives. Any future proposed rule would be developed in accordance with Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (Aug. 16, 2002), as well as DOT's procedures and policies, so as to promote compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act to ensure that potential impacts on small entities of a regulatory action are properly considered. Section 1320.8(d), title 5, Code of Federal Regulations requires that PHMSA provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping requests. It is possible that new or revised information collection requirements could occur as a result of any future rulemaking action. We invite comment on the need for any collection of information and paperwork burdens that may apply as result of a future rulemaking.#

Passage 18The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4375, requires Federal agencies to consider the consequences of major Federal actions and prepare a detailed statement on actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations require Federal agencies to conduct an environmental review considering (1) the need for the proposed action, (2) alternatives to the proposed action, (3) probable environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and (4) the agencies and persons consulted during the consideration process. See 40 CFR 1508.9(b). PHMSA welcomes any data or information related to environmental impacts that may result from this rulemaking. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register at 65 FR 19477 (April 11, 2000), or you may visit http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html. H. Executive Order 13609 and International Trade Analysis#

Passage 19Under Executive Order 13609, ``Promoting International Regulatory Cooperation,'' 77 FR 26413 (May 4, 2012), agencies must consider whether the impacts associated with significant variations between domestic and international regulatory approaches are unnecessary, or may impair the ability of American business to export and compete internationally. In meeting shared challenges involving health, safety, labor, security, environmental, and other issues, international regulatory cooperation can identify approaches that are at least as protective as those that are, or would be, adopted in the absence of such cooperation. International regulatory cooperation can also reduce, eliminate, or prevent unnecessary differences in regulatory requirements. Similarly, the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, Public Law 96-39, as amended by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Public Law 103-465, prohibits Federal agencies from establishing any standards or engaging in related activities that create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. For purposes of these requirements, Federal agencies may participate in the establishment of international standards, so long as the standards have a legitimate domestic objective, such as providing for safety, and do not operate to exclude imports that meet this objective. The statute also requires consideration of international standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S. standards. PHMSA participates in the establishment of international standards in order to protect the safety of the American public, and we have assessed the effects of this ANPRM to ensure that it does not cause unnecessary obstacles to foreign trade. Accordingly, this rulemaking is consistent with Executive Order 13609 and PHMSA's obligations under the Trade Agreement Act, as amended. I. Statutory/Legal Authority for This Rulemaking Federal hazardous materials transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation, including security, of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce. The Secretary has delegated this authorization to the Administrator for PHMSA. See 49 CFR 1.97. PHMSA is issuing this ANPRM to gather necessary information in development of the regulatory impact analysis in support of this rulemaking.#

Passage 20A regulation identifier number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. The RIN contained in the heading of this document can be used to cross-reference this action with the Unified Agenda. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2017, under authority delegated in 49 CFR part 1.97. William Schoonover, Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. [FR Doc. 2017-01240 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P#