Hazardous Materials: Requirements for DOT Specification Cylinders; Extension of Comment Period and Announcement of Second Public Meeting

Passage 1[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 72224] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-34404] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Research and Special Programs Administration 49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 172, 173, 177, 178 and 180 [Docket No. RSPA-98-3684(HM-220)] RIN 2137-AA92 Hazardous Materials: Requirements for DOT Specification Cylinders; Extension of Comment Period and Announcement of Second Public Meeting AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) DOT. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time to file comments and public meeting announcement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: RSPA is extending for 120 days, until May 28, 1999, the period for filing comments to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published under Docket HM-220. RSPA is taking this action in response to petitions filed by the Compressed Gas Association, Inc. (CGA) and the National Welding Supply Association, Inc. (NWSA). The petitioners requested that RSPA provide additional time to allow shippers, the gas and cylinder industries, and other interested parties sufficient time to review and address the changes proposed in the NPRM. RSPA also is holding a second public meeting on January 28, 1999, in Washington, DC to discuss the proposals. DATES: Comment Date. Comments must be received on or before May 28, 1999. Public Meeting Date. A public meeting will be held on January 28, 1999; from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; however, the meeting may end sooner.#

Passage 2ADDRESSES: Written Comments: Address comments to the Dockets Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, PL 401, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments should identify the docket number, RSPA 98-3684(HM-220), and should be submitted in two copies. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments should include a self-addressed stamped postcard. The Dockets Management System is located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building, at the above address. Public dockets may be reviewed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, excluding Federal holidays. In addition, comments can be reviewed by accessing the DOT Homepage (http:// www.dot.gov). Comments may also be submitted by E-mail to ``[email protected]''. In every case, the comment should refer to the Docket number set forth above. Public Meeting: The public meeting will be held in Room 3200-3204 at the U.S. Department of Transportation's Nassif Building, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Freeman, telephone number (202) 366-4545, Office of Hazardous Materials Technology, or Hattie Mitchell, telephone number (202) 366-8553, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-0001.#

Passage 3SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 30, 1998, RSPA published an NPRM in the Federal Register under Docket HM-220 (63 FR 58460). RSPA proposes in the NPRM to amend certain requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations to establish four new DOT cylinder specifications and to revise the requirements for maintenance, requalification, repair and use of DOT specification cylinders. The NPRM also announced a public meeting held on December 8, in Washington, DC, to discuss the proposed changes. RSPA received two petitions for extension of the comment period to the NPRM. The CGA requested that the January 28, 1999 deadline be extended for an additional 120 days and the NWSA requested a 90-day extension. The CGA petition was supported by the National Propane Gas Association. The petitioners stated that additional time is needed to allow shippers, the gas and cylinder industries, and other interested parties sufficient time to review and provide substantive comments to the proposed changes. RSPA is pleased that industry is giving serious attention to this important rulemaking. Therefore, the comment period is being extended from January 28 to May 28, 1999. RSPA also is holding a second public meeting to discuss the proposals on January 28, in Washington, DC., at the above address. Issued in Washington DC on December 22, 1998. Alan I. Roberts, Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety. [FR Doc. 98-34404 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P#