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News Digest DOT 34-16

Friday, March 25, 2016

 

PHMSA Sets Final Rule on Reverse Logistics of Hazardous Materials to Distribution Centers. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) by adopting regulatory amendments applicable to the safe reverse logistics shipment of certain hazardous materials from a retail outlet back to a distribution or reclamation facility by highway transportation.  This final rule revises the HMR to include a definition of reverse logistics and provides appropriate provisions for hazardous materials within the scope of this definition.  This final rule also expands a previously existing exception for return shipments of used automobile batteries from multiple shippers on a single transport vehicle between a retail facility and a recycling center.  The final rule will be posted soon in the Federal Register. Contact for media: Joe Delcambre (202) 493-0730.

DOT Announces Appointments to the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).  U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today the appointment of eight new and one returning member to TRACS.  The safety committee was chartered in 2009 to provide a forum for the development, consideration, and communication of information regarding public transit safety. An open nominations process solicited individuals knowledgeable of trends or issues related to rail transit and bus transit safety, and were evaluated on factors including leadership and organizational skills, geographic representation, staff diversity, and the overall balance of industry representation.  Appointments are two-year terms. 

New TRACS members include:  Herman Bernal, State Safety Oversight Program Manager, Arizona Department of Transportation; Toby Fauver, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; David Goeres, Chief Safety & Security Officer, Utah Transit Authority; David Hahn, Sr. Program Specialist, Safety & Security, American Public Transportation Association; Jeanne Krieg, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Contra Costa Transit; Jeff Lau, Chief Safety Officer, Bay Area Rapid Transit; Eric Muntan, Chief, Office Safety & Security, Miami-Dade Transit; and John Samuelsen, President, Transport Workers Union of America of Greater New York (Local 100).  The one returning member is Alvin Pearson, Assistant General Manager, Memphis Area Transit Authority. Contact:  Steve Kulm 202-366-9260

PHMSA Releases oCFR Web Application for Hazmat Regs. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has released its Online Code of Federal Regulation [DK1] (oCFR), a free web app that allows users to search, view, and navigate the U.S. Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations, including federal pipeline safety regulations. In addition to keyword and content searches, oCFR also provides links to additional content relevant to the active subchapter or section of the CFR being viewed, including interpretations, special permits, rulemakings, and enforcement actions. Users may also view and search the full Hazardous Materials Table (HMT), which provides the proper shipping name, UN ID number, hazard class, packing group, and other information required for transportation of hazardous materials. Contact: Darius Kirkwood 202-493-0471.

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