DOT posts hearing schedule on tank car changes

Washington, D.C.-The Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced a public hearing schedule regarding its proposed changes to railroad tank car standards for the transportation of poison inhalation hazard (PIH) commodities such as anhydrous ammonia and chlorine. On April 1 PHMSA, in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration, published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) about the standards (GM April 7, p. 14), detailing proposed tank car design enhancements for head and shell impacts; operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing PIH materials; interim operational restrictions for trains hauling tank cars containing PIH materials, but not meeting the enhanced performance standards; and an allowance to increase the gross weight of tank cars that meet the enhanced tank-head and shell puncture-resistance requirements. The public hearings, announced in the Federal Register and flagged by the Green Markets FR Today alert service, will be held in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Plaza Hotel on May 14, 15, 28, and 29. The May 14 meetings will focus on the NPRM as it relates to the tank car transportation of chlorine and the May 15 meeting will focus on anhydrous ammonia, the two chemicals that PHMSA says constitutes 80 percent of the total rail tank car PIH shipments each year. The May 28 meeting will focus on PIH materials other than chlorine and anhydrous, and will also address railroad-specific issues related to the NPRM, such as the operational restrictions proposed, role of the Tank Car Committee, the impact of heavier tank cars on railroad infrastructure, etc. The final meeting on May 29 is intended to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to present general comments related to the NPRM and/or any relevant concluding remarks. Parties who cannot attend the meetings can submit written comments at http://www.regulations.gov; by fax at 202-493-2251; or by mail or hand delivery at Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. For more information, contact Lucinda Henriksen, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration (Lucinda.Henriksen@dot.gov or 202-493-1345); or Bill Schoonover, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, Federal Railroad Administration (William.Schoonover@dot.gov or 202-493-6229).