Previous terms of clearance continue to apply: Approved for one year (as of 4/20/17). During this time PHMSA is encouraged to continue exploring allowing paperless hazard communication and seek public input on advantages and disadvantages and appropriate performance standards. If PHMSA has not published a regulatory notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on paperless hazard communication by the time PHMSA must publish a 60 day notice to extend OMB approval of this collection, PHMSA should include at least the following information in the 60 and 30 day notices for extending approval of this collection, in addition to the standard information required by the PRA: -- Identification and explanation of any technical and other barriers to paperless hazard communication by mode and environment (e.g., rural, urban) if applicable, and requests for public comment on ways to address those barriers; -- Identification and explanation of any safety problems associated with paperless hazard communication that are not present with paper-based hazard communication; -- Identification of safety, business and any other benefits associated with paperless hazard communication, by mode if possible; and -- At least rough estimates of the potential burden and cost reduction from fully allowing paperless hazard communication, by mode if possible, the methodology/inputs for the estimates, and request public comment on those estimates.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2018
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2018
175,234,493
0
185,000,000
4,598,685
0
4,625,846
0
0
0
This information collection request requires persons who offer hazardous materials in transportation to prepare a shipping paper and provide an emergency response telephone number. Unless excepted, a shipping paper is required to accompany every hazardous materials shipment to communicate with carriers, enforcement officials, and first responders the hazardous materials in transportation. Each shipping paper contains specific information about the hazardous material(s) being transported, including identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group (if applicable), as well as number and type of packages. Additionally, a shipper must provide and clearly communicate a 24-hour emergency response telephone number that is capable of being answered without delay. In the event of an incident involving hazardous materials, emergency responders use the emergency response telephone number listed on the shipping paper to obtain more information about the hazardous properties of each material. Each shipping paper is developed in approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds and must be retained for 2 or 3 years depending on the type of hazardous material present. An official of the United States Department of Transportation, such as an enforcement officer, or another State-related enforcement agency may request copies of a shipping paper to verify compliance.
This information collection request is being submitted with a reduction in burden based on regulatory amendments made in a final rule titled âHazardous Materials: Harmonization with International Standards (RRR)â published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2017, under Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0273 (HM-215N). This rulemaking reduced the burden to shippers by removing the requirement to provide a lithium battery handling document when shipping smaller lithium cells and batteries. While the rulemaking decreased the burden overall, the requirement that shippers communicate prototype or low production run battery shipments on a shipping paper resulted in an increase. The rulemaking also added new marine pollutant entries in Appendix B of § 172.101.
PHMSA published final rule HM-215N (RIN 2137-AF18) on 3/30/2017, which intended to align with international regulations. In this final rule, PHMSA amended the requirements for having a handling document to accompany certain shipments for smaller lithium cells and batteries. There were some negligible increases in the information collection burden. These increases included requiring an indication of shipments of low production run or prototypes on a shipping paper and the addition of marine pollutants in Appendix A to 172.101.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2137-0034 Justitification for HM-215N.doc
Hazardous Materials Shipping Papers & Emergency Response Information