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.
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 “Hazardous Materials: Harmonization with International
Standards (RRR)” 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