This information request is mandatory for offerors and carriers of certain hazardous materials to develop and implement a security plan. This collection is a reporting and recordkeeping requirement, which must be evaluated on an annual basis, as long as the hazardous materials subject to security plan requirements are still offered and/or carried. Security plans are required to be maintained at the principal place of business and must be made available, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department of Transportation or Department of Homeland Security. This information collection requires the evaluation of transportation security risks, including site-specific or location-specific risks associated with facilities at which the hazardous materials are prepared for transportation, stored, or unloaded incidental to movement. In addition, rail carriers of certain hazardous materials, are subject to additional security plan requirements, including the selection of the most practicable route posing the least overall safety and security risk. Security plans reduce the possibility that a hazardous material shipment will be used as a weapon of opportunity by terrorists.
The requested change stems from a Notice or Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on November 28, 2021, titled âHazardous Materials: Suspension of HMR Amendments Authorizing Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railâ [HM-264A; 11/28/2021] which prohibits Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) transportation in rail tank cars until issuance of a final rule concluding the rulemaking proceeding under RIN 2137-AF54, or June 30, 2024, whichever is earlier.
US Code:
49 USC 5101-5125
Name of Law: Hazardous Materials Transportation Law
This information collection request reflects a proposed decrease in responses, burden hours and salary cost. The proposed decreases stem from a NPRM published on November 8, 2021, titled âSuspension of HMR Amendments Authorizing Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railâ [HM-264A; 86 FR 61731]. Specifically, this decrease is due to LNG shipments by rail no longer be authorized and are thus no long subject to information collections involving routing requirements.
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.