15796 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: requirements for transportation of hazardous materials. Safety is enhanced Table of Contents Pipeline and Hazardous Materials by creating a uniform framework for Safety Administration I. Executive Summary compliance, and as the volume of II. Background hazardous materials transported in 49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 172, 173, 175, III. Incorporation by Reference Discussion international commerce continues to 176, 178, and 180 Under 1 CFR Part 51 grow, harmonization becomes IV. Comment Discussion increasingly important. [Docket No. PHMSA–2015–0273 (HM–215N)] V. Section-by-Section Review VI. Regulatory Analyses and Notices RIN 2137–AF18 II. Background A. Statutory/Legal Authority for This PHMSA published a notice of Hazardous Materials: Harmonization Rulemaking B. Executive Order 12866, Executive Order proposed rulemaking (NPRM) under With International Standards (RRR) 13563, and DOT Regulatory Policies and Docket HM–215N [81 FR 61741 (Sept. 7, 2016)] to incorporate various AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Procedures C. Executive Order 13132 amendments to harmonize the HMR Materials Safety Administration D. Executive Order 13175 with recent changes to the International (PHMSA), Department of Transportation E. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG (DOT). Order 13272, and DOT Policies and Code), the International Civil Aviation ACTION: Final rule. Procedures Organization’s Technical Instructions F. Paperwork Reduction Act for the Safe Transport of Dangerous SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing a final rule G. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) to amend the Hazardous Materials H. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Regulations (HMR) to maintain I. Environmental Assessment Instructions), and the United Nations consistency with international J. Privacy Act Recommendations on the Transport of regulations and standards by K. Executive Order 13609 and International Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations incorporating various amendments, Trade Analysis (UN Model Regulations). When L. National Technology Transfer and including changes to proper shipping considering alignment of the HMR with Advancement Act international standards, we review and names, hazard classes, packing groups, List of Subjects special provisions, packaging evaluate each amendment on its own authorizations, air transport quantity I. Executive Summary merit, on the basis of its overall impact on transportation safety, and on the limitations, and vessel stowage The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials basis of the economic implications requirements. These revisions are Safety Administration (PHMSA) is associated with its adoption into the necessary to harmonize the HMR with amending the Hazardous Materials HMR. Our goal is to harmonize without recent changes made to the International Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171 to diminishing the level of safety currently Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the 180) to maintain consistency with provided by the HMR or imposing International Civil Aviation international regulations and standards undue burdens on the regulated Organization’s Technical Instructions by incorporating various amendments, community. Based on this review and for the Safe Transport of Dangerous including changes to proper shipping evaluation, in this final rule, PHMSA is Goods by Air, and the United Nations names, hazard classes, packing groups, amending the HMR to incorporate Recommendations on the Transport of special provisions, packaging changes from the 19th Revised Edition Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations. authorizations, air transport quantity of the UN Model Regulations, Additionally, PHMSA is adopting limitations, and vessel stowage Amendment 38–16 of the IMDG Code, several amendments to the HMR that requirements. This rulemaking project is and the 2017–2018 ICAO Technical result from coordination with Canada part of our ongoing biennial process to Instructions, which become effective under the U.S.-Canada Regulatory harmonize the HMR with international January 1, 2017. (Amendment 38–16 to Cooperation Council. regulations and standards. the IMDG Code may be voluntarily DATES: Effective date: This rule is Federal law and policy strongly favor applied on January 1, 2017; however, effective March 30, 2017, except for the harmonization of domestic and the previous amendment remains instruction 22, which is effective international standards for hazardous effective through December 31, 2017) January 2, 2019. materials transportation. The Federal Notable amendments to the HMR in this Voluntary compliance date: January 1, hazardous materials transportation law final rule include the following: 2017. (Federal hazmat law; 49 U.S.C. 5101 et • Incorporation by Reference: Delayed compliance date: Unless seq.) directs PHMSA to participate in PHMSA incorporates by reference the otherwise specified, compliance with relevant international standard-setting newest versions of various international the amendments adopted in this final bodies and promotes consistency of the hazardous materials standards, rule is required beginning January 1, HMR with international transport including the 2017–2018 Edition of the 2018. standards to the extent practicable. ICAO Technical Instructions; Incorporation by reference date: The Federal hazmat law permits PHMSA to Amendment 38–16 of the IMDG Code; incorporation by reference of certain depart from international standards the 19th Revised Edition of the UN publications listed in this rule is where appropriate, including to Model Regulations; the 6th Revised approved by the Director of the Federal promote safety or other overriding Edition of the UN Manual of Tests and Register as of March 30, 2017. public interest. However, Federal Criteria; and the 6th Revised Edition of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: hazmat law otherwise encourages the Globally Harmonized System of Steven Webb International Standards, domestic and international Classification and Labelling of (202) 366–8553, Pipeline and Hazardous harmonization (see 49 U.S.C. 5120). Chemicals. Additionally, we are Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Harmonization facilitates updating our incorporation by reference Department of Transportation, 1200 international trade by minimizing the of the Canadian Transportation of New Jersey Avenue SE., 2nd Floor, costs and other burdens of complying Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations to Washington, DC 20590–0001. with multiple or inconsistent safety include SOR/2014–152 and SOR/2014– VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:58 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\30MRR2.SGM 30MRR2 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 15797 159 published July 2, 2014; SOR/2014– and water-resistant packaging or equivalent level of safety), and 159 Erratum published July 16, 2014; packaging fitted with a sift-proof and inspection and repair of cargo tanks. In SOR/2014–152 Erratum published water-resistant liner. a parallel effort, Transport Canada is August 27, 2014; SOR/2014–306 • Hazard Communication adopting similar regulatory changes that published December 31, 2014; SOR/ Requirements for Lithium Batteries: will provide reciprocal recognition of 2014–306 Erratum published January PHMSA revises hazard communication DOT cylinders and DOT special 28, 2015; and SOR/2015–100 published requirements for shipments of lithium permits. May 20, 2015. Finally, in this final rule, batteries consistent with changes PHMSA adopts various updated adopted in the 19th Revised Edition of III. Incorporation by Reference International Organization for the UN Model Regulations. Specifically, Discussion Under 1 CFR Part 51 Standardization (ISO) standards. PHMSA adopts a new lithium battery • Hazardous Materials Table (HMT): label in place of the existing Class 9 The UN Recommendations on the PHMSA amends the § 172.101 label; amends the existing marking Transport of Dangerous Goods—Model Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) requirements for small lithium battery Regulations, Manual of Tests and consistent with recent changes in the shipments in § 173.185(c) to incorporate Criteria, and Globally Harmonized Dangerous Goods List of the 19th a new standard lithium battery mark for System of Classification and Labelling Revised Edition of the UN Model use across all modes; 1 removes the of Chemicals, as well as all of the Regulations, the IMDG Code, and the documentation requirement in Transport Canada Clear Language ICAO Technical Instructions. § 173.185(c) for shipments of small Amendments, are free and easily Specifically, we are making lithium cells and batteries; and requires accessible to the public on the internet, amendments to the HMT to add, revise, the lithium battery mark be applied to with access provided through the parent or remove certain proper shipping each package containing small lithium organization Web sites. The ICAO names, hazard classes, packing groups, cells or batteries contained in Technical Instructions, IMDG Code, and special provisions, packaging equipment when there are more than all ISO references are available for authorizations, bulk packaging four lithium cells or two lithium interested parties to purchase in either requirements, and passenger and cargo batteries installed in the equipment or print or electronic versions through the aircraft maximum quantity