Hazardous materials transportation: wide program evaluation,

[Federal Register: March 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 45)]

[Notices]

[Page 11528-11530]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09mr99-136]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Research and Special Programs Administration

Notification of Department-wide Program Evaluation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Program

AGENCY: Office of Inspector General and Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: DOT is announcing the initiation of an internal Department- wide Program Evaluation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Programs (HM Program Evaluation). This DOT-wide Program Evaluation is being led by the department's Office of Inspector General and RSPA. The objectives of the HM Program Evaluation are to document and assess the modal hazardous materials programs within the Department, and determine whether these programs can be accomplished more effectively and efficiently. The results of the ongoing HM Program Evaluation will be reported to the public in DOT's FY 1999 Program Performance Report no later than March 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Goff, 202-493-0326, or George

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Whitney, 202-366-4831, Co-Chairs, HM Program Evaluation Team, U.S. Department of Transportation; 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

   The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requires agencies to develop a schedule of program evaluations for inclusion in their strategic plans. The Department has initiated a Department-wide Program Evaluation of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Program that was included in the DOT Strategic Plan 1997-2002. The overall purpose of any program evaluation is to provide a means to objectively assess the extent to which a program is contributing to certain outcome goals and trends. Together with performance measures to track our ongoing progress in achieving a goal, the results of program evaluations may be used as a management tool to assist us in better understanding our progress toward achieving a stated goal. Building on the list provided in the DOT Strategic Plan, the Department has identified 30 program evaluations in its Performance Plan for FY 2000. DOT's aim is to emphasize program evaluations that: (1) represent significant DOT activities contributing to our strategic goals; (2) are cross modal in nature, or would benefit from evaluation that is reviewed outside any single Operating Administration; and (3) would benefit from Department- wide expertise and assistance during planning and review. This Program Evaluation meets all three of these aims. Collectively, our goal is to produce a Program Evaluation that is both credible and useful, meeting both the letter and spirit of GPRA.

   The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) are jointly leading this ``ONE DOT'' activity to benefit the public and DOT. The HM Program Evaluation is staffed by 10 full-time persons, including at least one full-time person from the OIG and RSPA and each of the following Operating Administrations: the United States Coast Guard; the Federal Aviation Administration; the Federal Highway Administration; and the Federal Railroad Administration. The results of the ongoing HM Program Evaluation will be reported to the public in DOT's FY 1999 Program Performance Report no later than March 31, 2000.

2. Purpose and Objective

   The purpose of the HM Program Evaluation is to examine the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, the program structure defined by the delegation of authority within DOT, and to assess program delivery. The HM Program Evaluation is intended to allow DOT to determine the effectiveness of the current hazardous material programs, including the division of responsibilities across and within modes, and the allocation of resources dedicated to specific functions. This positions DOT to potentially increase safety and environmental protection when hazardous materials are in commerce.

   The HM Program Evaluation has two objectives. First, it will document current hazardous materials movements, programs, and program delivery. Second, it will assess the effectiveness of the hazardous materials programs as they intervene in and affect each step in the hazardous materials transportation process--from packaging manufacturer to destination. Each of the key elements of these objectives is enumerated below.

   1. Documentation of current hazardous materials activities will include:

      1. A description of the system of hazardous materials movement in commerce and of the forecast trends in hazardous materials transportation.

      2. A description of what DOT's hazardous materials program is intended to be as required by law and regulation, identifying key components.

      3. A description of what occurs in program delivery, documenting program implementation as applied to the system of hazardous materials movements in commerce. This will include an exposition of the points at which the current hazardous materials programs intervene in the transportation of hazardous materials, from packaging manufacturer, to offeror, to carrier, to receiver, and how intervention tools (regulation, education, training, outreach, compliance, and enforcement) are applied at each point.

   2. Analysis of program intervention and alternatives will include:

      1. An examination of candidate measures and outcomes that would indicate the effectiveness of DOT's hazardous materials program, including current performance goals and measures, as well as measures which further specify goals, or which provide a better measure of hazardous materials transportation safety.

      2. A critique of the current intervention approach. The HM Program Evaluation will consider all of the possible intervention points, to determine if the current approach is the most effective one for achieving adequate safety and environmental protection. The analysis will address how effectively intervention tools are applied at each point.

      3. Presentation of findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation.

3. Scope of the HM Program Evaluation

   The scope of the HM Program Evaluation will be limited to those activities covered by 49 CFR Parts 106 (Rulemaking Procedures) and 107 (Hazardous Materials Program Procedures), and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR Parts 171-180, as authorized by the Federal hazardous materials transportation law to provide adequate protection against the risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. By definition, hazardous materials transported in pipelines or bulk shipment by water, such as oil or liquefied petroleum gas tank vessels, are not within the scope of the HM Program Evaluation.

   The HM Program Evaluation will focus on cross modal issues. It will include a review of compliance, education, training, outreach activities, regulations (including exemptions and approvals), and relevant aspects of DOT's internal rulemaking process. Also included will be a determination of whether the current HMR achieves the stated purpose of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law. International shipments of hazardous materials will be included to permit a review of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) and the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO), both of which are authorized by HMR as alternative standards for many of the requirements in the HMR for shipments destined for export or that are being imported.

4. Participation by Interested Parties

   The team anticipates that a request for comments will be published in the Federal Register shortly and will serve as the primary means to involve the public. The request for comments will present a series of questions within the scope of the HM Program Evaluation as described in section III of this notice. When the request for comments is published, interested parties should take this opportunity to respond to these questions, provide supporting documentation and their overall observations of the Department's Hazardous Materials Program. Interested parties will be provided an opportunity

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   to submit responses in writing or electronically. The comments received in response to the notice will assist in determining areas and issues for indepth review.

   Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, 1999. Jackie Goff, Co-Chair, Hazardous Materials Program Evaluation Team.

   George Whitney, Co-Chair, Hazardous Materials Program Evaluation Team.

   [FR Doc. 99-5756Filed3-8-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-60-P