PHMSA-2013-0254 (Notice No. 13-19) Safety Advisory: Safety and Security Plans for Class 3 Hazardous Materials Transported by Rail

SUMMARY: PHMSA and FRA are issuing this safety advisory as a follow-up to the agencies' joint safety advisory published on August 7, 2013 and FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 published that same day, both of which relate to the July 6, 2013, catastrophic accident in Lac-M[eacute]gantic, Quebec. In this safety advisory, PHMSA and FRA are reinforcing the importance of proper characterization, classification, and selection of a packing group for Class 3 materials, and the corresponding requirements in the Federal hazardous materials regulations for safety and security planning. In addition, we are reinforcing that we expect offerors by rail and rail carriers to revise their safety and security plans required by the Federal hazardous materials regulations, including the required risk assessments, to address the safety and security issues identified in FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 and the August 7, 2013, joint Safety Advisory.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Supko, Standards and Rulemaking Division, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, telephone (202) 366-8553; or Karl Alexy, Staff Director, FRA Hazardous Materials Division, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, telephone (202) 493-6245.