RSPA EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED HAZMAT RULEMAKING

RSPA EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED HAZMAT RULEMAKING    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Research and Special Programs Administration has extended the deadline for comments on its proposed rulemaking for hazardous materials until Feb. 1.
   The initial comments deadline for the proposed rules, which cover hazardous materials loading, unloading and storage, was Nov. 30.
   “Mail operations have been significantly disturbed in recent weeks due to terrorist activities,” said Ellen Engleman, RSPA administrator. “Not only do we want to provide commenters sufficient opportunity to submit their issues in response to delays they may have encountered; we also want to ensure that we receive and evaluate as many comments as possible. In addition, we will now be looking for comments on the proposed rule to include perspectives on hazardous materials transportation security.”
   RSPA published the proposed rules in the Federal Register on June 14. The final rules will clarify the applicability of RSPA’s hazardous materials rules to specific functions and activities and the relationship of the rules to programs and regulations administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency said.