Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Plans New Emergency Response Guidebook

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is soliciting comments on the development of the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2012), particularly from those who have experience using the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

The ERG is for use by emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response to hazardous materials incidents. The ERG2012 will supersede the ERG2008. The development of the ERG2012 is a joint effort involving the transportation agencies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Publication of the ERG2012 will increase public safety by providing consistent emergency response procedures for hazardous materials incidents in North America. To continually improve the ERG, PHMSA is publishing this notice to actively solicit comments from interested parties on their experiences using the ERG2008 and on ways the ERG could be modified or improved.

PHMSA poses a number of questions in the notice (attached) and hopes the answers will help them improve the ERG for 2012.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 21, 2010.