Collapse to view only § 107.223 - Petition for reconsideration.

Preemption Determinations

§ 107.203 - Application.

(a) With the exception of highway routing matters covered under 49 U.S.C. 5125(c), any person, including a State or political subdivision thereof or an Indian tribe, directly affected by any requirement of a State or political subdivision thereof or an Indian tribe, may apply to the Chief Counsel for a determination as to whether that requirement is preempted by § 107.202(a), (b), or (c).

(b) Each application filed under this section for a determination must:

(1) Be submitted to the Chief Counsel:

(i) By mail addressed to the Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building, PHC–1, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001;

(ii) By facsimile to 202–366–7041; or

(iii) Electronically to the Chief Counsel at [email protected].

(2) Set forth the text of the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement for which the determination is sought;

(3) Specify each requirement of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, regulations issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or hazardous material transportation security regulations or directives issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security with which the applicant seeks the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement to be compared;

(4) Explain why the applicant believes the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement should or should not be preempted under the standards of § 107.202; and

(5) State how the applicant is affected by the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement.

(c) The filing of an application for a determination under this section does not constitute grounds for noncompliance with any requirement of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, regulations issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or hazardous material transportation security regulations or directives issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(d) Once the Chief Counsel has published notice in the Federal Register of an application received under paragraph (a) of this section, no applicant for such determination may seek relief with respect to the same or substantially the same issue in any court until final action has been taken on the application or until 180 days after filing of the application, whichever occurs first. Nothing in § 107.203(a) prohibits a State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe, or any other person directly affected by any requirement of a State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe, from seeking a determination of preemption in any court of competent jurisdiction in lieu of applying to the Chief Counsel under paragraph (a) of this section.

[Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8622, Feb. 28, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49131, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996; 68 FR 52847, Sept. 8, 2003; 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006; 72 FR 55683, Oct. 1, 2007]

§ 107.205 - Notice.

(a) If the applicant is other than a State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, the applicant shall mail a copy of the application to the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe concerned accompanied by a statement that the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe may submit comments regarding the application to the Chief Counsel. The application filed with the Chief Counsel must include a certification that the applicant has complied with this paragraph and must include the names and addresses of each State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe official to whom a copy of the application was sent.

(b) The Chief Counsel will publish notice of, including an opportunity to comment on, an application in the Federal Register and may notify in writing any person readily identifiable as affected by the outcome of the determination.

(c) Each person submitting written comments to the Chief Counsel with respect to an application filed under this section must send a copy of the comments to the applicant and certify to the Chief Counsel that he or she has complied with this requirement. The Chief Counsel may notify other persons participating in the proceeding of the comments and provide an opportunity for those other persons to respond. Late-filed comments are considered so far as practicable.

[Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.207 - Processing.

(a) The Chief Counsel may initiate an investigation of any statement in an application and utilize in his or her evaluation any relevant facts obtained by that investigation. The Chief Counsel may solicit and accept submissions from third persons relevant to an application and will provide the applicant an opportunity to respond to all third person submissions. In evaluating an application, the Chief Counsel may consider any other source of information. The Chief Counsel on his or her own initiative may convene a hearing or conference, if he or she considers that a hearing or conference will advance his or her evaluation of the application.

(b) The Chief Counsel may dismiss the application without prejudice if:

(1) He or she determines that there is insufficient information upon which to base a determination; or

(2) He or she requests additional information from the applicant and it is not submitted.

[Amdt. 107–3, 41 FR 38171, Sept. 9, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8621, 8622, Feb. 28, 1991; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996; 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.209 - Determination.

(a) Upon consideration of the application and other relevant information received, the Chief Counsel issues a determination.

(b) The determination includes a written statement setting forth the relevant facts and the legal basis for the determination, and provides that any person aggrieved thereby may file a petition for reconsideration with the Chief Counsel.

(c) The Chief Counsel provides a copy of the determination to the applicant and to any other person who substantially participated in the proceeding or requested in comments to the docket to be notified of the determination. A copy of each determination is placed on file in the public docket. The Chief Counsel will publish the determination or notice of the determination in the Federal Register, at which time the determination becomes a final agency action.

(d) A determination issued under this section constitutes an administrative determination as to whether a particular requirement of a State or political subdivision or Indian tribe is preempted under the Federal hazardous materials transportation law. The fact that a determination has not been issued under this section with respect to a particular requirement of a State or political subdivision or Indian tribe carries no implication as to whether the requirement is preempted under the Federal hazardous materials transportation law.

[Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8623, Feb. 28, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49131, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996; 68 FR 52847, Sept. 8, 2003; 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.211 - Petition for reconsideration.

(a) Any person aggrieved by a determination issued under § 107.209 may file a petition for reconsideration. The petition must be filed with the Chief Counsel, in the same manner specified for filing an application in § 107.203(b), within 20 days of publication of the determination in the Federal Register.

(b) The petition must contain a concise statement of the basis for seeking review, including any specific factual or legal error alleged. If the petition requests consideration of information that was not previously made available to the Chief Counsel, the petition must include the reasons why such information was not previously made available.

(c) The petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to each person who participated, either as an applicant or commenter, in the preemption determination proceeding, accompanied by a statement that the person may submit comments concerning the petition to the Chief Counsel within 20 days. The petition filed with the Chief Counsel must contain a certification that the petitioner has complied with this paragraph and include the names and addresses of all persons to whom a copy of the petition was sent. Late-filed comments are considered so far as practicable.

(d) The Chief Counsel will publish the decision on the petition for reconsideration or notice of the decision in the Federal Register, at which time the decision on the petition for reconsideration becomes a final agency action.

[Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992, as amended by Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996; 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.213 - Judicial review.

A party to a proceeding under § 107.203(a) may seek review of a determination of the Chief Counsel by filing a petition, within 60 days after the determination becomes final, in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or in the Court of Appeals for the United States for the circuit in which the person resides or has its principal place of business.

[71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.201 - Purpose and scope.

(a) This subpart prescribes procedures by which:

(1) Any person, including a State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, directly affected by a requirement of a State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, may apply for a determination as to whether that requirement is preempted under 49 U.S.C. 5125.

(2) A State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe may apply for a waiver of preemption with respect to any requirement that the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe acknowledges to be preempted by 49 U.S.C. 5125, or that has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be so preempted.

(b) For purposes of this subpart “political subdivision” includes a municipality; a public agency or other instrumentality of one or more States, municipalities, or other political subdivisions of a State; or a public corporation, board, or commission established under the laws of one or more States.

(c) [Reserved]

(d) An application for a preemption determination that includes an application for a waiver of preemption will be treated and processed solely as an application for a preemption determination.

[Amdt. 107–3, 41 FR 38171, Sept. 9, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8622, Feb. 28, 1991; Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49130, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–35, 60 FR 49108, Sept. 21, 1995; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996; 68 FR 52846, Sept. 8, 2003; 71 FR 30067, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.202 - Standards for determining preemption.

(a) Except as provided in § 107.221 and unless otherwise authorized by Federal law, any requirement of a State or political subdivision thereof or an Indian tribe that concerns one of the following subjects and that is not substantively the same as any provision of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, a regulation issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or a hazardous material transportation security regulation or directive issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security that concerns that subject, is preempted:

(1) The designation, description, and classification of hazardous material.

(2) The packing, repacking, handling, labeling, marking, and placarding of hazardous material.

(3) The preparation, execution, and use of shipping documents pertaining to hazardous material and requirements related to the number, content, and placement of those documents.

(4) The written notification, recording, and reporting of the unintentional release in transportation of hazardous material and other written hazardous materials transportation incident reporting involving State or local emergency responders in the initial response to the incident.

(5) The design, manufacturing, fabrication, marking, maintenance, reconditioning, repairing, or testing of a packaging or a container which is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in the transportation of hazardous material.

(b) Except as provided in § 107.221 and unless otherwise authorized by Federal law, any requirement of a State or political subdivision or Indian tribe is preempted if—

(1) It is not possible to comply with a requirement of the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe and a requirement under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, a regulation issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or a hazardous material transportation security regulation or directive issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security;

(2) The requirement of the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, as applied or enforced, is an obstacle to accomplishing and carrying out the Federal hazardous material transportation law, a regulation issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or a hazardous material transportation security regulation or directive issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(3) It is preempted under 49 U.S.C. 5125 (c).

(c) A State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe may impose a fee related to transporting hazardous material only if the fee is fair and used for a purpose related to transporting hazardous material, including enforcement and planning, developing and maintaining a capability for emergency response.

(d) For purposes of this section, “substantively the same” means that the non-Federal requirement conforms in every significant respect to the Federal requirement. Editorial and other similar de minimis changes are permitted.

[Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8622, Feb. 28, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–29, 58 FR 51527, Oct. 1, 1993; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49130, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21098, May 9, 1996; Amdt. 107–39, 61 FR 51337, Oct. 1, 1996; 68 FR 52847, Sept. 8, 2003; 77 FR 60939, Oct. 5, 2012]

Waiver of Preemption Determinations

§ 107.215 - Application.

(a) With the exception of requirements preempted under 49 U.S.C. 5125(c), a State or political subdivision thereof, or Indian tribe may apply to the Chief Counsel for a waiver of preemption with respect to any requirement that the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe acknowledges to be preempted under the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, or that has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be so preempted. The Chief Counsel may waive preemption with respect to such requirement upon a determination that such requirement—

(1) Affords an equal or greater level of protection to the public than is afforded by the requirements of the Federal hazardous material transportation law or the regulations issued thereunder, and

(2) Does not unreasonably burden commerce.

(b) Each application filed under this section for a waiver of preemption determination must:

(1) Be submitted to the Chief Counsel:

(i) By mail addressed to the Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building, PHC–1, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001;

(ii) By facsimile to 202–366–7041; or

(iii) Electronically to the Chief Counsel at [email protected].

(2) Set forth the text of the State or political subdivision requirement for which the determination is being sought;

(3) Include a copy of any court order and any ruling issued under § 107.209 having a bearing on the application;

(4) Contain an express acknowledgment by the applicant that the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe requirement is preempted under Federal hazardous materials transportation law, unless it has been so determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or in a determination issued under § 107.209;

(5) Specify each requirement of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law that preempts the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe requirement;

(6) State why the applicant believes the State, political subdivision or Indian tribe requirements affords an equal or greater level of protection to the public than is afforded by the requirements of the Federal hazardous material transportation law or the regulations issued thereunder;

(7) State why the applicant believes the State, political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement does not unreasonably burden commerce; and

(8) Specify what steps the State, political subdivision or Indian tribe is taking to administer and enforce effectively its inconsistent requirement.

[Amdt. 107–3, 41 FR 38171, Sept. 9, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 107–22, 55 FR 39978, Oct. 1, 1990; Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8621, 8623, Feb. 28, 1991; 56 FR 15510, Apr. 17, 1991; Amdt. 107–23, 56 FR 66156, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20428, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49131, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996; 68 FR 52847, Sept. 8, 2003; 71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006; 72 FR 55683, Oct. 1, 2007]

§ 107.217 - Notice.

(a) The applicant shall mail a copy of the application and any subsequent amendments or other documents relating to the application to each person who is reasonably ascertainable by the applicant as a person who will be affected by the determination sought. The copy of the application must be accompanied by a statement that the person may submit comments regarding the application within 45 days. The application must include a certification that the application has complied with this paragraph and must include the names and addresses of each person to whom the application was sent.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, if the State or political subdivision determines that compliance with paragraph (a) of this section would be impracticable, the applicant shall:

(1) Comply with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section with regard to those persons whom it is reasonable and practicable to notify; and

(2) Include with the application a description of the persons or class or classes of persons to whom notice was not sent.

(c) The Chief Counsel may require the applicant to provide notice in addition to that required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, or may determine that the notice required by paragraph (a) of the section is not impracticable, or that notice should be published in the Federal Register. Late-filed comments are considered so far as practicable.

(d) The Chief Counsel may notify any other persons who may be affected by the outcome of a determination on the application.

(e) Any person submitting written comments with respect to an application filed under this section shall send a copy of the comments to the applicant. The person shall certify that he has complied with the requirements of this paragraph. The Chief Counsel may notify other persons participating in the proceeding of the comments and provide an opportunity for those other persons to respond.

[Amdt. 107–3, 41 FR 38171, Sept. 9, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8621, Feb. 28, 1991; Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20429, May 13, 1992; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996; 71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.219 - Processing.

(a) The Chief Counsel may initiate an investigation of any statement in an application and utilize in his or her evaluation any relevant facts obtained by that investigation. The Chief Counsel may solicit and accept submissions from third persons relevant to an application and will provide the applicant an opportunity to respond to all third person submissions. In evaluating an application, the Chief Counsel on his or her own initiative may convene a hearing or conference, if he or she considers that a hearing or conference will advance his or her evaluation of the application.

(b) The Chief Counsel may dismiss the application without prejudice if:

(1) He or she determines that there is insufficient information upon which to base a determination;

(2) Upon his or her request, additional information is not submitted by the applicant; or

(3) The applicant fails to provide the notice required by § 107.217.

(c) The Chief Counsel will only consider an application for waiver of preemption determination if—

(1) The applicant State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe expressly acknowledges in its application that the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement for which the determination is sought is inconsistent with the requirements of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, regulations issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or hazardous material transportation security regulations or directives issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(2) The State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe requirement has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or in a ruling issued under § 107.209 to be inconsistent with the requirements of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, regulations issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or hazardous material transportation security regulations or directives issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(d) When the Chief Counsel has received all substantive information it considers necessary to process an application for a waiver of preemption determination, it serves notice of that fact upon the applicant and all other persons who received notice of the proceeding pursuant to § 107.217.

(e) To the extent possible, each application for a waiver of preemption determination will be acted upon in a manner consistent with the disposition of previous applications for waiver of preemption determinations.

[Amdt. 107–3, 41 FR 38171, Sept. 9, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 107–24, 56 FR 8621, 8623, Feb. 28, 1991; Amdt. 107–32, 59 FR 49131, Sept. 26, 1994; Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996; 65 FR 58618, Sept. 29, 2000; 68 FR 52847, Sept. 8, 2003; 69 FR 54044, Sept. 7, 2004; 71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.221 - Determination.

(a) After considering the application and other relevant information received or obtained during the proceeding, the Chief Counsel issues a determination.

(b) The Chief Counsel may issue a waiver of preemption only on finding that the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe affords the public a level of safety at least equal to that afforded by the requirements of the Federal hazardous material transportation law or the regulations issued thereunder and does not unreasonably burden commerce. In determining if the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe unreasonably burdens commerce, the Chief Counsel considers:

(1) The extent to which increased costs and impairment of efficiency result from the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe.

(2) Whether the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe has a rational basis.

(3) Whether the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe achieves its stated purpose.

(4) Whether there is need for uniformity with regard to the subject concerned and if so, whether the requirement of the State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe competes or conflicts with those of other States or political subdivisions thereof or Indian tribes.

(c) The determination includes a written statement setting forth relevant facts and legal bases and providing that any person aggrieved by the determination may file a petition for reconsideration with the Chief Counsel.

(d) The Chief Counsel provides a copy of the determination to the applicant and to any other person who substantially participated in the proceeding or requested in comments to the docket to be notified of the determination. A copy of the determination is placed on file in the public docket. The Chief Counsel will publish the determination or notice of the determination in the Federal Register, at which time the determination becomes a final agency action.

(e) A determination under this section constitutes an administrative finding of whether a particular requirement of a State or political subdivision thereof or Indian tribe is preempted under the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, or whether preemption is waived.

[Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996, as amended at 68 FR 52848, Sept. 8, 2003; 71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.223 - Petition for reconsideration.

(a) Any person aggrieved by a determination under § 107.221 may file a petition for reconsideration. The petition must be filed with the Chief Counsel, in the same manner specified for filing an application in § 107.215(b), within 20 days of publication of the determination in the Federal Register.

(b) The petition must contain a concise statement of the basis for seeking review, including any specific factual or legal error alleged. If the petition requests consideration of information that was not previously made available to the Chief Counsel, the petition must include the reasons why such information was not previously made available.

(c) The petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to each person who participated, either as an applicant or commenter, in the waiver of preemption proceeding, accompanied by a statement that the person may submit comments concerning the petition to the Chief Counsel within 20 days. The petition filed with the Chief Counsel must contain a certification that the petitioner has complied with this paragraph and include the names and addresses of all persons to whom a copy of the petition was sent. Late-filed comments are considered so far as practicable.

(d) The Chief Counsel will publish the decision on the petition for reconsideration or notice of the decision in the Federal Register, at which time the decision on the petition for reconsideration becomes a final agency action.

[Amdt. 107–25, 57 FR 20429, May 13, 1992, as amended by Amdt. 107–38, 61 FR 21099, May 9, 1996; 71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]

§ 107.227 - Judicial review.

A party to a proceeding under § 107.215(a) may seek review of a determination of the Chief Counsel by filing a petition, within 60 days after the determination becomes final, in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or in the Court of Appeals for the United States for the circuit in which the person resides or has its principal place of business.

[71 FR 30068, May 25, 2006]