PHMSA to Host 2020 ERG Meeting

The US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT PHMSA) will host a public meeting on June 17, 2019 in Washington D.C. to receive and respond to stakeholder input on the development of the 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

Sometimes called simply “the orange book,” the ERG is a joint effort between North American safety regulators published once every four years. This little book is a critical resource for hazardous materials shippers, transporters, and emergency responders. The ERG provides guidance and information that helps hazmat response teams, firefighters, law enforcement, and rescue squads respond to hazardous materials releases.

Specific topics to be discussed at the June 17 meeting include:

• Methodology for determining response to toxic-by-inhalation vapor incidents. 
• Outcomes of field experiments and ongoing research efforts on airborne toxic gas concentrations.
• New methodologies and considerations for future editions of the ERG.

The meeting will be held on June 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the US DOT Conference Center at 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, DC. For information on how to pre-register or participate by conference call, see the announcement in the May 7 Federal Register.

The current edition of the orange book, the 2016 ERG, is available for free online.

DOT PHMSA requested input for the 2020 ERG in May 2018.
 

Tags: dangerous goods, emergency preparedness, ERG, hazardous materials, hazmat shipping