DOT Publishes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

 

DOT Publishes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

 

Published in today’s Federal Register is a DOT Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).  The Federal Register NPRM is available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-01-23/pdf/2017-01131.pdf and in the attachment.  Today we will post it on the ODAPC website https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/frpubs.

The NPRM proposes to:

1. Align our regulated-industry drug testing with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laboratory drug testing requirements,
2. Add clarification to certain existing drug-testing provisions,
3. Remove outdated information from our current regulation, and
4. Remove the requirement for employers and C/TPAs to submit blind specimens.

 

• DOT is required by the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act to follow the HHS requirements for the testing procedures/protocols and drugs for which we test.

• Primary laboratory proposals include:
• Testing for four semi-synthetic opioids: hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone;
• Add methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) as an initial test analyte;
• Remove testing for methylenedioxyethylamphetaime (MDEA);

• Other proposals:

• Remove, modify, and add specific definitions and to make certain definitions consistent with those of HHS;
• Remove blind specimen testing;
• Modify several provisions related to urine specimens;
• Add emphasis to an existing Part 40 provision that prohibits DNA testing of urine specimens;
• Add clarification to the term "prescription";
• Modify sections related to how MROs verify test results related to semi-synthetic opioids;
• Require collector, alcohol testing technicians, and substance abuse professionals to subscribe to ODAPC's list serve;
• Remove a list of Substance Abuse Professional certification organizations from rule text and instead maintain the list on ODAPC's web site;
• Include a provision to prohibit program participants from using DOT-branded items on their websites, publications, etc.;
• Remove outdated compliance dates;
• Make various technical amendments.

 

 

• FR_20170123_NPRM_Opioids.pdf