[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 56 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13859-13860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5407]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470]
Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety
Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety
Standards Committee
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of meeting and public workshop.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA's Technical
Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committee (TPSSC) and Technical
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The
committees will discuss regulatory issues independently and in joint
session. Each committee will vote on one regulatory proposal. The
THLPSSC will vote on a proposal to extend pipeline safety regulations
to the unregulated hazardous liquid gathering lines and low-stress
pipelines. The TPSSC will vote on a proposal to relax regulatory
requirements governing public awareness programs conducted by operators
of master meter systems and certain operators of petroleum gas systems.
PHMSA will also conduct a public workshop to discuss the possible use
of special permits to allow variance from the seven-year reassessment
interval required as part of a gas transmission integrity management
program.
DATES: The meetings will be on Wednesday, April 25 and Thursday, April
26, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES: The committees will meet at the Washington Marriott, 1221
22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. The phone number for
reservations at the hotel is 202-872-1500. Attendees staying at the
hotel must make reservations as soon as possible.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding
this meeting contact Cheryl Whetsel at (202) 366-4431, or by e-mail at
cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Meeting Details
Members of the public may attend the meetings. Lodging is available
at the Washington Marriott, 1221 22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC
20037. The phone number for reservations is 202-872-1500. The hotel
will give priority to the Committee members and to the State Pipeline
Safety Representatives for rooms blocked under ``DOT Technical Advisory
Committee Meetings.'' PHMSA will post any additional information or
changes on its Web page (http://www.phmsa.dot.gov) approximately 15
days before the meeting date.
Members of the public who want to make an oral statement should
notify Cheryl Whetsel before April 18. The presiding officer at the
meeting may deny any request to present an oral statement and may limit
the time of any presentation.
Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470 and may be
submitted in the following ways:
DOT Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. To submit comments on
the DOT electronic docket site, click ``Comment/Submissions,'' click
``Continue,'' fill in the requested information, click ``Continue,''
enter your comment, then click ``Submit.''
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room PL-401
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
E-Gov Web Site: http://www.regulations.gov. This site
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice
issued by any agency.
Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-98-4470, at the
beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit
two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received
your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet
users may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov, and may access
all comments received by DOT at http://dms.dot.gov by performing a
simple search for the docket number.
Note: All comments will be posted without changes or edits to
http://dms.dot.gov,
[[Page 13860]]
including any personal information provided.
Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all
comments received for any of our dockets. You may review DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For
information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please
contact Cheryl Whetsel at (202) 366-4431 by April 18, 2007.
II. Committee Background
The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are statutorily mandated advisory
committees that advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards for gas and
hazardous liquid pipelines. The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are established
under section 10(a) (2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L.
92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and the pipeline safety law (49 U.S.C. Chap.
601). Each committee consists of 15 members--five each representing
government, industry, and the public.
The pipeline safety law requires PHMSA to seek the TPSSC's or the
THLPSSC's advice on the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and
practicability of each proposed pipeline safety standard. The pipeline
safety law also requires PHMSA to submit the cost-benefit analysis and
risk assessment information associated with the proposed standard to
the appropriate committee. The committees evaluate the merits of the
data and, when appropriate, provide recommendations on the adequacy of
the analyses.
III. Preliminary Meeting Schedule
On Wednesday, April 25, the THLPSSC will discuss and vote on a
proposal to extend pipeline safety regulations to the unregulated
hazardous liquid gathering lines and low-stress pipelines and, if
available, on a supplemental proposal PHMSA is developing. The THLPSSC
discussed the proposal and potential changes needed to address the
requirements of the Pipeline Integrity, Protection, Enforcement and
Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act) at its last meeting on February 12,
2007. The committees will meet in joint session following conclusion of
the THLPSSC meeting. Committees will discuss PHMSA's strategic plan and
how PHMSA is including PIPES Act direction in moving forward on
initiatives underway. Among the topics discussed will be underground
damage prevention, including civil penalty enforcement authority;
status of compliance with public awareness requirements; and
development of criteria for community grants.
On Thursday, April 26, PHMSA will conduct a public meeting to
discuss how to handle anticipated requests for variance from the seven-
year reassessment interval required as part of a gas transmission
integrity management program. The method under consideration is the use
of PHMSA's authority to grant special permits allowing variance from
regulatory requirements. Following conclusion of the public meeting,
the TPSSC will discuss and vote on a proposal to relax regulatory
requirements governing public awareness programs conducted by operators
of master meter systems and certain operators of petroleum gas systems.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115.
Issued in Washington, DC on March 19, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-5407 Filed 3-22-07; 8:45 am]
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