[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28326-28328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11954]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
49 CFR 191, 192, 193, and 195
[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0121]
Pipeline Safety: National Pipeline Mapping System Data
Submissions and Submission Dates for Gas Transmission and Gathering
Systems and Liquefied Natural Gas Annual Reports
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Issuance of advisory bulletin.
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[[Page 28327]]
SUMMARY: This document advises owners and operators of gas transmission
and gathering systems and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities that
they have until August 15, 2011, to submit their Calendar Year 2010
Annual Reports. This document also provides guidance for Calendar Year
2010 National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) submissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Little, 202-366-4569 or by e-
mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
published a final rule on November 26, 2010, under Docket No. PHMSA
2008-0291 [75 FR 72878], titled: ``Pipeline Safety: Updates to Pipeline
and Liquefied Natural Gas Reporting Requirements'' (One Rule). This
rulemaking revised the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR part 190-
199) to improve the reliability and utility of data collections from
operators of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG
facilities. As a result of the rulemaking, several annual and incident
report forms were created while other forms were revised. Included
among these forms, PHMSA created a new Annual Report for LNG facilities
(LNG Annual Report; PHMSA F-7100.3-1) and revised the Annual Report for
Natural or Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems (Gas
Transmission and Gathering Annual Report; PHMSA F-7100.2-1). The One
Rule revised Sec. 191.17 to specify that these reports should be
submitted no later than March 15 for the preceding year, except for
Calendar Year 2010, where reports should be submitted by June 15, 2011.
This delayed reporting date for Calendar Year 2010 was added to allow
companies time to update their information for submission according to
the revised form.
After the One Rule was published, PHMSA received a petition from
the American Gas Association (AGA) on December 22, 2010, asking for
reconsideration of the information collected on the LNG Annual Report
form. PHMSA reviewed the petition and has revised the form based on
AGA's recommendation. PHMSA is using this document to announce that we
are extending the reporting date for the LNG Annual Report form to
August 15, 2011, to allow further time to prepare the electronic system
PHMSA will use to collect the information. Next year, the filing date
will go back to the March 15 date specified in the regulation.
In addition, PHMSA determined that further clarifications were
needed to Parts K and L on the revised Gas Transmission and Gathering
Systems annual report, specifically to correct boundaries for Specified
Minimum Yield Strength, and to clarify certain sections of Part L that
were not applicable to the regulated community at present. Accordingly,
PHMSA has blacked out those sections of the form to clarify the intent
of the information collection. In addition, PHMSA is extending the Gas
Transmission and Gathering Systems report filing deadline from the
stated June 15, 2011, to August 15, 2011, for PHMSA to prepare the
electronic system it will be using to collect the information. This
will also align the filing date with the new LNG Annual Report. Next
year, the filing date of the Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems
report will go back to the March 15 date specified in the regulation.
The forms are available at the following URL: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/library/forms.
PHMSA has also received a number of questions regarding NPMS
submissions. The NPMS consists of geospatial data, attribute data,
public contact information, and metadata pertaining to the interstate
and intrastate hazardous liquid trunklines and hazardous liquid low-
stress lines as well as gas transmission pipelines, LNG plants, and
hazardous liquid breakout tanks regulated by PHMSA. Most operators
submit their NPMS data to PHMSA at the same time they file their annual
report. For example, gas transmission operators who file their annual
report on the regular filing date of March 15 for the previous calendar
year would also submit their NPMS data on March 15 for the previous
calendar year, reflecting assets as of December 31, 2010. Although
PHMSA is extending the filing date for annual report submissions,
operators are encouraged to file their NPMS data at their regularly
scheduled times.
For clarification purposes, PHMSA is providing the following table
which explains the reporting dates for annual reporting:
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Calendar year 2010
Normal submission date submission (49 CFR Calendar year 2010 extended
(49 CFR cite) cite) submission date
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Gas Transmission and Gathering March 15 (Sec. June 15, 2011 (Sec. Aug. 15, 2011.
Systems Annual Report (PHMSA-F 191.15(a)). 191.15(a)).
7100.2-1).
LNG Annual Report (PHMSA-F 7100.3- March 15 (Sec. June 15, 2011 (Sec. Aug. 15, 2011.
1). 191.15(b)). 191.15(b)).
Hazardous Liquid Annual Report June 15 (Sec. Aug. 15, 2011 (Sec. ...........................
(PHMSA-F 7000-1.1). 195.49). 195.49).
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Advisory Bulletin (ADB-11-03)
To: Owners and Operators of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline
Facilities, LNG Facilities, and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Facilities.
Subject: Submission Dates and Minor Form Changes for Calendar Year
2010 Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems Annual Reports, LNG Annual
Reports; and NPMS Data submissions.
Advisory: This document advises owners and operators of gas and LNG
pipeline facilities that PHMSA is extending the reporting date for
Calendar Year 2010 Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems Annual
Reports (PHMSA F-7100.2-1) and LNG Annual Reports (PHMSA F-7100.3-1) to
August 15, 2011. These forms were previously scheduled for submission
on June 15, 2011. Any questions regarding these submissions may be
directed to the Office of Pipeline Safety operator helpline at 202-366-
8075.
In addition, operators subject to the NPMS statutory mandate are
encouraged to file their annual data submissions based on their
regularly scheduled dates. For example, hazardous liquid operators who
normally submit their NPMS data on June 15 when they file their annual
report are encouraged to file their 2010 NPMS data submission on June
15, reflecting assets as of December 31, 2010, even though the
Hazardous Liquid Annual report is not required for submission until
August 15, 2011. Any questions regarding NPMS submissions
[[Page 28328]]
can be directed to Amy Nelson at 202-493-0591.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2011.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-11954 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
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