[Federal Register: December 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 243)]
[Notices]
[Page 71999-72000]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de07-148]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470]
Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Standards
Advisory Committees and a Public Workshop
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meetings and workshop.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA's Technical
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous
Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The Committees
will meet in a joint session to discuss PHMSA's regulatory agenda and
strategic plan. In conjunction with the advisory committee meetings,
PHMSA will hold a public workshop.
PHMSA will hold a half day public workshop to gather comments on
the use of the special permit process to allow transmission pipeline
operators to vary from the 7-year reassessment interval in integrity
management programs. Specifically, special permits would allow
operators to tailor their reassessment intervals, based on pipe
specific threats. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for
use in special permits.
DATES: The TPSSC and the THLPSSC will meet on Thursday, January 17,
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The public meeting on special permit
consideration and criteria discussion for 7-year reassessments will be
on Friday, January 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be at the Hotel Palomar Arlington, 1121
North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Technical Advisory Committee Meetings: Cheryl Whetsel
(202) 366-4431, cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov;
Public Workshop on Special Permit Consideration and
Criteria Discussion for 7-Year Reassessments: Zach Barrett (405) 954-
5559, zach.barrett@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Meeting Details
Members of the public may attend and may make a statement during
the advisory committee meetings or during the public workshop. If you
plan to make a statement please notify the relevant contact under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION by January 9. Please note the meetings' presiding
officer may deny a nonscheduled request to make a statement and may
also limit the time of any speaker.
Comments should reference Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470 (advisory
committee) or Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-2000-7666 (7-year reassessment
workshop). Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
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. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140, Washington,
DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room W12-140,
on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket ID, 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 Note: Comments will be posted without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov. including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in
the Regulatory Analyses and Notices section of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for additional information.
Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all
comments received for any of our
[[Page 72000]]
dockets. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
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 before January 2.
II. Committee Background
The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are advisory committees mandated by
statute to advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments,
and safety policies for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
These advisory committees are established under 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 TPSSC and
the THLPSSC determine the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and
practicability of each proposed safety standard. The committees also
evaluate the cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment information on
each proposal.
III. Preliminary Meeting Schedules
Joint Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committees
Thursday, January 17 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
The TPSSC and THLPSSC will meet to introduce new members and to
discuss their roles and responsibilities. They will also discuss
PHMSA's 2008 regulatory agenda and plans to carry out the DOT and PHMSA
strategic plans.
Special Permit Consideration and Criteria Discussion for 7-Year
Reassessments Friday, January 18 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Integrity management regulations applicable to gas transmission
pipelines required all operators to do a baseline assessment of
pipelines. PHMSA will hold a public workshop to gather comments on the
use of a special permit to allow certain transmission pipeline
operators to tailor reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific
threats, instead of using the 7-year mandatory reassessment required
now. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for these
special permits.
PHMSA will post more detailed agendas and any additional
information or changes on its Web page (http://phmsa.dot.gov)
approximately 15 days before the meeting date.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115; 60118.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 14, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-6099 Filed 12-14-07; 2:15 pm]
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