Safety Regulation of Gas and Hazardous Liquid Gathering Lines Meeting

The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) will host a public meeting and request for comments regarding the safety regulation of gas and hazardous liquid gathering lines. The meeting will be held in Austin, Texas on November 19-20, 2003. It will run from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM on the first day and from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM on the second day.

Seeking to resolve the gas gathering line interpretive problem, RSPA proposed to amend the Part 192 gathering line definition (Docket PS-122; 56 FR 48505; Sept. 25, 1991). However, because the public response was generally unfavorable; with industry commenters disputing the significance of the problem and alleging wholesale reclassification of lines, RSPA delayed final action pending the collection and consideration of further information. Meanwhile, Congress amended the pipeline safety law, directing RSPA to define the term "gathering line" for both gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, and define as "regulated gathering line" those rural gathering lines that, because of specific physical characteristics, should be regulated.

If you want to make an oral presentation, please notify Janice Morgan by November 14, 2003, by phone (202-366-2392) or by e-mail (janice.morgan @ rspa.dot.gov), and state the approximate length of your presentation.

Registration for this meeting is not required but is encouraged. You may register on-line.

Supplementary information is available in the Federal Register Notice announcing this meeting, which is available for download http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings/110503FRN_MtgNoticeGatheringLines.pdf