[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17295-17296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8362]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Parts 190-199

[Docket No. PS-139; Notice No. 1]


Improving the Pipeline Safety Program; Public Meetings and 
Request for Comments Related to Regulatory Review and Customer Service

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Public meetings and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a nationwide series of three public 
meetings during April and May to seek information from the public on 
regulatory reform and improved customer service for RSPA's pipeline 
safety program.

DATES: Meetings: Public meetings will be held as follows:

(1) April 25, 1995, in Dallas, Texas.
(2) April 27, 1995, in Lakewood, Colorado.
(3) May 15, 1995, in Houston, Texas.

    Comments: This notice invites comments on both regulatory reform 
and improved customer service. Participation in the meeting is not a 
prerequisite for the submission of written comments. Please submit 
comments before May 31, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Meetings: See Supplementary Information for specific times, 
locations and agendas.
    Comments: Please address written comments to the Dockets Unit, 
Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments may also be faxed 
to (202) 366-4566. Comments should identify the docket (Docket No. PS-
139). The Dockets Unit is located in room 8421 of the Nassif Building, 
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on public holidays 
when the office is closed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, (202) 366-0918 
regarding the subject matter of this notice; or the Dockets Unit (202) 
366-4900; RSPA, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Any person wishing to speak should notify Jenny Donohue at (202) 
366-4046 with an estimate of the time required for their statement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 4, 1995, President Clinton issued a 
memorandum to heads of departments and agencies calling for a review of 
all agency regulations and elimination or revision of those that are 
outdated or in need of reform. The President also directed that front 
line regulators ``* * * get out of Washington and create grassroots 
partnerships'' with people affected by agency regulations. RSPA is 
reviewing the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) in 
response to the President's directive.
    On September 11, 1993, the President signed an Executive Order on 
setting customer service standards. The Executive Order requires 
continual reform of the executive branch's management practices and 
operations to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the 
best service available in the private sector. RSPA is seeking 
information from customers of its pipeline safety program to determine 
the kind and quality of services they want and their level of 
satisfaction with existing services.

Conduct of Meetings

    Meetings will be informal, intended to produce a dialogue between 
agency personnel and those persons directly affected by the pipeline 
safety programs, regulations and customer services. The meeting officer 
reserves the right to limit time allocated to speakers, if necessary, 
to ensure that all have an opportunity to speak. Other individuals will 
have an opportunity to present their comments after scheduled speakers 
complete their comments, subject to the approval of the presiding 
officer. Conversely, meetings may conclude before the scheduled time if 
all persons wishing to participate have been heard.

Meeting Schedule

    The public meetings will be held as follows:
    (1) April 25, 1995, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in Dallas, Texas, 
at Loews Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX. 75207, in 
the ``Emerald Room''. This meeting will be held concurrently with the 
American Petroleum Institute's 46th Annual Pipeline Conference.
    (2) April 27, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Lakewood, 
Colorado, Denver Federal Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Building 25, 
Lecture Hall A & B (first floor), Lakewood, CO.
    (3) May 15, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Houston, Texas, 
Sheraton Crown Hotel & Conference Center, 15700 John F. Kennedy 
Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77032. [[Page 17296]] 

Areas of Regulatory Concern

    In calling on agencies to cut obsolete regulations, the President 
directs each agency to consider the following issues in its review of 
the regulations:
     Is this regulation obsolete?
     Could its intended goal be achieved in more efficient, 
less intrusive ways?
     Are there better private sector alternatives, such as 
market mechanisms, that can better achieve the public good envisioned 
by the regulation?
     Could private business, setting its own standards and 
being subject to public accountability, do the job as well?
     Could the States or local governments do the job, making 
Federal regulation unnecessary?
    RSPA suggests that persons commenting on the pipeline safety 
program consider these issues.
    The President's call for regulatory reform provides opportunities 
for eliminating or improving pipeline safety regulations. RSPA is 
undertaking a page-by-page review of the Pipeline Safety Regulations 
and is identifying certain sections of the regulations that are 
candidates for elimination, revision, clarification or relaxation.

Improvements to Customer Service

    RSPA is soliciting comments on the kind and quality of services its 
customers want and their level of satisfaction with the services 
currently provided by the pipeline safety program. RSPA will use the 
comments to establish service standards and measure results against 
them; provide customers with choices in both the sources of service and 
the means of delivery; make information, services, and complaint 
systems easily accessible; and provide the means to address customer 
complaints. RSPA's current customer services include providing guidance 
in understanding and complying with the Pipeline Safety Regulations and 
processing exemptions, approvals, registrations, grant applications, 
and enforcement actions. Other customer services include conduct of 
pipeline safety seminars, and the development and dissemination of 
training and informational materials.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 31, 1995.
Cesar De Leon,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-8362 Filed 4-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P