[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30936-30937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15353]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. PS-139; Notice 2]


Improving the Pipeline Safety Program; Public Meeting Related to 
Regulatory Review and Customer Service

SUMMARY: This Notice announces a public meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, 
to seek public input on regulatory reform and improved customer service 
in RSPA's pipeline safety program. This meeting is the fourth of its 
kind since the April 25, 1995, meeting in Dallas, Texas. This public 
meeting is consistent with the objectives of the President's Regulatory 
Reinvention Initiative (RRI) and seeks to improve the customer service 
provided by the pipeline safety program.
    Comments: Interested persons are also invited to submit written 
comments regarding the subject matter of this Notice. Comments received 
will not be limited to RRI issues or the subject matter of this Notice, 
and attendance in the meeting is not a prerequisite for the submission 
of written comments. General comments or suggestions for

[[Page 30937]]

improving the Pipeline Safety Program are invited. Please submit 
comments before July 18, 1996. Please address written comments to the 
RSPA Dockets Unit, attention Verdell Simpkins, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room 8421, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Comments should reference Docket No. PS-139.

DATE/ADDRESS: The public meeting will be held on June 27, 1996, from 
9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Henry VIII Hotel, 4690 N. Lindbergh 
Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, Transportation 
Specialist, (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.

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outdated or in need of reform.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 has reviewed the pipeline safety regulations in response to 
the President's directive, and has prepared four regulatory actions, 
now in the final rule stage, that are scheduled to be published in the 
Federal Register by early June. These rules will lessen unnecessary 
burdens on the pipeline industry by revisions or updates in areas 
including the gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas safety standards, 
administrative practices, industry consensus standards incorporated by 
reference, and general updates and corrections to the pipeline safety 
regulations. The four rules ``reinvent'' 52 pages of the pipeline 
safety regulations.
    In April and May of 1995, RSPA held three similar outreach meetings 
in Dallas, Denver, and Houston in response to the RRI directive. RSPA 
received many comments from participants at the meetings as well as 
written comments to Docket No. PS-139. The public offered support on 
some issues, and pointed out areas where RSPA needs improvement in its 
service to customers. Issues discussed at the meetings included RSPA's 
pipeline risk management initiatives, the present scope of RSPA's 
outreach efforts, the pipeline safety regulations and the regulatory 
process, compliance, enforcement, and jurisdictional issues. These 
issues were also addressed in written comments to the docket. 
Commenters expressed views on other issues such as the status of One-
Call legislation, the varying needs of small and large pipeline 
operators, and the role of the pipeline safety advisory committees. 
Finally, specific comments on numerous regulations were presented. RSPA 
has summarized the comments discussed at the previous outreach 
meetings, as well as the written comments submitted by mail or fax. 
These documents are available in Docket No. PS-139.
    RSPA has taken all comments into consideration in its page-by-page 
review of the pipeline safety regulations. However, RSPA continues 
efforts to increase outreach projects and to promote partnerships with 
the pipeline industry. To enhance partnerships with the regulated 
community and all parties affected by RSPA regulatory actions, RSPA 
believes that public outreach meetings offer an effective forum to 
obtain input from the public on its pipeline safety program and 
regulations.

Conduct of the Meeting

    The meeting will be informal and is intended to produce an open 
dialogue between agency personnel and persons affected by the pipeline 
safety program. RSPA's goal is to receive input from all interested 
parties, so no formal agenda will be prepared. Depending on the number 
of attendees, RSPA reserves the right to limit the time allocated to 
each speaker to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to 
speak. Conversely, the meeting may conclude before the scheduled time 
if all persons have been heard. RSPA invites participation by all 
interested parties on the status of the pipeline safety program, 
regulatory reform and customer service efforts, regulations and 
procedures needing improvement, or any other issues.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 12, 1996.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-15353 Filed 6-17-96; 8:45 am]
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