[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61161-61162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of The Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection was published on August 26, 1997 
[62 FR 45287]. Three comments were received, two from gas pipeline 
operators and one from a pipeline engineering consultant. The two gas 
operators concurred with the need for NPMS. One commentor, a pipeline 
engineering consultant, disagreed with

[[Page 61162]]

the need for a national mapping program and had several concerns with 
the August 26, 1997 notice. One operator agreed with RSPA's estimate 
for the burden hours per company. The other commentors stated that the 
burden hours were underestimated. One commentor did not provide numbers 
on the degree of the underestimate, while the other suggested two days 
per operator. RSPA's burden hour estimate was from an actual pre-pilot 
test of the mapping program. Because RSPA has actually pre-tested this 
program on operators some of whom had electronic maps and some who had 
only paper maps, RSPA stands by its burden hour estimates. The one 
dissenting commentor also raised issues concerning the need and value 
of NPMS, the accuracy of the maps required under the pilot program, the 
costs of the regional repositories, and the costs and benefits of a 
truly national mapping program.
    RSPA believes that access to a complete and accurate NPMS is 
necessary to ensure that RSPA has the best information for its 
emergency response, compliance and enforcement responsibilities. RSPA 
further believes that it is important that its state partners also have 
this same information. It is important to note that this mapping 
program is a joint effort of the Federal government, state agencies, 
and the three major trade organizations representing the natural gas 
and hazardous liquid industries, the American Petroleum Institute 
(API), the American Gas Association (AGA), and the Interstate Natural 
Gas Association Of America (INGAA). The accuracy of the information 
required of these maps is to within 500 feet and the maps must have a 
quality code describing the quality of the data provided. The Federal 
Government has provided $2.4 million for the NPMS system prior to 1997. 
It has budgeted $500,000.00 for 1997 with an estimated $400,000.00 
needed annually thereafter to maintain this repository system. While 
RSPA does not have an estimate of the potential costs and benefits of a 
national mapping network it is hoping that information provided by this 
pilot program will help RSPA estimate the net benefits of a national 
mapping system in the future if that is required. The question for now 
is to test a volunteer mapping pilot program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 
15, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marvin Fell, (202) 366-6205 or 
write by E-mail to F[email protected]., Research and Special Programs 
Administration, Room 8102, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)
    Title: Mapping Pilot Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-NEW.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Affected Public: Gas transmission and hazardous liquid operators.
    Abstract: The Department of Transportation (DOT) along with other 
Federal and state agencies have been working side by side with natural 
gas and hazardous liquid operators to develop a national pipeline 
mapping system (NPMS). This system, when complete, will depict and 
provide data on the natural gas transmission and larger liquid 
pipelines operating in the United States. The DOT is beginning a 
volunteer pilot program consisting of 36 pipeline operators (three from 
each of 12 states participating in the program). These 36 pipeline 
operators will provide electronic maps of 10-20 miles of their pipeline 
to one state as well as to one of six regional repositories for their 
startup and operating costs.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 144 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 48.
    Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the 
Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 5, 1997.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-30024 Filed 11-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P