[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54338-54339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22985]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[RSPA-00-7795]


Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Integrity Management 
Communication Team

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Integrity Management Communication Team Meeting.

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[[Page 54339]]

SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) hereby gives notice that the Integrity 
Management Communication Team will meet to discuss the content and 
delivery of pipeline information to be conveyed to local officials and 
members of the public in or near high consequence areas.

DATES: The meeting will be held on September 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meeting at the 
Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Room 6200 Washington, DC 20590. An opportunity will be provided for the 
public to make short statements on the topics under discussion. Anyone 
wishing to make an oral statement or to participate by conference call 
should notify Mary Jo Cooney, (202) 366-4774, or Christina Sames, (202) 
366-4561, no later than September 7, 2000. Those wishing to make an 
oral statement must notify OPS of the topic of the statement and the 
time requested for the presentation. Those wishing to participate by 
conference call will be notified of the call-in number prior to the 
meeting.
    Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance during the telephone conference calls, 
contact Mary-Jo Cooney at (202) 366-4774.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Jo Cooney, OPS, (202) 366-4774, 
or Christina Sames, OPS, (202) 366-4561.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    In connection with the proposed rule on Pipeline Integrity 
Management in High Consequence Areas, OPS plans to propose related 
rules governing operator communications with local public officials and 
agencies. To assist in this effort, the OPS Technical Advisory 
Committees created an Integrity Management Communications Subcommittee 
to focus on communications issues and to report back to the full 
Advisory Committee. OPS expanded this Subcommittee to form a team with 
equal representation from the public, government agencies, and the 
pipeline industry, and to consolidate several related efforts.
    The Team will provide feedback, insight, and information to the 
Advisory Committee on the content and delivery of information conveyed 
to local officials and the public about pipeline operations, systems, 
and the risks they pose in or near high consequence areas. The Advisory 
Committee will provide pipeline communication recommendations to OPS 
for consideration in drafting the Integrity Management Communications 
rulemaking. The Team will also assist OPS in finalizing a primer to 
educate local officials on pipelines and their operations.
    The topics for discussion for this meeting include discussions of 
the following: Information that is needed by various groups: 
landowners/tenants along pipeline rights-of-way; local and regional 
emergency response officials; excavators and the general public; review 
of existing materials used by pipeline operators for public education; 
results from a public awareness survey conducted by the American 
Petroleum Institute and focus groups sponsored by the Interstate 
Natural Gas Association of America; Office of Pipeline Safety website 
materials; information currently available under the Freedom of 
Information Act; and pending pipeline legislative proposals for 
community right-to-know.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 31, 2000.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Manager, Program Development, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 00-22985 Filed 9-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P