[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 185 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 57424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24383]


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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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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 October 10, 2000, from 8:30 a.m. 
until 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meeting at the 
Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Room 3200, Washington, DC 20590. After team members have discussed each 
topic, an opportunity will be provided for the public to make short 
statements. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement or to participate 
by conference call should notify Mary Jo Cooney, (202) 366-4774, no 
later than October 5, 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.

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.
    Documents relating to this initiative may be viewed on the OPS 
website, ops.dot.gov. Click on Integrity Management and then click on 
Communications Rule. Scroll down to view background documents.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 18, 2000.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Manager, Program Development, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 00-24383 Filed 9-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P