[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9532-9533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3214]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 195

[Docket RSPA-99-5455; Amdt. 195-71]
RIN 2137-AC34


Pipeline Safety: Areas Unusually Sensitive to Environmental 
Damage

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), Department 
of Transportation.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on 
January 24, 2001, this action temporarily delays for 60 days the 
effective date of the final rule titled ``Pipeline Safety: Areas 
Unusually Sensitive to Environmental Damage,'' published in the Federal 
Register on December 21, 2000, 65 FR 80530. That rule defines drinking 
water and ecological areas that are unusually sensitive to 
environmental damage if there is a hazardous liquid pipeline release.

[[Page 9533]]


DATES: The effective date of the final rule is delayed for 60 days, 
from February 20, 2001, to a new effective date of April 21, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Sames at (202) 366-4561 or 
[email protected]. Copies of this document or other material 
in the docket can be obtained from the Dockets Facility, U.S. DOT, Room 
#PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. The Dockets 
Facility is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except on Federal holidays when the facility is closed. The public may 
review material in the docket by accessing the Docket Management 
System's home page at http://dms.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To the extent that 5 U.S.C. section 553 
applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it 
constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(A). 
Alternatively, the RSPA's implementation of this action without 
opportunity for public comment, effective immediately upon publication 
today in the Federal Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in 
5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3). Seeking public comment is 
impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The 
temporary 60-day delay in effective date is necessary to give 
Department officials the opportunity for further review and 
consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Assistant to the 
President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given the imminence of the 
effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay 
would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest 
in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations. The 
imminence of the effective date is also good cause for making this 
action effective immediately upon publication.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 31, 2001.
Edward A. Brigham,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-3214 Filed 2-7-01; 8:45 am]
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