[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3215]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 195

[Docket RSPA-99-6355; Amdt. 195-70]
RIN 2137-AD45


Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High 
Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators With 500 or More Miles of 
Pipelines)

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, titled ``Regulatory 
Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2001, 
this action temporarily delays for 60 days the effective date of the 
rule titled ``Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High 
Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators with 500 or More Miles of 
Pipelines),'' published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2000, 65 
FR 75378. That rule requires operators of hazardous liquid pipelines to 
establish and implement plans to assess the integrity of pipeline in 
areas in which a failure could impact certain populated and 
environmentally sensitive areas.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule is delayed for 60 days, 
from March 31, 2001, to a new effective date of May 29, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni, (202) 366-4571, or by e-
mail: [email protected], regarding the subject matter of this 
final rule, or the Dockets Facility for copies of this final rule or 
other material in the docket. All materials in this docket may be 
accessed electronically 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. 01-3215 Filed 2-7-01; 8:45 am]
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