[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42848-42849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15997]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)

[Docket No. RSPA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Safety Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Research and Special Programs 
Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Meeting of Technical Pipeline Safety Standards 
Committee.

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SUMMARY: A meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee 
(TPSSC), the gas pipeline advisory committee, will be held on Thursday, 
July 18, 2002, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Washington, DC. The TPSSC will 
be advising the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and voting on the 
proposed definition of High Consequence Areas (HCA) for Gas 
Transmission Operators which was published on January 9, 2002 (67 FR 
1108). This definition will be referenced in an upcoming proposed rule 
on Pipeline Integrity Management in HCAs (Gas Transmission Pipeline 
Operators).
    OPS will brief the TPSSC on integrity management concepts for gas 
pipelines and on the comments received in response to previous notices. 
In addition, OPS will present the draft cost-benefit analysis prepared 
for the upcoming proposed rule on integrity management programs for gas 
transmission pipelines. Because of the importance of this rule, OPS is 
providing the regulatory evaluation for peer review by the TPSSC before 
the proposed rule has been finalized.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meetings at the 
Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. The exact location and room number for this 
meeting will be posted on the OPS web page approximately 15 days before 
the meeting date at http://ops.dot.gov.
    An opportunity will be provided for the public to make short 
statements on the topics under discussion. Anyone wishing to make an 
oral statement should notify Juan Carlos Martinez, (202) 366-1933, not 
later than July 12, 2002, on the topic of the statement and the length 
of your presentation. The presiding officer at each meeting may deny 
any request to present an oral statement and may limit the time of any 
presentation.
    You may submit written comments by mail or deliver to the Dockets 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You also may 
submit written comments to the docket electronically. To do so, log 
onto the following Internet Web address: http://dms.dot.gov. Click on 
``Help & Information'' for instructions on how to file a document 
electronically. All written comments should reference docket number 
RSPA-98-4470. Anyone who would like confirmation of mailed comments 
must include a self-addressed stamped postcard.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Juan Carlos Martinez at (202) 366-1933.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Whetsel, OPS, (202) 366-4431 or 
Richard Huriaux, OPS, (202) 366-4565, regarding the subject matter of 
this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The TPSSC is a statutorily mandated advisory 
committee that advises RSPA on proposed safety standards for gas 
pipelines. This advisory committee is constituted in accordance with 
section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 
5 U.S.C. App. 1). The committee consists of 15 members--five each 
representing government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC is tasked 
with determining reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability 
of proposed pipeline rules. In addition, Federal law (49 U.S.C. 
60115(a)) requires that the TPSSC serve as peer reviewer committees for 
purposes of all Federal laws relating to risk assessment and peer 
review.
    The TPSSC will be advising OPS and voting on the proposed 
definition of High Consequence Areas (HCA) for Gas Transmission 
Operators which was published on January 9, 2002 (67 FR 1108). This 
definition will be referenced in an upcoming proposed rule on Pipeline 
Integrity Management in HCAs (Gas Transmission Pipeline Operators).
    In addition, OPS will brief the TPSSC on integrity management 
concepts for gas pipelines and on the comments

[[Page 42849]]

received in response to previous notices. OPS will provide copies and 
explain the draft cost-benefit analysis prepared for the upcoming 
proposed rule on integrity management programs for gas transmission 
pipelines. Because of the importance of this rule, OPS is submitting 
the regulatory evaluation for peer review by the TPSSC before the 
proposed rule has been finalized.
    The upcoming proposed integrity management rule for gas 
transmission pipelines maintains the duty of a gas pipeline to comply 
with the current pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR part 192), but 
creates a protective umbrella of more comprehensive assessment, repair, 
prevention, and mitigative actions in those areas (high consequence 
areas) where a failure would do the greatest damage. This assessment 
process will produce better information about problems that may have 
been missed and creates checks and balances to assure that the best use 
is made of available information to correct newly found problems.
    The proposed gas pipeline integrity management rule will be the 
culmination of a seven-year investigation of ways to improve the 
safety, security, and reliability of natural gas transmission lines in 
a cost-effective manner. It is based on risk assessment and 
specifically addresses the unique characteristics associated with gas 
pipelines, much in the same manner as the hazardous liquid integrity 
management rule addressed hazardous liquid pipeline characteristics.
    This rulemaking also will address the trend of people moving closer 
to pipelines, which increase the threats of outside force damages to 
the pipelines, associated with construction.
    Key concepts OPS is considering for the proposed gas integrity 
management rule include:
    1. Expansion of the areas where added protection is required based 
on history of recent accidents in which a large impact area was 
experienced.
    2. Improvement of protection though better inspection and 
management technology.
    3. Establishment of stronger repair requirements.
    4. Integration of various kinds of information to provide a clearer 
picture of threats.
    5. Requirement to address each threat to integrity.
    OPS has already sought and has received general comments from the 
public on gas transmission pipeline integrity management in high 
consequence areas. On June 27, 2001, RSPA issued a notice of request 
for comments on integrity management of gas transmission pipelines in 
high consequence areas (66 FR 34318). A copy of the notice and the 
comments are in Docket RSPA-00-7666, which is accessible on the 
Internet from the DOT Dockets Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. 
The notice sought comment on the following issues relating to 
establishment of integrity management programs by gas transmission 
pipelines:
    1. Defining high consequence areas.
    2. Identifying and evaluating threats to pipeline integrity.
    3. Selecting the assessment technologies.
    4. Determining time frames to conduct a baseline integrity 
assessment and to make repairs.
    5. Identifying and implementing additional preventive and 
mitigative measures.
    6. Evaluating and reassessing pipeline segments.
    7. Monitoring the effectiveness of the management process.
    Based in part on comments received and on meetings with 
representatives of the gas pipeline industry, research institutions, 
State pipeline safety agencies, and public interest groups, on January 
9, 2002, RSPA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to define areas of 
high consequence, i.e., areas where the impact of a gas transmission 
pipeline accident on people, property, or the environment could be 
unusually severe (67 FR 1108). This proposed rule is the first step in 
a two-step process to address integrity management programs for gas 
transmission pipelines. Although the proposed definition does not 
require any specific action by pipeline operators, it will be 
referenced in the upcoming proposed rule to require pipeline integrity 
management programs for gas transmission pipelines.
    In addition to requirements for cost-benefit analysis of proposed 
pipeline safety standards, Federal law (49 U.S.C. 60115(c)) requires 
that OPS submit cost-benefit results and risk assessment information to 
one of two advisory committees established to support OPS on technical 
and policy issues. A key responsibility of the TPSSC is to provide peer 
review and evaluation of OPS' cost-benefit analyses for proposed gas 
pipeline standards. The TPSSC must: (1) Evaluate the merit of the data 
and methods used within the analyses, and (2) when appropriate, provide 
recommendations relating to the cost-benefit analyses.
    OPS will consider the advice of the TPSSC and its peer review of 
the draft regulatory evaluation in crafting the proposed rule to 
require gas transmission pipelines to institute integrity management 
programs. The proposed rule will be submitted to the TPSSC for comment 
after it is published. Any comments by the TPSSC will be carefully 
considered before a final rule is issued.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-15997 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
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