[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59045-59046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23837]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 195

[Docket No. RSPA-01-9832]
RIN 2137-AD59


Pipeline Safety: Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operator Annual Report 
Form

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Research and Special Programs 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the period for public comment from 
September 24, 2002, to November 22, 2002, on the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2002, 
requiring an annual report for hazardous liquid pipeline operators 
(proposed form RSPA F7000-1.1).

DATES: Comments on the NPRM must be received by November 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mail or in person by 
delivering an original and two copies to the Dockets Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Or, you may submit written comments to the 
docket electronically at the following Web address: http://dms.dot.gov. 
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional filing 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Little by phone at (202) 366-
4569, by e-mail at [email protected], or by mail at the Office 
of Pipeline Safety, Room 7128, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, DC, 20590, 
regarding the subject matter of this notice or to access comments in 
the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Filing Information, Electronic Access, and General Program Information

    The Dockets facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except federal holidays. All comments should identify the 
docket number of this notice, RSPA-01-9832. You should submit the 
original and one copy. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt 
of your comments, you must include a stamped, self-addressed postcard. 
To file written comments electronically, after logging onto http://dms.dot.gov, click on ``Electronic Submission'' and follow the 
instructions. You can read comments and other material in the docket at 
this Web address: http://dms.dot.gov. General information about our 
pipeline safety program is available at http://ops.dot.gov.

Background

    On July 26, 2002, the Research and Special Programs 
Administration's Office of Pipeline Safety (RSPA/OPS) issued a NPRM (67 
FR 48844) to require hazardous liquid pipeline operators to submit an 
annual report (proposed form RSPA F7000-1.1). The report form asks for 
information that RSPA/OPS does not currently collect, such as: breakout 
tank location and capacity; hazardous liquid pipeline mileage by State, 
diameter and decade installed. The report will be due March 15 of each 
year for the previous calendar year, aligning with the annual reporting 
schedule for natural gas pipeline operators. RSPA/OPS will use 
information from the report to more effectively compile national 
statistics on system inventory; analyze accidents; identify safety 
problems and potential solutions; and target inspections. The proposed 
form asks for information similar to information RSPA/OPS currently 
collects for natural gas pipelines. The proposed information collection 
is part of RSPA's/OPS's overall strategy for improving the quality of 
pipeline statistics and addresses a longstanding data gap in hazardous 
liquid pipeline inventory information.
    On August 23, 2002, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the

[[Page 59046]]

Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL) submitted a request on behalf of 
their pipeline members for a 60 day extension of the comment period. 
API and AOPL indicated that additional time would enable operators to 
better understand the type of data to be collected on the proposed 
hazardous liquid pipeline annual report and to determine whether 
operators are now collecting information that would meet the needs of 
OPS. Because most of the API and AOPL membership is affected by this 
rulemaking, and because an annual report has never been required of 
hazardous liquid pipeline operators, RSPA/OPS is extending the deadline 
for comments on this NPRM. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.319, good cause has 
been shown by the petitioners for extension of the comment period, 
namely, API and AOPL. Extension of the comment period is consistent 
with the public interest and is granted to all persons.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2002.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-23837 Filed 9-18-02; 8:45 am]
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