[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56-57]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32270]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)

49 CFR Parts 192 and 195


Pipeline Safety: Qualification of Pipeline Personnel

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) will conduct a public meeting to 
discuss progress in implementing the operator personnel qualification 
(OQ) rule for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. OPS will introduce 
and describe the operator qualification inspection protocol development 
process and provide an opportunity for public comment. A panel of 
experts will respond to questions from the public.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on January 22, 2003, beginning 
promptly at 9 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. Persons wishing to 
make a presentation or statement at the meeting should notify Janice 
Morgan, (202) 366-2392, no later than January 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency San 
Antonio (Riverwalk), 123 Losoya Street, San Antonio, TX 78205 (Tel: 
210-222-1234; Fax: 210-227-4928; Web: http://www.sanantonioregency.hyatt.com. This meeting is free and open to the 
public. You may register electronically for this meeting at: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?&mtg=5.
    Following presentations by OPS on operator qualification compliance 
and inspection protocols, the public will have the opportunity to 
provide comments and to submit documents for the record. Preregistered 
organizations and individuals will be afforded the first opportunity to 
make their presentations.
    Although we encourage persons wishing to comment on operator 
qualification compliance and inspection protocols to participate in the 
public meeting, written comments will be accepted. You may submit 
written comments on operator qualification implementation and 
compliance issues to Richard Huriaux, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room 7128, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Richard Huriaux at 
(202) 366-4565, regarding the agenda of this public meeting. General 
information about OPS programs may be obtained by accessing OPS's 
Internet home page at http://ops.dot.gov.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities. For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance, contact Janice Morgan, (202) 366-
2392.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The operator qualification rules at 49 CFR 
192.801 (for gas pipelines) and at 49 CFR 195.501 (for hazardous liquid 
pipelines) require every pipeline operator to have and follow a written 
personnel qualification program that includes provisions to identify 
covered tasks and to ensure that all persons performing these tasks are 
qualified to safely and effectively complete the tasks. By October 28, 
2002, all gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators should have 
completed the qualification of all individuals performing covered tasks 
on pipeline facilities.
    On January 22, 2003, OPS will conduct a public meeting to discuss 
progress in implementing the operator personnel qualification rule for 
gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. OPS will present a detailed review 
of the development of the operator qualification inspection protocols.

[[Page 57]]

    The meeting will provide an opportunity to review compliance with 
the operator qualification rule, to clarify operator qualification 
requirements, and to hear compliance issues from Federal and State 
pipeline safety personnel, industry, and the public. All persons 
attending the meeting will have an opportunity to comment on operator 
qualification compliance issues and to question the expert panel on the 
new operator qualification compliance protocols.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 13, 2002.
Richard D. Huriaux,
Manager, Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-32270 Filed 12-27-02; 4:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P