[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9966-9967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4919]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. RSPA-00-7666; Notice 6]
RIN 2137-AD54


Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High 
Consequence Areas (Gas Transmission Pipelines)

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Research and Special Programs 
Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a one-day public meeting to address 
issues raised at a recent workshop jointly organized by the Interstate 
Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation and the American 
Gas Association (AGA) on the proposed 49 CFR part 192.763, ``Pipeline 
Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas''. This meeting is 
intended to give participants a better understanding of the proposed 
rule. OPS representatives will give an overview of the proposed 
regulation and will fully discuss identification of high consequence 
areas and moderate risk areas; confirmatory direct assessment methods; 
assessment schedules, and criteria for the performance approach to the 
program. RSPA/OPS is also seeking information on the costs and benefits 
of implementing the proposed requirements.

ADDRESSES: The meeting is open to all. There is no cost to attend. This 
meeting will be held on Friday March 14, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 
the Marriott at Metro Center hotel located at 775 12th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC; Tel: 202-737-2200); fax: 202-347-5886; website: 
www.marriott.com. You may register electronically for this meeting at: 
http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings. Please make your reservations as 
soon as possible as hotel rooms are limited. For other details on this 
meeting contact Janice Morgan at 202-366-2392.
    You may submit written comments by mail or delivery to the Dockets 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. The dockets facility is open 
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal 
holidays. You should submit the original and one copy. Anyone who wants 
confirmation of receipt of their comments must include a stamped, self-
addressed postcard. You may also submit comments to the docket 
electronically. To do so, log on to the Internet Web address http://dms.dot.gov. And click on ``Help'' for instructions on electronic 
filing of comments. All written comments should identify the docket 
number RSPA-03-14448; Notice 3.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comments (or signing the comments, if submitted on 
behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review 
the U.S. Department of Transportation's complete Privacy Act Statement 
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), 
or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenny Donohue by phone at (202) 366-
4046, regarding this document. General information about RSPA/OPS 
programs may be obtained by accessing RSPA's Internet page at http://rspa.dot.gov.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities

[[Page 9967]]

or to request special assistance, contact Janice Morgan, (202) 366-
2392.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    To better prevent pipeline failures that can imperil the health and 
safety of nearby residents and cause significant damage to their 
property, RSPA/OPS is promulgating a series of rules to require 
pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs. The 
programs include conducting baseline and periodic assessments of 
certain pipeline segments. Although the hazardous liquid and natural 
gas programs are structured somewhat differently to accommodate the 
differences between the two types of pipeline systems, both integrity 
management programs are designed to identify the best method(s) for 
maintaining the structural soundness (i.e., integrity) of pipelines 
operating across the United States.
    On January 9, 2002, RSPA/OPS began the integrity management 
rulemakings for gas transmission lines by first proposing a definition 
of high consequence areas (See 67 FR 1108). We also described our plan 
to propose integrity management program requirements for gas 
transmission pipelines affecting those areas. RSPA/OPS finalized the 
high consequence area definition on August 6, 2002 (67 FR 50824), and 
published the proposed rule on integrity management program 
requirements on January 28, 2003 (68 FR 4278).
    This meeting is being held to give participants a better 
understanding of the proposed rule. OPS representatives will give an 
overview of the proposed rule and discuss fully the identification and 
protection of high consequence areas and moderate risk areas; and the 
methodology of confirmatory direct assessment. OPS will answer any 
questions related to the proposed rule and will seek additional 
information from the public about costs and benefits of implementing 
the proposed rule.
    The preliminary agenda for this meeting is as follows:
    Pipeline safety legislation--The impact of the recently passed 
legislation on integrity management program requirements.
    Overview of proposed regulation--The intent and structure of the 
proposed rule.
    HCA Identification--The refinement of the definition of high 
consequence areas and moderate risk areas in the proposed rule.
    Risk assessment, plan development, and data integration--Proposed 
risk assessment, with particular emphasis on confirmatory direct 
assessment methods, and the proposed plan development process, 
identification of high consequence areas and moderate risk areas; 
confirmatory direct assessment methods; assessment schedules, and 
criteria for the performance approach to the program.

IMP Implementation & Data Integration

    Costs and benefits--The draft regulatory evaluation.

Open Forum & Q&A

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-4919 Filed 2-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P