[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5448]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)

[Docket No. RSPA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Advisory 
Committees

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

ACTION: Notice; Meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards 
Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards 
Committee.

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SUMMARY: Meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee 
(TPSSC) and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards 
Committee (THLPSSC) will be held from Tuesday, March 25 to Thursday, 
March 27, 2003, at the Hyatt Arlington Hotel, Arlington, VA. OPS will 
provide briefings on pending rulemakings and regulatory initiatives. 
The advisory committees will discuss and vote on various proposed 
rulemakings and associated risk assessments.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meetings at the Hyatt 
Arlington Hotel, 1325 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. 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 Jean Milam, (202) 493-0967, not later than 
March 18, 2003, on the topic of the statement and the length of the 
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.
    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 comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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 
Jean Milam at (202) 493-0967.

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 and THLPSSC are statutorily 
mandated advisory committees that advise the Research and Special 
Programs Administration's (RSPA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) on 
proposed safety standards for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. These 
advisory committees are 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 committees consist of 15 members--five each representing 
government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC and THLPSSC are tasked 
with determining reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability 
of proposed pipeline regulations.
    Federal law requires that OPS submit cost-benefit analyses and risk 
assessment information on proposed safety standards to the advisory 
committees. The TPSSC and/or THLPSSC evaluate the merit of the data and 
methods used within the analyses, and when appropriate, provide 
recommendations relating to the cost-benefit analyses.
    On Tuesday, March 25, 2003, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, the 
Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee 
(THLPSSC) will meet. The preliminary agenda includes a briefing and 
committee vote on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ``Recommendations 
to Change Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Requirements.'' In addition, 
OPS will brief the THLPSSC on the following topics:
    1. Revision to Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Annual Report.
    2. National Pipeline Mapping System.
    3. Gathering Lines.
    On Wednesday, March 26, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, the 
THLPSSC and the TPSSC will meet in joint session. The preliminary 
agenda includes a briefing and peer review of the Pipeline Research and 
Development Plan. OPS will provide the Committee with briefings on the 
following topics:
    1. Pipeline Communication and Public Education Programs.
    2. Alternative Mitigation Measures.
    3. Pipeline Integrity Management--Partial Issues.
    4. Damage Prevention, Common Ground Alliance and Nationwide Toll-
Free Number ( Dig).
    5. Operator Qualification Compliance.
    6. Pipeline Security.
    7. Office of Pipeline Safety Initiatives.
    On Thursday, March 27, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST the TPSSC 
will meet. A major portion of the meeting will include a briefing on 
the NPRM, Pipeline Integrity Management for Gas Transmission Pipelines 
in High Consequence Areas (HCAs) and of the Cost Benefit Analysis. The 
TPSSC will vote on the Cost Benefit Analysis of Pipeline Integrity 
Management for Gas Transmission Pipelines in HCAs and on the NPRM, 
``Further Regulatory Review: Gas Pipeline Safety Standards.'' 
Additional briefings will be provided on the following topics:
    1. National Pipeline Mapping System.
    2. Cost-Benefit Study of Excess Flow Valve Installation on Gas 
Service Lines
    3. Gas Gathering Line Issues

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 4, 2003.
Richard D. Huriaux,
Manager, Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-5448 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P