[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 19, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13249-13250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6626]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. RSPA-00-7666; Notice 5]
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: Proposed rule; notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the period for comment on the notice of 
proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on January 28, 
2003 (68 FR 4278), from March 31, 2003, to April 30, 2003. The proposed 
rule requires operators to develop integrity management programs for 
gas transmission pipelines that, in the event of a failure, could 
impact high consequence areas (HCAs).

DATES: The comment period for interested persons to submit written 
comments on the proposed gas pipeline integrity management rule ends 
April 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Filing Information

    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. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. All written 
comments should identify the docket and notice numbers stated in the 
heading of this notice. Anyone desiring confirmation of mailed comments 
must include a self-addressed stamped postcard.

Electronic Access

    You may also submit written comments to the docket electronically. 
To submit comments electronically, access the following Internet Web 
address: http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help & Information'' for 
instructions on how to file a document electronically.

Privacy Act Information

    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

[[Page 13250]]

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.

General Information

    You may contact the Dockets Facility by phone at (202) 366-9329, 
for copies of this proposed rule or other material in the docket. All 
materials in this docket may be accessed electronically at http://dms.dot.gov/search. Once you access this address, type in the last four 
digits of the docket number shown at the beginning of this notice (in 
this case 7666), and click on search. You will then be connected to all 
relevant information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni by phone at (202) 366-
4571, by fax at (202) 366-4566, or by e-mail at 
[email protected], regarding the subject matter of this proposed 
rule. General information about the RSPA/OPS programs may be obtained 
by accessing RSPA's Internet page at http://RSPA.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RSPA/OPS published a proposed rule on 
pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas for gas 
transmission pipelines on January 28, 2003 (68 FR 4278). That notice 
provided a 60-day comment period ending on March 31, 2003. By petition 
dated March 6, 2003, the American Gas Association (AGA), the American 
Public Gas Association (APGA), and the Interstate Natural Gas 
Association of America (INGAA) requested that the comment period be 
extended by 60 days, from March 31, 2003, to May 30, 2003.
    In the petition, the associations argue that because the proposed 
rule is lengthy and complex, additional time is necessary to analyze 
the proposal and prepare comments. The petition also refers to the 
public meeting on March 14, 2003, where OPS will discuss the proposed 
rule. The associations maintain it will take time for them to inform 
their member companies about the discussions at the meeting so that the 
companies can use the information in developing their comments.
    RSPA/OPS has decided to extend the comment period in light of the 
request and the complexity of this proposed rule. RSPA/OPS does not 
consider that a 60-day extension is necessary. A statutory requirement 
(Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, 49 U.S.C. 60109(c)) requires 
us to publish the final rule by December 17, 2003. A 60-day extension 
of the comment period would not allow us to meet this statutory 
deadline. A 30-day extension provides 45 days after the public meeting 
for interested parties to submit comments.
    RSPA/OPS believes that an extension of the comment period by 30 
days from the existing closing date (March 31, 2003) is reasonable; the 
comment period is hereby extended to April 30, 2003.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 13, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-6626 Filed 3-18-03; 8:45 am]
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