[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41768-41769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17722]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. RSPA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety 
Standards Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Meeting of Gas Technical Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) will convene a meeting of the Technical 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) to discuss and vote on the 
cost-benefit analysis for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ``Pipeline 
Integrity Management for Gas Transmission Pipelines in High Consequence 
Areas'' (68 FR 4278) and discuss and vote on recommended guidance on 
how to clarify, in the final rule, the process of identifying certain 
sites as high consequence areas. RSPA/OPS will brief the TPSSC on the 
Department of Transportation's conceptual framework for a five-year 
research and development program to ensure the integrity of pipeline 
facilities as required by Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
Act of 2002. RSPA/OPS staff will also brief the Committee and request 
their advice on a possible rulemaking to update the gas pipeline 
operator personnel qualification regulation.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2003, from 10 
a.m. to 12 Noon. Advisory Committee members will participate via 
telephone conference call.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meeting in room 4236 at 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC.
    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 
July 18, 2003, on the topic of the statement and the length of the 
presentation. The presiding officer at the 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 (DOT), 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.
    You may 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Whetsel, OPS, (202) 366-4431 or 
Richard Huriaux, OPS, (202) 366-4565, regarding the subject matter of 
this document.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda for this meeting of the TPSSC 
will include:
    1. A vote on the gas integrity management rule cost-benefit 
analysis.
    2. A discussion and vote on recommended guidance on how to clarify, 
in the final rule, the process of identifying certain sites as high 
consequence areas.
    3. A briefing and request for Committee input on the conceptual 
framework of our five-year research and development plan.
    4. A briefing and request for advice on a possible rule change to 
the gas pipeline operator qualification regulation.
    5. Further discussion and vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking 
on liquefied natural gas facilities published May 1, 2003 (68 FR 
23272).
    The TPSSC is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that advises 
RSPA/OPS on proposed safety standards for gas pipelines. The advisory 
committee is 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 
committee consists of 15 members--five each representing

[[Page 41769]]

government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC is tasked with 
determining reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability of 
proposed pipeline regulations.
    Federal law requires that RSPA/OPS submit cost-benefit analyses and 
risk assessment information on proposed safety standards to the 
advisory committees. The TPSSC evaluates the merits of the data and 
methods used within the analyses and provides recommendations relating 
to the cost-benefit analyses.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 9, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-17722 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
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