[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58164-58165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25420]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-03-16246]


Pipeline Safety: Direct Assessment Workshop

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

ACTION: Notice of workshop on direct assessment technology.

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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and the National Association of 
Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) will cosponsor a workshop with 
the pipeline industry trade associations (Interstate Natural Gas 
Association of America, American Gas Association, NACE International,

[[Page 58165]]

and American Public Gas Association) to discuss direct assessment 
technology. The workshop is intended to provide a forum for the 
discussion of direct assessment technology as it relates to natural gas 
pipeline integrity management. RSPA/OPS will gather issues presented at 
the workshop needing additional clarification or guidance material 
development.

DATES: Tuesday, November 4th, 2003, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public may attend the meeting at the Wyndham Greenspoint 
North Hotel, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, Texas 77060, (281) 875-
2222, http://www.wyndhamhouston.com
    Operators of natural gas transmission pipelines are urged to 
attend. To facilitate meeting planning, advance registration for these 
meetings is strongly encouraged and can be accomplished online at the 
following Web site: http://primis/rspa.dot.gov/meetings
    Members of the public are welcome to attend the workshop. An 
opportunity will be provided for the public to ask questions or make 
short statements on the topics under discussion. 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 identify the docket and notice numbers which appear in 
the heading of this notice. 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 April 11, 2000, issue of the 
Federal Register (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may 
visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilites: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Juan Carlos 
Martinez (tel: 202-366-1933; E-mail: [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zach Barrett, (tel: 405-954-5559; E-
mail [email protected]), regarding the subject matter of this 
notice. Additional information about gas integrity management can be 
found at http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/gasimp/index.htm. You can read 
comments and other material in the docket on the Internet at: http://dms.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Direct Assessment is an integrity assessment method that utilizes a 
process to evaluate certain threats to pipeline integrity. It consists 
of a combination of pipeline corrosion assessment techniques and data 
integration. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 required RSPA/
OPS to issue regulations, not later than December 17, 2003, prescribing 
standards for an operator's conduct of risk analysis and adoption and 
implementation of an integrity management program and for defining 
direct assessment. RSPA/OPS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on 
January 28, 2003, proposing regulations to require a gas transmission 
operator to conduct a risk analysis and adopt an integrity management 
program. As part of the required integrity management program, each 
operator of a gas transmission pipeline facility must conduct a 
baseline integrity assessment. RSPA/OPS defines direct assessment as a 
primary assessment technique for any transmission pipelines or as a 
supplement to other assessment techniques. Although the application of 
corrosion assessment techniques such as Close-Interval or Direct 
Current Voltage Gradient surveys have been in place for some time, 
their integration with other information in a structured process to 
identify integrity concerns is a new industry practice for many 
pipeline operators. NACE International has published Standard RPO502-
2002 ``Pipeline External Corrosion Direct Assessment Methodology,'' 
providing a recommended practice for external corrosion direct 
assessment. NACE International is also developing standards for 
internal corrosion and stress corrosion cracking direct assessment 
methodologies. The adoption of these standards into the pipeline safety 
regulations is being considered by RSPA/OPS. RSPA/OPS and NAPSR 
recently participated in several direct assessment demonstration 
programs sponsored by the industry to further knowledge and discussions 
regarding the implementation of direct assessment methodologies for 
integrity management.
    RSPA/OPS is co-sponsoring this public workshop with NAPSR and the 
industry trade associations to solicit comments on improving and 
understanding direct assessment technology as it relates to the 
proposed gas integrity management regulation.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60109, 60117.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-25420 Filed 10-7-03; 8:45 am]
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