[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75727-75728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32203]


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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, February 3 to Thursday, 
February 5, 2004, at the Washington-Dulles Airport Marriott Hotel, 
Dulles, Virginia. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) will provide 
briefings on pending rulemakings and regulatory initiatives. The 
advisory committees will discuss various proposed rulemakings and 
associated risk assessments.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the meetings at the 
Washington-Dulles Airport Marriott Hotel, 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles, 
Virginia. 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 
January 16, 2004, 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 may also 
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 in 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, February 3, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. e.s.t., the 
Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee 
(THLPSSC) will meet. The preliminary agenda includes briefings on the 
following topics:
1. Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operator Annual Report
2. Hazardous Liquid Integrity Management Program Update
3. Definition of Hazardous Liquid Gathering Lines

[[Page 75728]]

4. Permitting Project and Best Management Practices
5. Controller Project
6. Fatigue
    On Tuesday, February 3, 2004, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. e.s.t., the 
THLPSSC and the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee will meet 
in joint session and continue on Wednesday, February 4, 2004, from 9 
a.m. to 4 p.m. e.s.t. OPS will provide the Committees with briefings on 
the following topics:
1. Periodic Underwater Inspections
2. Annual Update of Standards Incorporated by Reference
3. Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective Public Awareness (API 
1162)
4. Amendments to Operator Qualification.
5. 2005 Budget Proposal and Departmental Reorganization
6. Pipeline Research and Development Program
7. Common Ground Alliance Update
8. Inspector General and General Accounting Office Reports
9. National Pipeline Mapping System
10. National Pipeline Security Preparedness
11. Safety Orders and Penalty Structure
12. Fire Marshals Project
13. Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT)
14. Energy Impacts

    On Thursday, February 5, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. e.s.t. the 
TPSSC will meet. The TPSSC will vote on the Cost Benefit for the Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking on the Passage of Internal Inspection Devices. 
The TPSSC will also be provided briefings on the following topics:

1. Pipeline Integrity Management for Gas Transmission Pipelines in High 
Consequence Areas (Final Rule)
2. Pipeline Direct Assessment
3. Gas Gathering Line Definition
4. Gas Transmission Definition
5. Excess Flow Valves
6. Waivers for Class Location
7. Permit Project and Best Management Practices
8. Integrity Management Tracking System
9. Controller Project
10. Fatigue

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 24, 2003.
Richard D. Huriaux,
Manager, Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-32203 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P