[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 76028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27894]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-19883]


Pipeline Safety: Oversight Implementation and Inspection 
Protocols

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

ACTION: Notice; Gas Integrity Management Workshop for Inspection 
Protocols.

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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 to 
discuss the oversight implementation of the Gas Integrity Management 
program and the Inspection Protocols. The workshop will provide a 
detailed review and discussion of Gas Pipeline Integrity Management 
Inspection Protocols as posted on the Gas Integrity Management public 
Web site at http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/gasimp/prolist.gim. RSPA/OPS and 
NAPSR will gather issues presented at the workshop needing additional 
clarification or guidance material development for the implementation 
of the rule oversight program.

DATES: January 19-20, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Westin Atlanta North (Perimeter Mall), Seven Concourse 
Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia. URL: http://www.westin.com. Phone: (770) 
395-3900; fax: (770) 395-3935. For discounted rates, please refer to 
the U.S. Department of Transportation block when making reservations. 
The deadline for reserving sleeping room accommodations is January 3, 
2005, at 5 p.m.
    This meeting is open to all interested parties. However, operators 
of natural gas transmission pipelines are urged to attend either in 
person or to observe the workshop via the internet. RSPA/OPS will web 
cast this meeting. To facilitate meeting planning and to obtain 
additional information regarding the web cast, advance registration for 
the meeting is strongly encouraged and can be accomplished online at 
the following Web site: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings. Internet 
links to the web cast will also be available through this Web site, or 
from the front page of the OPS Web site: http://ops.dot.gov. Those 
planning to attend this meeting through the web cast are strongly 
encouraged to review our tips for ensuring successful viewing in 
advance, as well as to register through our Web site. Registration both 
ensures that we can accommodate all attendees and provides additional 
information to them via the Internet. The deadline for online meeting 
registration is January 5, 2005. Walk-in registration will be 
accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Attendees will be provided the opportunity, at scheduled times 
during the workshop, 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'' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on hotel 
accommodations, contact Janice Morgan at (202) 366-2392 or 
[email protected].
    Contact Zach Barrett at (405) 954-5559; E-mail 
[email protected], or Jeff Wiese at (202) 366-2036; 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. You can read comments and other 
material in the docket on the Internet at: 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 at (202) 366-1933; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2003 
required RSPA/OPS to issue regulations, not later than December 17, 
2003, prescribing standards to direct an operator's conduct of a risk 
analysis and adoption and implementation of an integrity management 
program. On December 15, 2003, RSPA/OPS issued a Final Gas Integrity 
Management Rule (68 FR 69778) meeting the Congressional requirements 
for a risk analysis and implementation of an integrity management 
program. As in the earlier rule for integrity management of hazardous 
liquid pipelines, RSPA/OPS had four fundamental objectives for the Gas 
Integrity Management Rule: (1) To perform ongoing integrity assessments 
(i.e., in-line inspection, pressure testing or direct assessment) for 
pipelines that can affect high consequence areas; (2) to improve 
operator integrity management systems; (3) to improve government 
oversight of operator integrity management programs; and (4) to improve 
public assurance in pipeline safety. RSPA/OPS held an Integrity 
Management Workshop May 11-12, 2004, providing an in-depth discussion 
of the Gas Integrity Management Rule requirements.
    The January 19-20, 2005, workshop will provide insight into the Gas 
Integrity Management Inspection Protocols and implementation of our 
oversight program. Specific requirements of the rule, as well as a wide 
variety of information concerning its implementation and enforcement, 
can be found at: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/gasimp.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 16, 2004.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-27894 Filed 12-17-04; 8:45 am]
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