[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 12948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5190]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket: RSPA-98-4957]


Request for Public Comments and Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Approval of an Existing Information Collection (2137-0049)

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: A person owning or operating a pipeline facility is required 
to maintain records, make reports, and provide information to the 
Secretary of Transportation at the Secretary's request. The Secretary, 
through PHMSA, uses this information to decide whether the owner or 
operator is complying with the Pipeline Safety Law (49 U.S.C.). This 
notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) 
to measure the need for paperwork collection from gas pipeline 
operators, to find ways to minimize the burden on these operators, to 
find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to 
verify the accuracy of PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work 
hours) on private entities. This notice also seeks approval from OMB to 
renew the existing approval of this paperwork collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 16, 2005 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments to the docket by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 20590-0001. Anyone wanting 
confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard.
     Hand delivery or courier: Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. The Dockets Facility is open from 10 am to 5 pm, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov, click on ``Comments/
Submissions'' and follow instructions at the site.
    All written comments should identify the docket number and notice 
number stated in the heading of this notice.
    Docket access. For copies of this notice or other material in the 
docket, you may contact the Dockets Facility by phone (202-366-9329) or 
visit the facility at the above street address. For Web access to the 
dockets to read and download filed material, go to http://dms.dot.gov/search. Then type in the last four digits of the docket number shown in 
the heading of this notice, and click on ``Search.''
    Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments filed in any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted for 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 (65 FR 19477) or go to 
http://dms.dot.gov.
    Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden estimated or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility 
of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of 
the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology to minimize the information 
collection burden.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Florence Hamn, Office of Pipeline 
Safety, PHMSA, DOT, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 (202) 
366-3015 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pipeline Safety Law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 
601) grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to prescribe 
minimum safety standards for pipeline transportation and for pipeline 
facilities. To enable the Secretary to decide whether a person owning 
or operating a pipeline facility is complying with this chapter and 
standards prescribed or orders issued under this chapter, the person is 
required to (i) maintain records, make reports, and provide information 
the Secretary requires; and (ii) make the records, reports, and 
information available when the Secretary requests. These records help 
ascertain compliance and provide information for incident 
investigation. PHMSA is requesting comments from gas pipeline operators 
regarding the burden associated with providing recordkeeping 
requirements. The feedback from this request will assist PHMSA in 
assessing how it collects this information and also ensure that gas 
pipelines are operated in a safe manner.
    As used in this notice, `information collection' and `paperwork 
collection' are synonymous, and include all work related to preparing 
and disseminating information related to this recordkeeping requirement 
including completing paperwork, gathering information and conducting 
telephone calls.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Renewal of Existing 
Collection.
    Title of Information Collection: Recordkeeping for Gas Pipeline 
Operators.
    OMB Approval Number: 2137-0049.
    Frequency: Annually, and as needed.
    Use: This collection is used by PHMSA to ensure its statutory 
mandates for gas pipeline safety.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,300.
    Respondents: Gas pipeline operators.
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 940,991.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-5190 Filed 3-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P