[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29555-29557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10275]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Advisory 
Committees

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Technical Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous Liquid 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) to discuss various 
regulatory issues.

[[Page 29556]]


DATES: The technical pipeline safety advisory committees will meet in 
joint session on Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, 2005, from 8 
a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel 
(Pentagon City), 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202, 
[email protected]. The phone number for reservations at the Ritz 
Carlton is 1-800-241-3333 or (703) 415-5000. Attendees staying at the 
hotel must make reservations by Tuesday, May 31.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding 
these meetings contact: Cheryl Whetsel, OPS, (202) 366-4431; 
[email protected].
    Background: Reservations by attendees must be received on or before 
May 31, 2005. Priority is given to the Technical Pipeline Safety 
Advisory Committee members and State Pipeline Safety Representatives 
for rooms blocked under the Department of Transportation-Advisory 
Committee Meeting. Any additional information or changes will be posted 
on the OPS web page approximately 15 days before the meeting date at 
http://ops.dot.gov.
    The public may make short statements on the topics under 
discussion. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement should notify 
Cheryl Whetsel, (202) 366-4431, not later than May 31, 2005, on the 
topic 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 them to the 
Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. It is open from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You also may 
submit written comments to the docket electronically by logging onto 
the following Internet Web address: http://dms.dot.gov. Click on AHelp 
& 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 into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment. 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, please 
contact Cheryl Whetsel at (202) 366-4431 by May 31, 2005.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The TPSSC and THLPSSC are statutorily 
mandated advisory committees that advise the PHMSA, OPS on proposed 
safety standards for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. These advisory 
committees are established under 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 
regulatory initiatives.
    The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future challenges facing 
the pipeline industry and options for direction on key projects. The 
discussion will focus on three areas:
     Managing Risk and Integrity.
     Sharing Responsibility and Building Alliances for Safety.
     Improving Our Stewardship of the Environment, Security.
    The OPS will provide an overview on the topics that we will be 
exploring in each of the subtopics. Under each subtopic, several 
questions are provided to promote discussion. The agenda follows:

Wednesday, June 15 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Managing Risk and Integrity

    The OPS's primary responsibility is to use a risk based, 
performance driven approach to protect the 2.3 million miles of natural 
gas, petroleum, and other pipelines that crisscross our Nation.
    These pipelines transport two thirds of the energy supply used by 
American consumers each year. We carry out this responsibility by 
identifying safety problems, determining whether standards need to 
change and how much, enforcing the safety standards, and evaluating 
whether we are meeting our safety goals.
1. Inspection Technology and Quality Assurance
     How do we ensure that technology is applied to get 
credible results?
     Are the national consensus standards sufficient for tool 
selection and qualification of pig log interpreters?
     Is there a need for additional industry standards?
     Will these consensus standards solve problems in the 
future in other subject areas?
2. Pilot Operator Relief Valve Advisory Notice
     Is the process outlined in the advisory an appropriate 
approach to address the inspection of relief valves?
3. Human Factors
     What have we learned from the experience of other modes 
about human factors?
     How do human factors affect the performance of pipeline 
operators?
     What evidence do we have that human factors may contribute 
to incidents?
     Is the advice from other modes generally applicable?
4. Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP)
     Does the current plan draw data from all key areas?
     What are your views on including the decision to install 
and maintain excess flow valves in DIMP?
     Should OPS give special consideration to the small 
operators in DIMP implementation, master meter operators and liquefied 
petroleum gas (LPG) operators?
5. Liquid Gathering Lines
     Is the ``integrity'' approach of protecting pipelines that 
could affect unusually sensitive areas (USA's) appropriate?
     What safety functions are appropriate or needed?

Thursday, June 16 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Sharing Responsibility and Building Alliances for Safety

    The OPS seeks out partnerships with all of our stakeholders. Each 
provides unique experiences and information to augment our efforts to 
keep the people and the environment safe. One example of a successful 
partnership, between the OPS and the National Association of Fire 
Marshals, is the production of a video, Pipeline Emergencies, that will 
provide emergency personnel, state and local officials and others an 
overview of the pipeline system. There are many safety roles to play 
and some have yet to be identified.
1. Common Ground Alliance (CGA)--Virginia Experience
     Do you believe enforcement will be necessary for damage 
prevention?

[[Page 29557]]

     How do we improve effectiveness of the one-call system and 
what is the role of technology?
     How can we apply the Virginia experience in other areas 
(i.e., distribution integrity management)?
2. High Consequence Area (CCA) Pilots
     Is there a way of using partnerships to expand damage 
prevention, emergency preparedness and response?
     Are there key partners missing? If so, how do we enlist 
them, such as in the areas of emergency preparedness, encroachment, 
etc.?
     Should this best practice model be introduced to all 
States?
3. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
     Is PHMSA/OPS doing all it should to educate communities 
about LNG?
    Show Video Clip--Liquefied Natural Gas

Pipeline Information Planning Alliance (PIPPA)

     How do we approach home builders and insurers?

Improving Our Stewardship in Environmental and Energy Projects

    The OPS is the Federal pipeline safety expert and recognizes how 
important it is to share its expertise with other government and State 
agencies responsible for supporting our government's national energy 
policies. OPS also provides information and assists other government 
and State agencies responsible for protecting our Nation's pipeline 
system.
1. Permit Streamlining
     How do we introduce our concepts to State and local 
agencies?
     What is the most efficient way to develop best practices?
     How could we effectively use and improve on developing 
best practices during implementation of the second pilot program?
2. Alaska
     Are OPS's current pipeline safety regulations aligned and 
applicable for the new technologies and materials being proposed for 
the Alaska North Slope gas transmission pipeline?
     What changes need to be made to ensure the optimum 
delivery rate from Alaska, through Canada, and into the lower 48 
States?
3. Security
     How can OPS ensure continuing pipeline security in the 
current environment?
     What is OPS doing for pipeline security?

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 18, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-10275 Filed 5-19-05; 10:32 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P