[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46914-46915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15954]


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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 (2137-0601)

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, Department of Transportation (DOT).
SUMMARY: This notice requests public participation in the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval process regarding the renewal of 
an existing PHMSA/Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) collection of 
information for Operator Qualification of Pipeline Personnel. PHMSA is 
requesting OMB approval for renewal of this information collection 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320. The 
public is invited to submit comments over the next 60 days on ways to 
minimize the burden associated with collection of information related 
to the pipeline safety reports of abandoned underwater pipelines

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference Docket No. RSPA-98-4957 and may be 
submitted in the following ways:
     DOT Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room PL-401 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
     E-Gov Web Site: http://www.Regulations.gov. This site 
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice 
issued by any agency.
    Instructions: You should identify the docket number, RSPA-98-4957, 
at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, 
you should submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that 
PHMSA received your comments, you should include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at http://
www.regulations.gov, and may access all comments received by DOT at 
http://dms.dot.gov by performing a simple search for the docket number. 
Note: All comments will be posted without changes or edits to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided.
    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any of our dockets. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Fuentevilla at (202) 366-6199,

[[Page 46915]]

or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, in including the use of automated collection techniques of 
other forms of information technology.
    Congress expressed concern with unskilled pipeline personnel in the 
Pipeline Safety and Reauthorization Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-561). This 
act authorized the Secretary of Transportation to require all 
individuals responsible for the operation and maintenance of pipeline 
facilities to be properly qualified to safely perform their tasks. The 
operator qualification requirements are described in the pipeline 
safety regulations at 49 CFR Part 192, subpart N and 49 CFR Part 195, 
subpart G. PHMSA/Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) seeks to extend an 
existing collection of information for Operator Qualification of 
Pipeline Personnel. PHMSA/OPS published the initial notice requesting 
public comment on April 18, 2002 (67 FR 19312-13).
    This information collection supports the DOT strategic goal of 
safety by reducing the number of fatalities, injuries, and amount of 
property damage.
    As used in this notice, ``information collection'' includes 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: Operator Qualification of Pipeline 
Personnel.
    Respondents: Gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 466,667 hours.

    Issued in Washington DC on August 5, 2005.
Florence L. Hamn,
Director, Office of Regulations.
[FR Doc. 05-15954 Filed 8-10-05; 8:45 am]
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