[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46915-46916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15955]


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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 (2137-0600)

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 pipeline safety reports of abandoned underwater 
pipelines. 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, 
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.
    Underwater pipelines are being abandoned at an increasing rate as 
older facilities reach the end of their useful life. This trend is 
expected to continue. In 1992, Congress responded to this issue by 
amending the Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. 60108(c)(6)(B)). The 
amendment directs the Secretary of Transportation to require operators 
of an offshore pipeline facility, or a pipeline crossing navigable 
waters, to report the abandonment to the Secretary of Transportation in 
a way that specifies whether the facility has been abandoned properly 
according to applicable Federal and State requirements. PHMSA's 
regulations for abandonment reporting can be found at Title 49 CFR 
192.727 and 195.402.
    This information collection supports the DOT strategic goal of 
safety by reducing the number of fatalities,

[[Page 46916]]

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: Pipeline Safety Reports of 
Abandoned Underwater Pipelines
    Respondents: Gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents per Year: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60 hours.

    Issued in Washington DC on August 5, 2005.
Florence L. Hamn,
Director, Office of Regulations.
[FR Doc. 05-15955 Filed 8-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P