[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1504-1505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Gas Gathering Line, Definition; Meeting of the 
Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Technical Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) to vote on a proposed rule to use 
consensus standards to distinguish onshore gathering lines, to 
establish safety standards for certain higher-risk onshore gathering 
lines, and to change current standards on low-risk onshore gathering 
lines.

DATES: The TPSSC will meet on Thursday, January 19, 2006, from 10 a.m. 
to 12 noon, e.s.t.
    Written comments must be received by January 26, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The Advisory Committee members will participate via 
telephone conference call. Members of the public may attend the meeting 
at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, room 3328.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding 
this meeting contact: Cheryl Whetsel, OPS, (202) 366-4431; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Meeting Details: Members of the public may attend the meeting. 
PHMSA will post any additional information or changes on its Web page 
(http://phmsa.dot.gov).
    Members of the public may make short statements on the topics under 
discussion. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement should notify 
Cheryl Whetsel, no later than January 12th of the topic and the length 
of the presentation. The presiding officer at the 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 by January 26, 2006, U.S.

[[Page 1505]]

Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. The Dockets Facility 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 ``Help 
& 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.
    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 (65 FR 19477) 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 January 12, 2006.
    2. TPSSC Background: The TPSSC is a statutorily mandated advisory 
committee that advises PHMSA on proposed safety standards for gas 
pipelines. The TPSSC was established under section 10(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1). The 
committee consists of 15 members--five each representing government, 
industry, and the public. The TPSSC is tasked with determining 
reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability of regulatory 
initiatives.
    Federal law requires PHMSA to submit cost-benefit analyses and risk 
assessment information on each proposed safety standard to the advisory 
committees. The TPSSC evaluates the merits of the data and, when 
appropriate, provide recommendations on the adequacy of the cost-
benefit analyses.
    3. SNPRM Background: On September 25, 1991 (56 FR 48505), DOT 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the definition of 
``gathering line'' in its gas pipeline safety standards. Because the 
proposal proved controversial, final action was postponed pending 
collection of additional information. In this Supplemental Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM), PHMSA is proposing use of a consensus 
standard to distinguish onshore gathering lines. PHMSA's gas pipeline 
safety standards do not provide an adequate basis for distinguishing 
these pipelines from production facilities and transmission lines. In 
addition, PHMSA is proposing to establish safety standards for certain 
higher-risk onshore gathering lines, and to relax current standards on 
certain low-risk onshore gathering lines. (Onshore gathering lines in 
inlets of the Gulf of Mexico are not affected.) Operators would use a 
new risk-based approach to determine which of its gathering lines are 
``regulated onshore gathering lines'' and what safety standards the 
lines must meet. At present, PHMSA's safety standards do not apply to 
onshore gathering lines in rural locations, while onshore gathering 
lines in non-rural locations must meet the same requirements as 
transmission lines. This regulatory approach is insufficient to assure 
that conditions on gathering lines that pose a greater risk to the 
public and property are addressed. And it does not take into account 
the lower risk some other gathering lines pose. The intended effects of 
the proposed rules are improved identification of gathering lines, 
improved public confidence in the safety of gathering lines, and safety 
requirements better tailored to gathering line risks. The TPSSC will be 
voting on the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability of 
this proposed regulation.
    PHMSA will issue a final rule based on the proposed rule, the 
comments received from the public, and the vote and comments of the 
advisory committee.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 5, 2006.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-224 Filed 1-6-06; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P