[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 13215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2447]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket: RSPA-00-7666]


Request for Public Comments and Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Approval of an Existing Information Collection (2137-0610)

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.
SUMMARY: This notice requests public participation in the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval process for the renewal of an 
existing PHMSA information collection. In compliance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) described below has been forwarded to OMB for 
extension of the currently approved collection. The ICR describes the 
nature of the information collection and the expected burden. PHMSA 
published a Federal Register Notice soliciting comments on the 
following information collection and received none. The purpose of this 
notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days from the date of 
this notice to submit comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725--17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer.

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 
collection of information described below 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 information collection; 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, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. PHMSA published a 
Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period for this ICR on 
December 29, 2005 (70 FR 77247), and received no comments.
    This ICR relates to the rule at 49 CFR part 192, subpart O, which 
covers pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas for 
natural gas transmission pipeline operators. The Gas Transmission 
Integrity Management rule became effective February 14, 2004. The 
regulation improves pipeline safety through (1) accelerating the 
integrity assessment of pipelines in high consequence areas, (2) 
improving integrity management systems within companies, (3) improving 
the government's role in reviewing the adequacy of integrity programs 
and plans, and (4) providing increased public assurance in pipeline 
safety.
    This information collection requires operators of gas transmission 
pipelines located in or near high consequence areas to submit to PHMSA 
a written integrity management program and records showing compliance 
with 49 CFR part 192, subpart O. Operators must maintain these records 
for the life of the pipeline and PHMSA or State regulators may review 
the records during inspections. The regulation also requires each 
operator to submit four overall performance measures to PHMSA semi-
annually. This information collection supports DOT's strategic goal of 
safety by reducing the number of incidents in natural gas transmission 
pipelines.
    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 Integrity Management in 
High Consequence Areas (Gas Transmission Pipeline Operators).
    Respondents: 721.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,030,309 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 9, 2006.
Florence L. Hamn,
Director of Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-2447 Filed 3-9-06; 3:26 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P