[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 13 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2727-2728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Technical Hazardous Liquid 
Standards Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of PHMSA's Technical 
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) to vote 
on a proposed rule to extend pipeline safety regulation to rural 
onshore hazardous liquid gathering lines and low stress lines. This 
proposed rule partially addresses a statutory requirement of the 
Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 
(PIPES Act of 2006).

DATES: The THLPSSC will meet on Monday, February 12, 2007, from 11:30 
a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The Committee members will join in by telephone conference 
call. Members of the public may attend the meeting at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, in room 2103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding 
this meeting contact Cheryl Whetsel at (202) 366-4431, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Meeting Details

    Members of the public who want to make an oral statement should 
notify Cheryl Whetsel before February 5. 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 send or deliver your comments to DOT's Docket Facility or 
send them electronically by the Web page http://dms.dot.gov. All 
comments should reference docket number PHMSA-98-4470. If you would 
like confirmation of mailed comments, please include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. The Docket Facility is in Room PL-401, DOT, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. It is open from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. Comments 
must arrive before February 5, 2007.
    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 February 5, 2007.

2. THLPSSC Background

    The THLPSSC is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that 
advises PHMSA on proposed safety standards for hazardous liquid 
pipelines. The THLPSSC was established under section 10(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and 
the pipeline safety law (49 U.S.C. Chap. 601). The committee consists 
of 15 members--five each representing government, industry, and the 
public.
    The pipeline safety law requires PHMSA to seek the THLPSSC's advice 
on the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability of 
proposed safety standards for hazardous liquid pipelines. The pipeline 
safety law

[[Page 2728]]

also requires PHMSA to submit the cost-benefit analyses and risk 
assessment information on each proposed standard to the appropriate 
advisory committee. THLPSSC evaluates the merits of the data and, when 
appropriate, provides recommendations on the adequacy of the cost-
benefit analyses.

3. Background on the Proposed Rule

    The THLPSSC will discuss and vote on the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking to extend pipeline safety regulations to rural onshore 
hazardous liquid gathering lines and low stress lines. Discussion will 
include comments received on the proposed rule published on September 
6, 2006, and the recently passed Congressional direction on the subject 
of this rulemaking.
    On December 29, 2006, the President signed the PIPES Act of 2006 
(Pub. L. 109-468) reauthorizing the pipeline safety program. The Act 
requires PHMSA to extend regulation to all low stress hazardous liquid 
pipelines. To accomplish this, we need additional information on the 
economic and energy impacts extension of the regulations will have on 
the operators of these pipelines. Many of these may be small operators. 
While we gather this information, we intend to act on the current 
proposal to extend safety regulation to currently unregulated rural 
onshore gathering lines and certain unregulated low stress pipelines. 
This will expedite safety protection for these pipelines.
    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 11, 2007.
Theodore L. Willke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-653 Filed 1-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P