[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39134-39135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13764]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket Number: PHMSA-04-18938]


Request for Public Comments and Office of Management and Budget 
Approval of a Change to an Existing Information Collection (2137-0604, 
2137-0605, and 2137-0610)

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

[[Page 39135]]


ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
this notice announces that PHMSA forwarded an Information Collection 
Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a change to an 
existing information collection for pipeline integrity management (IM). 
The purpose of this notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days 
to submit comments.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments directly to the Office Management and Budget, 
Office of Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of 
Transportation, 726 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni by phone at (202) 366-4571 
or by e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA's IM regulations require operators of 
hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines to assess, evaluate, 
repair, and validate through comprehensive analyses the integrity of 
pipeline segments in high consequence areas where a leak or failure 
would do the most damage to populated, unusually sensitive 
environmental areas, and other populated areas. These regulations also 
require operators who cannot meet their evaluation schedules to notify 
PHMSA when temporarily reducing operating pressure or shutting down 
their pipelines. This change adds a requirement for operators to also 
notify PHMSA if pressure reductions exceed 365 days.
    PHMSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 
15, 2005 (70 FR 74265) requesting comments on a change to these 
existing information collections.
    PHMSA received comments from 12 parties: American Petroleum 
Institute and Association of Oil Pipe Lines; the American Gas 
Association; Texas Pipeline Association; Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, 
L.P.; Southwest Gas Corporation; Paiute Pipeline Company; Orange and 
Rockland Utilities, Inc.; Duke Energy Gas Transmission Corporation; 
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.; Panhandle Energy; Puget Sound 
Energy; and Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.--Liquids Transportation 
Segment.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, PHMSA will include 
the comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information 
collection. PHMSA is now forwarding the collection of information 
request to OMB and providing an additional 30 days for comments. PHMSA 
is inviting comments on whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DOT. The term 
``information collection'' includes all work related to preparing and 
disseminating information in accordance with recordkeeping 
requirements. The comments should address (1) whether the information 
will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Department's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (3) ways 
to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden 
on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of
        OMB control No.                  Regulation title            Number of       responses     Total annual
                                                                     operators       (percent)     burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2137-0604......................  Pipeline Integrity Management                71            0.85               3
                                  in High Consequence Areas
                                  Operators with more than 500
                                  miles of Hazardous Liquid
                                  Pipeline.
2137-0605......................  Pipeline Integrity Management               192            0.85               9
                                  in High Consequence Areas
                                  Operators with less than 500
                                  miles of Hazardous Liquid
                                  Pipeline.
2137-0610......................  Pipeline Integrity Management               721            0.85              34
                                  in High Consequence Areas Gas
                                  Transmission Pipeline
                                  Operators.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals.....................  ...............................           1,166             N/A              46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 6, 2007.
Florence L. Hamn,
Director of Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-13764 Filed 7-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P