[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71999-72000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6099]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Standards 
Advisory Committees and a Public Workshop

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

ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meetings and workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA's Technical 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous 
Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The Committees 
will meet in a joint session to discuss PHMSA's regulatory agenda and 
strategic plan. In conjunction with the advisory committee meetings, 
PHMSA will hold a public workshop.
    PHMSA will hold a half day public workshop to gather comments on 
the use of the special permit process to allow transmission pipeline 
operators to vary from the 7-year reassessment interval in integrity 
management programs. Specifically, special permits would allow 
operators to tailor their reassessment intervals, based on pipe 
specific threats. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for 
use in special permits.

DATES: The TPSSC and the THLPSSC will meet on Thursday, January 17, 
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The public meeting on special permit 
consideration and criteria discussion for 7-year reassessments will be 
on Friday, January 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be at the Hotel Palomar Arlington, 1121 
North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     Technical Advisory Committee Meetings: Cheryl Whetsel 
(202) 366-4431, [email protected];
     Public Workshop on Special Permit Consideration and 
Criteria Discussion for 7-Year Reassessments: Zach Barrett (405) 954-
5559, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Meeting Details

    Members of the public may attend and may make a statement during 
the advisory committee meetings or during the public workshop. If you 
plan to make a statement please notify the relevant contact under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION by January 9. Please note the meetings' presiding 
officer may deny a nonscheduled request to make a statement and may 
also limit the time of any speaker.
    Comments should reference Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470 (advisory 
committee) or Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-2000-7666 (7-year reassessment 
workshop). Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     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. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room W12-140, 
on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    Instructions: Identify the docket ID, at the beginning of your 
comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit two copies. If 
you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit 
comments at http://www.regulations.gov. Note: Comments will be posted 
without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in 
the Regulatory Analyses and Notices section of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for additional information.
    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any of our

[[Page 72000]]

dockets. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
    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 before January 2.

II. Committee Background

    The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are advisory committees mandated by 
statute to advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments, 
and safety policies for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. 
These advisory committees are established under 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). Each committee consists of 15 members, five 
each representing government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC and 
the THLPSSC determine the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and 
practicability of each proposed safety standard. The committees also 
evaluate the cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment information on 
each proposal.

III. Preliminary Meeting Schedules

    Joint Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committees
    Thursday, January 17 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
    The TPSSC and THLPSSC will meet to introduce new members and to 
discuss their roles and responsibilities. They will also discuss 
PHMSA's 2008 regulatory agenda and plans to carry out the DOT and PHMSA 
strategic plans.

Special Permit Consideration and Criteria Discussion for 7-Year 
Reassessments Friday, January 18 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)

    Integrity management regulations applicable to gas transmission 
pipelines required all operators to do a baseline assessment of 
pipelines. PHMSA will hold a public workshop to gather comments on the 
use of a special permit to allow certain transmission pipeline 
operators to tailor reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific 
threats, instead of using the 7-year mandatory reassessment required 
now. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for these 
special permits.
    PHMSA will post more detailed agendas and any additional 
information or changes on its Web page (http://phmsa.dot.gov) 
approximately 15 days before the meeting date.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115; 60118.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 14, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-6099 Filed 12-14-07; 2:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P