[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 121 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35439-35440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14119]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2008-0161]


Pipeline Safety: Workshop on Cased Pipeline Integrity Assessments

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

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is holding a Workshop on Cased Pipeline Integrity 
Assessments and in coordination with a planning group representing the 
National Association of Pipeline Safety Regulators, American Gas 
Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, American 
Public Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, and NACE 
International, the workshop focus will be for pipeline operators, trade 
associations, and others to address concerns with successfully using 
External Corrosion Direct Assessment integrity evaluation methods and 
use of other technologies to assess casings in High Consequence Areas.

DATES: The workshop will be held July 15-16, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Suites 
Chicago O'Hare, 6501 North Manheim Road, Rosemont, IL 60018. Hotel 
reservations under the U.S. Department of Transportation room block can 
be made at (847) 699-6300 by June 30. A daily rate of $168.00 is 
available. The meeting room(s) will be posted at the hotel on the days 
of the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Max Kieba at (202) 493-0595, or by e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Registration: Members of the public may attend this free workshop. 
To help with estimating attendance and planning for the breakout 
session, all attendees are encouraged to register for the workshop at 
http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg54.mtg. Hotel reservations must 
be made by contacting the hotel directly.
    Comments should reference Docket ID PHMSA-08-0161. 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 has 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 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 Max Kieba by July 1, 2008.
    Web Casting: The workshop will be Web cast except for the breakout 
sessions on the second day. Information on the Web cast link, including 
estimates of times when the Web cast will be on, will be posted on the 
meeting Web site above. Presentations from the workshop and 
recommendations from the breakout sessions will be uploaded to the 
meeting Web site within 30 days after the workshop.
    Additional Information on Cased Crossings: The meeting Web site 
will have a list of technical documents participants are encouraged to 
review prior to the workshop, along with a list of questions and issues 
we will address during the workshop.

Workshop Agenda

    The first day of the workshop will include:
    (1) A background of the regulatory integrity requirements,
    (2) Technical updates by both operators and service providers,
    (3) Overview of research of new technology, inspection issues and 
the current integrity inspection positions,
    (4) Status of the stakeholders represented followed by panels 
presenting and discussing current NACE standards,
    (5) Approaches and assessment methodologies being used for cased 
pipeline segments, and

[[Page 35440]]

    (6) Research completed or underway.
    The second day of the workshop will include:
    (1) Breakout sessions on the above topics, followed by the group 
convening to talk about technical assessment successes,
    (2) New technology,
    (3) New integrity assessment approaches,
    (4) Status update of assessments, and
    (5) Long term issues.
    The second day will also serve as a brainstorm session for 
identifying discussion topics/issues that should be incorporated into a 
future public workshop on the broader issue of how pipeline industry 
can work collaboratively with others to reduce the need for casings on 
newly installed pipe.
    The goal at the end of the workshop will be to develop a list of 
potential solutions that can address the issues through usage of new 
technology, understanding of and/or changes to the regulations, 
updating of standards, operating practices and/or research. PHMSA will 
then analyze the list of potential solutions with stakeholders for 
consideration on which solutions can best address the issues.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 18, 2008.
William H. Gute,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E8-14119 Filed 6-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P