[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13309-13310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6690]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2009-0060]


Pipeline Safety: Workshop on New Pipeline Construction

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

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: Recent new pipeline construction inspections by PHMSA have 
identified issues regarding procedures and inspection of pipeline 
coating, welding, and general pipeline construction practices. Many of 
the issues required immediate response from operators to avoid 
impacting long term pipeline integrity before the pipeline was put into 
service. PHMSA is leading a workshop cosponsored by the National 
Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Canadian National Energy 
Board (NEB), on new pipeline construction in established rights-of-way 
to allow stakeholders of the pipeline safety community to learn about 
and discuss these construction issues and current practices used to 
resolve issues and ensure pipeline safety.

DATES: The workshop will be held on April 23, 2009. Name badge pick-up 
and on-site registration will be available starting at 7:30 a.m. with 
the workshop taking place from 8 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m.. Refer 
to the meeting Web site for updated agenda and times at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg58.mtg. Please note that all workshop 
presentations will be available on the meeting Web site within 30 days 
following the workshop.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 
Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Hotel reservations under the 
``U.S. DOT Pipeline Construction'' room block for the nights of April 
22-23, 2009, can be made at 1-817-535-6664. A daily rate of $149.00 is 
available. The meeting room will be posted at the hotel on the day of 
the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Komiskey at (202) 288-1818, 
or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Registration: Members of the public may attend this free workshop. 
To help assure that adequate space is provided, all attendees are 
encouraged to register for the workshop at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg58.mtg. Hotel reservations must be 
made by contacting the hotel directly.
    Comments: Members of the public may also submit written comments, 
either before or after the workshop. Comments should reference Docket 
ID PHMSA-2009-0060. 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 Elizabeth Komiskey at (202) 288-1818, or by e-mail at 
[email protected] by April 15, 2009.
    Issue Description: The pipeline industry is experiencing 
unparalleled growth driven by the need to satisfy the Nation's energy 
demand and bring new sources of supply to the market. In the conduct of 
its oversight of these increased activities, PHMSA inspections of new 
pipeline projects have

[[Page 13310]]

discovered a number of issues that could have a clear impact on the 
integrity of the pipeline.
    During the 2008 pipeline construction season, PHMSA inspectors 
discovered issues requiring immediate operator remediation prior to the 
pipeline being placed in service or requiring pressure reduction to 
assure pipeline integrity. Issues discovered during PHMSA inspections 
included poor quality control and procedures for welding, coating, and 
materials; as well as inadequate operator inspection and general 
construction practices. PHMSA developed this workshop in collaboration 
with our State partners, FERC and NEB to inform the public, alert the 
industry, review lessons learned from inspections, and to improve new 
pipeline construction practices prior to the 2009 construction season.
    Due to time constraints, this workshop will focus solely on natural 
gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines being constructed on 
established rights-of-way and will not include discussion on property 
rights, permitting or siting issues.

Preliminary Workshop Agenda

    The workshop will include:
    (1) Quality Control and Inspection,
    (2) Welding,
    (3) Coating,
    (4) Materials, and
    (5) Best practices for pipeline construction.
    Refer to the meeting Web site for a more detailed agenda: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg58.mtg.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 19, 2009.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E9-6690 Filed 3-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P