[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 53 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13342-13343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6129]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2010-0084]


Pipeline Safety: Workshop on Distribution Pipeline Construction

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

ACTION: Notice of Workshop.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is conducting a workshop cosponsored by the National 
Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) on new 
distribution pipeline construction. The workshop will allow 
stakeholders in the pipeline safety community to learn about and 
discuss construction issues and current practices in natural gas 
distribution pipeline construction management and quality control. This 
workshop will address common issues, focusing on the results of Federal 
and state regulators' perspectives, and explore potential solutions.

DATES: The workshop will be held on April 20, 2010. Name badge pick up 
and on-site registration will be available starting at 7:30 a.m., with 
the workshop taking place from 8:30 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/Mtg63.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 Hilton St. Louis at the 
Ballpark, 1 South Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102. Hotel reservations 
under the ``U.S. DOT Distribution Workshop'' room block for the nights 
of April 19 and 20, 2010, can be made at 1-877-845-7354. A daily base 
rate of $110.00 is available. The meeting room will be posted at the 
hotel on the day of the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent Holohan at (202) 366-1933, 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/Mtg63.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-2010-0084. Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     E[dash]Gov Web Site: http://www.regulations.gov. This site 
allows the public to enter comments on any

[[Page 13343]]

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 Vincent Holohan at (202) 366-1933, or by e-mail at 
[email protected] by April 8, 2010.
    Issue Description: Last year, PHMSA, NAPSR, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, and the National Energy Board of Canada jointly 
sponsored a construction workshop focusing on transmission pipeline 
construction issues. This workshop will focus on natural gas 
distribution construction. Natural gas distribution pipelines are 
subject to a unique subset of construction-related risks and issues, as 
compared to transmission and other pipelines. Federal and state 
regulator inspections of distribution pipeline construction projects 
occasionally observe patterns of similar findings. Poor construction 
quality has led to short and long term pipeline integrity issues and 
risk to public safety. The workshop will include presentations 
highlighting areas of concern based on inspection results and industry 
presentations describing practices and possible solutions. The panel 
format will offer the opportunity for dialogue and sharing of ideas for 
solutions to avoid construction quality issues.
    PHMSA developed this workshop in collaboration with NAPSR, state 
partners, and the American Gas Association to inform the public and 
review lessons learned from inspections, and to improve distribution 
pipeline construction practices. This workshop will focus solely on 
natural gas distribution pipelines.

Preliminary Workshop Agenda

    The workshop will include:
    (1) Federal and state observations related to inspection findings.
    (2) Distribution materials, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, 
related best practices.
    (3) Construction Issues, Joining, Horizontal Directional Drill/
Boring, Excavation Damage.
    (4) Discussions of solutions.
    Refer to the meeting Web site for a more detailed agenda: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg63.mtg.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 15, 2010.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2010-6129 Filed 3-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P