[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29333-29334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12384]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0127]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety 
Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety 
Standards Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meetings and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA announces meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety 
Standards Committee (TPSSC) and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) and the creation of a subcommittee 
to assist PHMSA in the preparation of a pipeline safety report to the 
nation. PHMSA will host a series of meetings with a newly formed 
subcommittee to review and consider information gathered in response to 
the U.S. Department of Transportation's and PHMSA's action plan and 
information related to a recent pipeline safety forum. PHMSA is also 
requesting general public comments including comments on a report 
titled, ``The State of the National Pipeline Infrastructure--A 
Preliminary Report.''

DATES: Comments on ``The State of the National Pipeline 
Infrastructure--A Preliminary Report'' must be received on or before 
July 13, 2011, to be considered by the subcommittee members prior to 
submission of their draft recommendations to the parent committees. For 
the meeting schedule see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Attendees should register for the June 15 and August 2-3 meetings 
in advance at: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/. On-site 
registration for each meeting will be available 30 minutes prior to the 
meeting start time. The meetings will not be webcast; however, 
presentations will be available on the meeting Web site and posted in 
the E-Gov Web site http://www.regulations.gov under docket number 
PHMSA-2011-0127 within 30 days following the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations and any new information or changes 
will be posted on the PHMSA/Office of Pipeline Safety ``Pipeline Safety 
Awareness'' Web page (http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/ pipelineforum/) 15 
days before the meeting takes place.
    Comments may be submitted to the docket 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.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590-001.
    Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 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 number PHMSA-2011-0127 at the 
beginning of your comments. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. You should know that anyone is able to 
search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our 
dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). Comments will also be placed on forum Web 
site at http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/. Therefore, you may 
want to review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or view the Privacy 
Notice at http://www.regulations.gov before submitting any such 
comments.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or to Room W12-
140 on the ground level of the U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your written 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the 
following statement: ``Comments on PHMSA-2011-0127.'' The Docket Clerk 
will date-stamp the postcard prior to returning it to you via the U.S. 
mail. Please note that due to delays in the delivery of U.S. mail to 
Federal offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that persons consider 
an alternative method (Internet, fax, or professional delivery service) 
of submitting comments to the docket and ensuring their timely receipt 
at DOT.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to seek special assistance at the meeting, please 
contact Cheryl Whetsel at 202-366-4431 by June 1, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
     Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Details: Cheryl 
Whetsel 202-366-4431 or by e-mail at [email protected].

[[Page 29334]]

     Report to the Nation on Pipeline Safety: Linda Daugherty 
202-366-4595 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Following several major pipeline accidents, the Secretary of 
Transportation issued a ``Call to Action'' and held a pipeline safety 
forum to engage pipeline safety experts, researchers, industry 
representatives, state partners, other Federal agency officials, and 
members of the public to identify actions to address America's pipeline 
transportation infrastructure. In response to the ``Call to Action,'' 
the U.S. Department of Transportation and PHMSA published a report 
titled: ``State of the National Pipeline Infrastructure--Preliminary 
Report'' and launched a Web site, http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/, for public engagement and regular reporting to the 
public. This Web site includes information such as ongoing pipeline 
rehabilitation, replacement and repair initiatives along with all 
forum-related comments. PHMSA continues to invite comments on the 
Preliminary Report in addition to any other ideas that may be relevant 
to pipeline safety. Comments should be submitted in accordance with the 
instructions detailed under ADDRESSES. Following the forum, a 
subcommittee of the TPSSC and THLPSSC was established to work with 
PHMSA staff to assist in the creation of a pipeline safety report to 
the nation. The subcommittee is made up of six members, three each from 
the TPSSC and THLPSSC, with equal representation from government, 
industry, and the public. At the joint advisory committee meeting in 
August, the subcommittee will present its recommendations and a draft 
of the pipeline safety report to the nation for the joint committees' 
review and deliberation.

II. Committee Background

    The TPSSC and THLPSSC are statutorily mandated advisory committees 
that advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments, and 
safety policies for natural gas pipelines and for hazardous liquid 
pipelines. Both committees were 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--with 
membership evenly divided among the Federal and state government, the 
regulated industry, and the public. The committees advise PHMSA on the 
technical feasibility, practicability, and cost-effectiveness of each 
proposed pipeline safety standard and provide feedback on policy 
matters.

III. Public Participation and Meeting Schedule

    Members of the public may make a statement during the public 
committee meetings. Statements previously submitted to forum should not 
be repeated. If you intend to make a statement, please notify the 
relevant contact under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 15 days 
prior to the meeting date. The meetings' presiding officer may deny a 
nonscheduled request to make a statement and may also limit the time of 
any speaker.
    The public is encouraged to attend the subcommittee kick-off 
meeting and the joint Advisory Committee meetings. The dates are as 
follows:
    1. June 15, 2011, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subcommittee kick-off meeting, 
Washington, DC. The agenda includes an introduction of the subcommittee 
and discussion of the subcommittee's task. This meeting will provide 
the public an opportunity to participate in an exchange of ideas and 
recommendations, including a discussion of the report outline, prior to 
the subcommittee's preparatory meetings.
    2. August 2-3, 2011, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., TPSSC and THLPSSC joint 
public meeting, Washington, DC. The agenda will include an overview of 
the subcommittee's deliberations and summary of the draft final report.
    The subcommittee will conduct preparatory work on the following 
dates:
    1. June 16, 2011, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subcommittee preparatory 
meeting, Washington, DC.
    2. July 13-14, 2011, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subcommittee preparatory 
meeting, Washington, DC.
    Meetings scheduled on June 16, July 13-14 are work meetings; public 
statements will be heard at the June 15, August 2-3 meetings.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2011.
Linda Daugherty,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-12384 Filed 5-19-11; 8:45 am]
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