[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6857-6858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2929]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2012-0021]


Pipeline Safety: Notice of Public Meetings on Improving Pipeline 
Leak Detection System Effectiveness and Understanding the Application 
of Automatic/Remote Control Valves

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

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: The recent passage of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory 
Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 has set forth several mandates 
and reports to Congress that PHMSA must complete. Reports on leak 
detection and automatic/remote control valves are among these mandates. 
PHMSA is sponsoring these public meetings to further study how to 
encourage operators to expand the use of leak detection systems (LDS) 
and improve system effectiveness on the Nation's pipeline 
infrastructure and how remote control and automatic control valves can 
be installed to lessen the volume of natural gas and hazardous liquid 
released during catastrophic pipeline events.

DATES: The public meeting on Improving Pipeline Leak Detection System 
Effectiveness will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 6 
p.m. EDT. The public meeting on Understanding the Application of 
Automatic and Remote Control Valves will be held on Wednesday, March 
28, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. Name badge pick-up and on-site 
registration will be available starting at 7:30 a.m.

[[Page 6858]]

each day. Refer to the meeting Web site for updated registration 
information, agenda and times at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=75. Please note that both meetings will be webcast in 
their entirety. The webcast link will be posted on the above meeting 
page prior to the event. All presentations will be available on the 
meeting Web site within days following these public meetings.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at The Hilton Washington, 
DC/Rockville Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, Phone: 
301-468-1100, Fax: 301-468-0308, http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/IADMRHF-Hilton-Washington-DC-Rockville-Hotel-Executive-Meeting-Ctr-Maryland/index.do. Please contact the Hilton to reserve a room 
using ``U.S. Department of Transportation'' or ``USD'' for the room 
block name at the rate of $224/night. This room rate is available for 
the night of March 26 through the night of March 28 until the reserved 
rooms at this rate are taken. Please also contact the Hilton for 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance during these public meetings. The 
meeting room will be posted at the hotel on the days of the workshop.
    Public Meetings Registration: Please visit https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=75 and click on these 
public meetings to register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Jasion at 202-366-4774, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA will be holding two public meetings 
designed to provide an open forum for exchanging information on the 
challenges associated with LDS and automatic/remote control valves. 
Specifically, these public meetings will facilitate individual panel 
discussions for the following objectives:

March 27

Improving Pipeline Leak Detection System Effectiveness

    1. Inform the public, Federal and state regulatory agencies and 
legislators in Congress on state-of-the-art leak detection systems and 
the practical considerations involved with deploying and maintaining 
these systems.
    2. Identify the constraints and issues with deploying systems on 
existing and new construction pipelines.
    3. Collect public input that will help guide a PHMSA study 
investigating and documenting detection system challenges and 
considerations. Information from that study will help craft a future 
report to Congress.

March 28

Understanding the Application of Automatic Control and Remote Control 
Valves

    1. Gather and disseminate information on the state-of-the-art of 
automatic/remote control valve operations on the practical 
considerations involved with installing, operating and maintaining 
these valves.
    2. Identify the constraints with deploying systems on existing 
versus new construction pipelines.
    3. Collect public input that will help guide a PHMSA study 
investigating and documenting automatic control and remote control 
valve challenges and considerations. Information from that final report 
will help craft a future report to Congress.
Preliminary Agenda for the Public Meeting on Improving Pipeline Leak 
Detection System Effectiveness--Tuesday, March 27
8 a.m. Welcome/Event Objectives/Importance
8:10 a.m. Panel 1: Considerations for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Leak 
Detection Systems
10:10 a.m. Break
10:25 a.m. Panel 2: Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Leak Detection System 
Capabilities and Research
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Panel 3: Considerations for Natural Gas Pipeline Leak 
Detection Systems
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. Panel 4: Natural Gas Pipeline Leak Detection System 
Capabilities and Research
5:45 p.m. Wrap-Up/Next Steps
6 p.m. Adjournment
Preliminary Agenda for the Public Meeting on Understanding the 
Application of Automatic Control and Remote Control Valves--Wednesday, 
March 28
8 a.m. Welcome/Event Objectives/Importance
8:10 a.m. Panel 1: Valve Considerations for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
10:10 a.m. Break
10:25 a.m. Panel 2: Valve Considerations for Natural Gas Transmission 
Pipelines
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2 p.m. Panel 3: Valve Capabilities, Limitations and Research
4 p.m. Wrap-Up/Next Steps
4:15 p.m. Adjournment

    Please note that there are objectives for each panel and that they 
are posted on the meeting Web site. This information will explicitly 
illustrate the rigor of considerations regarding the subject matter and 
how they tie to the event goals.
    Webcasting: Both public meetings will be webcasted. Please refer to 
this event listed on https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=75 for more information.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 2, 2012.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-2929 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P