[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