[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59906-59907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23798]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0161]


Pipeline Safety: Class Location Requirements

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry, extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On August 1, 2013, PHMSA published a notice of inquiry in the 
Federal Register on ``Class Location Requirements,'' seeking comments 
on whether integrity management program (IMP) requirements, or elements 
of IMP, should be expanded beyond high consequence areas (HCA) and, 
with respect to gas transmission pipeline facilities, whether applying 
IMP requirements to additional areas would mitigate the need for class 
location requirements. PHMSA has received two requests to extend the 
comment period to allow stakeholders more time to evaluate the notice 
of inquiry. PHMSA concurs with this request and is extending the 
comment period from September 30, 2013, to November 1, 2013.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on August 1, 
2013 (78 FR 46560), is extended. The closing date for filing comments 
is extended from September 30, 2013, to November 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0161. 
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 (DOT), 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 number 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 Statement heading below 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni at 202-366-4571 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 1, 2013, PHMSA issued a notice of 
inquiry (78 FR 46560), seeking public comment on whether applying the 
IMP requirements, or elements of IMP, to areas beyond current HCAs 
would mitigate the need for class location

[[Page 59907]]

requirements for gas transmission pipelines. It should be noted that 
the notice dated August 1, 2013, was incorrectly identified as a 
``Notice of proposed rulemaking'' instead of the correct identifier, 
``Notice of inquiry.''
    The notice of inquiry was published in response to Section 5 of the 
Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, 
which requires the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate and issue a 
report on whether IMP requirements should be expanded beyond HCAs and 
whether such expansion would mitigate the need for class location 
requirements.
    The American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Gas Association 
(AGA), on September 23, 2013, and September 24, 2013, respectively, 
requested that PHMSA extend the notice comment period deadline from 
September 30, 2013, to November 1, 2013, to give API and AGA members 
enough time to share the notice with their membership and to collect 
their members' responses and comments for docket submission.
    PHMSA concurs with API and AGA's request and is extending the 
comment period from September 30, 2013, to November 1, 2013. This 
extension will provide sufficient additional time for commenters to 
submit their comments.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2013.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-23798 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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