[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58863-58864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23174]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0092]


Pipeline Safety: Request for Revision of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: National Pipeline Mapping System Program

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On July 30, 2014, (79 FR 44246) PHMSA published a notice and 
request for comments in the Federal Register titled: ``Pipeline Safety: 
Request for Revision of a Previously Approved Information Collection: 
National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Program (OMB Control No. 2137-
0596)'' seeking comments on proposed changes to the NPMS data 
collection. PHMSA has received a request to extend the comment period 
in order to provide more time to evaluate the proposed revisions. PHMSA 
is extending the comment period from September 29, 2014, to December 1, 
2014.

DATES: The closing date for filing comments is extended from September 
29, 2014, until December 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2014-
0092 through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9:00 a.m. and 
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
     Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2014-0092, 
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 in 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.). 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 visit 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 DOT's West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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-2014-0092.'' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Nelson, GIS Manager, Program 
Development Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, by phone at 202-493-0591 or 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 30, 2014, (79 FR 44246) PHMSA 
published a notice and request for comments on the proposed changes to 
the NPMS data collection. The NPMS is a geospatial dataset that 
contains information about PHMSA-regulated gas transmission pipelines, 
hazardous liquid pipelines, and hazardous liquid low-stress gathering 
lines. The NPMS also contains data layers for all liquefied natural gas 
plants and a partial dataset of PHMSA-regulated breakout tanks. PHMSA 
is proposing to expand the collection of this data to include more 
detailed information on several data elements.
    On September 4, 2014, the American Gas Association (AGA) requested 
PHMSA extend the comment period by 30 days. AGA supported their request 
stating that, within the notice, PHMSA outlines thirty-one different 
pipeline attributes that are requested in a geospatial format specified 
by PHMSA and that a 60-day comment period does not allow AGA, or its 
operators, time to fully evaluate the burden associated with meeting 
PHMSA's proposal. AGA also stated that the additional time

[[Page 58864]]

would allow them to conduct a survey of its membership to better 
determine industry capabilities for submitting the data requested by 
PHMSA in the format specified.
    Based on the reasons given by AGA in their request to extend the 
comment period, PHMSA believes that extension of the comment period is 
warranted. Therefore, PHMSA is extending the comment period to allow 
stakeholders additional time to evaluate the proposed changes.
    PHMSA is working with the Transportation Security Administration to 
appropriately identify the sensitivity of all new data elements. If 
PHMSA were to receive a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for 
this information, all applicable FOIA exemptions would be reviewed to 
determine whether the information would be releasable to the public.
    PHMSA understands that time will be needed for operators to 
acquire, organize or geospatially enable the data elements in the 
Information Collection Notice. A phased approach is being considered. 
PHMSA invites comments about a realistic timeline for pipeline 
operators to comply with the new NPMS submission requirements.
    Summary of Impacted Collections:
    The following information is provided for this information 
collection: (1) Title of the information collection, (2) OMB control 
number, (3) Current expiration date, (4) Type of request, (5) Abstract 
of the information collection activity, (6) Description of affected 
public, (7) Estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping 
burden, and (8) Frequency of collection. PHMSA requests comments on the 
following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0596
    Title: National Pipeline Mapping System Program
    Form Numbers: N/A
    Type of Review: Revision of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection
    Abstract: Each operator of a pipeline facility (except distribution 
lines and gathering lines) must provide PHMSA geospatial data for their 
pipeline system and contact information. The provided information is 
incorporated into the NPMS to support various regulatory programs, 
pipeline inspections, and authorized external customers. Following the 
initial submission of the requested data, the operator must make a new 
submission to the NPMS if any changes occur so PHMSA can maintain and 
improve the accuracy of the NPMS's information.
    Respondents: Operators of natural gas, hazardous liquid, and 
liquefied natural gas pipelines.
    Number of Respondents: 1,211.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Number of Responses: 1,211.
    Total Annual Burden: 420,516 hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection including: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the Department's 
performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the 
Department to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency 
will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Authority:  The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 24, 2014, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2014-23174 Filed 9-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P