[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48620-48621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19929]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0139]


Pipeline Safety: PHMSA Pipeline Risk Modeling Methodologies 
Public Workshop

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce a public workshop to discuss the 
advancement of risk modeling methodologies of gas transmission and 
hazardous liquid pipelines, and the risk modeling methodologies used 
for non-pipeline systems. This workshop will bring industry, Federal 
and state regulators, interested members of the public, and other 
stakeholders together to share knowledge and experience on risk 
modeling within the pipeline industry and other fields, ways to advance 
pipeline risk models, and practical ways that operators can adopt and/
or adapt them to the analyses of their systems.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 
2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST, and Thursday, September 10, 
2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. (Changes to start or finish 
times will be updated on the PHMSA meeting page Web site, along with 
the meeting agenda https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=104.)

[[Page 48621]]


ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Crystal City Marriott at 
Reagan National Airport, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 
22202. Please see the meeting Web site for hotel room block information 
at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=104.
    The meeting agenda and any additional information will also be 
published on the PHMSA meeting page Web site.
    Registration: Members of the public may attend this free workshop. 
To help assure that adequate space is provided, all attendees should 
register for the workshop in advance at the PHMSA meeting page Web 
site.
    Please note that the public workshop will be webcast. The details 
on this meeting, including the location, times, agenda items, and link 
to the webcast, will be available on the meeting page Web site (https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=104) as they become 
available. Attendees, both in person and by webcast, are strongly 
encouraged to register to help ensure accommodations are adequate.
    Presentations will also be available online at the meeting page Web 
site within 30 days following the meeting.
    Comments: Members of the public may also submit written comments 
either before or after the workshop. Comments should reference Docket 
No. PHMSA-2015-0139. 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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 19476).

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please 
contact Mr. Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and Research Division, 
at (202) 366-2694 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and 
Research Division, at 202-366-2694 or [email protected] about the 
subject matter in this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    The Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR part 192 Subpart O; 
49 CFR Sec.  195.452) requires operators to continually examine ways to 
reduce the threats to pipelines in order to minimize the likelihood of 
a release, and ways to reduce the consequences of potential releases. A 
primary tool to implement this process is generally referred to as a 
``risk analysis'' or ``risk assessment.''
    To support integrity management requirements, a risk analysis 
modeling approach must be able to adequately characterize all pipeline 
integrity threats and consequences concurrently, and the impact of 
measures to reduce risk must be evaluated.
    This workshop will focus on advancing risk modeling approaches by 
looking at risk modelling methodologies for pipeline and non-pipeline 
systems, and practical ways that operators can adopt and/or adapt them 
to the analyses of their systems.

Background

    Subsequent to implementation of the integrity management rules, 
industry has adopted a variety of approaches to risk analysis. Many of 
these approaches are variations of the ``risk index'' models. Index 
models and other basic approaches to risk modeling have been 
implemented by industry for purposes such as risk-ranking pipeline 
segments to prioritize initial integrity management-required baseline 
assessments. Additional opportunities to utilize these approaches to do 
more investigative oriented analyses in order to identify specific ways 
to reduce risks are being explored.
    As summarized and discussed in past public forums and workshops on 
pipeline safety (e.g., 2014 Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum), 
industry and PHMSA are in general agreement that risk models need to 
evolve in such a way as to be more investigative in nature.
    PHMSA believes that improving risk models is important for further 
reducing the risk of pipelines to the public health and safety. In 
particular, PHMSA is interested in specific ways to advance pipeline 
risk models, and in practical ways that operators can adopt and/or 
adapt risk models to the analyses of their systems.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2015, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2015-19929 Filed 8-12-15; 8:45 am]
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