[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40843-40844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17659]



[[Page 40843]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0050]


Pipeline Safety: Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Risk Models

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice to seek public comments on a 
report developed to support improvements in gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline risk models titled ``Pipeline Risk Modeling--Overview of 
Methods and Tools for Improved Implementation'' (Pipeline Risk Modeling 
Report). Pipeline risk models are a foundational part of the assessment 
of operational pipeline risk. Federal pipeline safety integrity 
management (IM) regulations require pipeline operators to use risk 
assessments. Based on the results of pipeline inspections and failure 
investigation findings, both PHMSA and the National Transportation 
Safety Board (NTSB) have identified general weaknesses in the risk 
models often used by pipeline operators in performing risk assessments 
for their IM programs. The Pipeline Risk Modeling Report considers the 
major types of pipeline risk models, and the effectiveness of each type 
in supporting risk assessments, as applied to pipeline operator 
decisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
    E-Gov Website: http://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the 
public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any 
agency.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation 
(DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of DOT, 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, PHMSA-2018-0050, 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 into 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.).
    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, 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-
2018-0050.'' 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.

    Note:  Privacy Act Statement: DOT may solicit comments from the 
public regarding certain general notices. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of 
records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Nanney, Project Manager, 
PHMSA, by telephone at 713-272-2855, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA is issuing the Pipeline Risk Modeling 
Report to support improvements in pipeline risk models and requests 
public comments. Both PHMSA and NTSB have identified a need to address 
the risk models often used by pipeline operators in performing risk 
assessments for their IM programs and provide guidance where 
appropriate. NTSB has issued three recommendations to PHMSA in this 
area. NTSB Recommendation P-15-10 recommends that PHMSA update guidance 
for gas transmission pipeline operators and inspectors on the 
evaluation of interactive threats, including the listing of all threat 
interactions that must be evaluated and acceptable methods to be 
used.\1\ NTSB Safety Recommendation P-15-12 recommends that PHMSA 
evaluate the safety benefits of the four risk assessment approaches 
currently allowed by the gas integrity management regulations; 
determine whether they produce a comparable safety benefit; and 
disseminate the results of your evaluation to the pipeline industry, 
inspectors, and the public.\2\ Lastly, NTSB Recommendation P-15-13 
recommends that PHMSA update guidance for gas transmission pipeline 
operators and inspectors on critical components of risk assessment 
approaches, including (1) methods for setting weighting factors, (2) 
factors that should be included in consequence of failure calculations, 
and (3) appropriate risk metrics and methods for aggregating risk along 
a pipeline.\3\ PHMSA is addressing these recommendations through the 
Risk Modeling Report process.
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    \1\ https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-15-010.
    \2\ https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-15-012.
    \3\ https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-15-013.
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    PHMSA organized a Risk Modeling Work Group (RMWG) composed of 
representatives of state and federal pipeline regulators, pipeline 
operators, industry organizations, national laboratory personnel, and 
other stakeholders. The purpose of the RMWG was to gather information 
regarding state-of-the-art pipeline risk modeling methods and tools, 
the use of those methods and tools, and the resulting data in operator 
IM programs. The Pipeline Risk Modeling Report provides an overview of 
methods and tools for improved implementation based on the results of 
the RMWG. The RMWG meeting notes and presentations can be reviewed at: 
https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rmwg/index.htm.
    The Pipeline Risk Modeling Report considers the major types of 
pipeline risk models, and the effectiveness of each type in supporting 
risk assessments, as applied to pipeline operator decisions. The four 
major risk model categories considered for gas and hazardous liquid 
pipelines are:
     Qualitative;
     Relative Assessment/Index;
     Quantitative System, and
     Probabilistic.
    Each model category is characterized by the model inputs, outputs, 
and algorithms and was evaluated according to its ability to support 
pipeline risk management decisions and regulatory requirements.

[[Page 40844]]

    The Pipeline Risk Modeling Report focuses on the applicability of 
the different risk model types to various risk management decisions 
required by the Federal pipeline safety IM regulations, including:
     Risk Priorities for Baseline Integrity Assessments;
     Identification of Preventive Measures and Mitigative 
Measures;
     Evaluation and Comparison of Preventive Measures and 
Mitigative Measures;
     Consideration of Threats and their Interactions in Risk 
Assessments;
     Benefit-Cost Analysis for Risk Reduction Options;
     Integrity Assessment Interval Determination; and
     Support of Continual Evaluation of Integrity and General 
Risk Management Decision Making.
    PHMSA invites interested persons to participate by reviewing the 
Pipeline Risk Modeling Report on gas and hazardous liquid pipeline risk 
models in docket no. PHMSA-2018-0050 at http://www.Regulations.gov, and 
by submitting written comments, data, or other views. Please include 
any comments on potential safety and environmental impacts that may 
result from issuance of the Pipeline Risk Modeling Report.
    Before finalizing the Pipeline Risk Modeling Report, PHMSA will 
evaluate all comments received on or before the comment closing date. 
PHMSA will consider each timely-filed, relevant comment we receive in 
making any changes to the final Pipeline Risk Modeling Report. Comments 
received after the closing date will be evaluated to the extent 
practicable.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2018, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2018-17659 Filed 8-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P