[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4128-4129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02316]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0109]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities, Gas and 
Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certification

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the information collection request abstracted 
below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and comment. PHMSA proposes revising certain parts of both 
the Natural Gas and Hazardous Liquid Base Grant Progress reports to 
make the data collected consistent with the data collected through the 
Pipeline Data Mart. A Federal Register notice with a

[[Page 4129]]

60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection 
was published on November 26, 2018.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 18, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-366-
1246, by email at [email protected], or by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding the burden estimate, including 
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal 
Regulations, requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public 
and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information 
collection and recordkeeping requests. In accordance with this 
regulation, on November 26, 2018, (83 FR 60557) PHMSA published a 
Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments on the information collection. In response, PHMSA received 
comments from the Pipeline Safety Trust and Vectren Corporation. The 
Pipeline Safety Trust requests that PHMSA add additional reporting 
requirements to this information collection to improve PHMSA's 
oversight of state grants and to fill agency-identified data gaps. 
Vectren Corporation supports the information collection, but notes that 
it could be improved by more detailed reporting instructions and more 
specific, consistent definitions for data and reporting.
    The data obtained from this information collection reflects State 
Program activities that measure program performance and how grant funds 
are being used. Separate efforts are currently underway to address the 
feasibility study of a Nationwide Integrated Pipeline Safety Regulatory 
Database and all options are being considered to help with this 
process. PHMSA also streamlined data fields in both the Natural Gas and 
Hazardous Liquid Base Grant Progress Reports to make the forms easier 
to read and follow.
    A summary of changes is below:
     Gas LNG operator categories listed together instead of 
separately.
     Hazardous liquid operator categories renamed to be 
consistent with Pipeline DataMart.
     Incident/Accident cause listing updated to match annual 
reports and Pipeline DataMart.
     Updated maximum civil penalties to current DOT level.
    The burden for this information collected has also been updated to 
account for a more accurate number of submissions received annually. 
PHMSA previously expected to receive 116 responses to this information 
collection request. PHMSA has since updated that estimate to 66 
responses (51 gas programs and 15 hazardous liquid programs). The 
estimated time burden for completing the annual submission is 58.5 
hours. PHMSA will submit the information collection, as described 
below, to OMB for approval.
    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 will request a three-year term of approval for the following 
information collection:
    Title: Gas Pipeline Safety Program Certification and Hazardous 
Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0584.
    Current Expiration Date: 02/28/2019.
    Abstract: A state must submit an annual certification to assume 
responsibility for regulating intrastate pipelines. Certain records 
must be maintained to demonstrate that the state is ensuring 
satisfactory compliance with the pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA 
uses this information to evaluate a state's eligibility to receive 
federal grants.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Total Annual Responses: 66.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,861.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Comments to Office of Management and Budget are invited on:
    (a) The need for the proposed information, including whether the 
information will have practical utility in helping the agency to 
achieve its pipeline safety goals;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques.

    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 February 11, 2019, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
John A. Gale,
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-02316 Filed 2-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P