[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24593-24594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11042]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0026]
Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on Unusually Sensitive Area
Definitions and Pipeline Awareness and Engagement
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a two-part public meeting to discuss (1)
amending the applicable Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA) definition for
the Great Lakes, coastal beaches, and marine coastal waters and (2)
public awareness and engagement. During this meeting, PHMSA will
provide updates on amending the applicable USA and/or high consequences
area (HCA) definitions to include the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and
marine coastal waters and seek input on applicable definition options
and available geospatial information system (GIS) data. In addition,
PHMSA will seek input to determine the most effective methods to inform
all stakeholders on their shared responsibilities in relation to
pipeline safety.
DATES: The public meeting will be held on June 12-13, 2019, from 8:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Both parts of the meeting will be webcast. The
discussion on amending the USA and HCA definition will take place on
June 12, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The discussion on
public awareness and engagement will take place on June 12, 2019, from
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and on June 13, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. ET. Members of the public who wish to attend in person should
register no later than May 28, 2019. Individuals requiring
accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary
aids, may notify PHMSA by May 28, 2019. For additional information, see
the ADDRESSES section.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Atrium, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE,
Washington, DC 20590. The agenda and any additional information for the
meeting will be published on the following registration page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142.
Members of the public who wish to attend in person should register
at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142.
The meeting will be webcast and presentations will be available on
the meeting registration website and posted on the E-Gov website at
https://www.regulations.gov, under docket number PHMSA-2017-0094 for
the USA Definition meeting and docket number PHMSA-2018-0026 for the
Public Awareness and Engagement meeting, within 30 days following the
meeting.
Public Participation: The meeting will be open to the public.
Members of the public who attend in person will also be provided an
opportunity to make a statement during the meetings.
Written comments: Persons who wish to submit written comments on
the meetings may submit them to the docket in the following ways:
E-Gov website: https://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 the DOT West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket number PHMSA-2017-0094 for the
USA definition meeting and docket number PHMSA-2018-0026 for the Public
Awareness and Engagement meeting at the beginning of your comments.
Note that all comments received will be posted without change at
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
Anyone can 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.). Therefore, consider reviewing DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477), or view the Privacy Notice at https://www.regulations.gov, before submitting comments.
Docket: For docket access or to read background documents or
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov, at any time or to Room
W12-140 on the ground level of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and
[[Page 24594]]
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-2017-0094'' for the USA
definitions and/or ``Comments on PHMSA-2018-0026'' for public awareness
and engagement. The docket clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to
returning it to you via the U.S. mail.
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 https://www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at https://www.dot.gov/privacy.
Services for Individuals with Disabilities: The public meeting will
be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals
requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other
ancillary aids, are asked to notify Dr. Christie Murray at
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the meeting,
contact Dr. Christie Murray by phone at 202-366-4996 or by email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 19 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and
Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-183) required PHMSA to amend
the USA definition to include the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and
marine coastal waters. Proximity to a USA is one method to determine
whether a pipeline could affect an HCA. GIS data of USAs are available
by request for liquid pipeline operators. The definition of a USA is
established in 49 CFR 195.6. Hazardous liquid pipelines that could
affect HCA areas are subject to certain integrity management and
reporting regulations. To address this mandate, PHMSA must define,
identify data sources, and maintain a map of these areas in the
National Pipeline Mapping System. In November 2017, PHMSA held a public
meeting where stakeholders provided feedback on definition and data
source options. Since then, PHMSA conducted research to determine the
availability and quality of source data recommended at the November
2017 public meeting, and the level of effort to create and maintain the
proposed GIS data. Additionally, PHMSA analyzed HCA data, including a
July 2018 update to the Ecological USA data, to identify existing gaps
and overlaps of coverage in the coastal areas of interest.
PHMSA advances pipeline safety by providing oversight of public
awareness safety regulations and sets the national safety outreach and
engagement agenda by engaging with pipeline stakeholders to proactively
determine the most effective methods to inform the public, emergency
responders, excavators, land use planners and others regarding the
shared responsibility of pipeline safety. Sections 192.616 and 195.440
require pipeline operators to develop and implement public awareness
programs that follow the guidance provided by the American Petroleum
Institute (API) Recommended Practice 1162, ``Public Awareness Programs
for Pipeline Operators.'' Stakeholders will have an opportunity to
participate in pipeline safety discussions, including federal and state
regulators, trade associations, pipeline operators, the public,
emergency response officials, land planners, and excavators.
II. Meeting Details and Agenda
The meeting agenda will include briefings on topics such as
amending applicable USA definitions, pipeline safety, public awareness
and engagement, risk communications, API RP 1162, voluntary information
sharing, risk communications, national pipeline mapping system, and
more.
PHMSA will publish the agenda on the PHMSA meeting page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142, once it is
finalized.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2019, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2019-11042 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
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