[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 148 (Friday, July 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46218-46220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16587]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2020-0056]


Pipeline Safety: Gas and Liquid Advisory Committee Member 
Nominations

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

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is requesting nominations for individuals to serve on 
the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), also known as the Technical 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory 
Committee (LPAC), also known as the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee. Each committee is composed of 15 members 
appointed by the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary).

DATES: Nominations must be received by September 29, 2020. Nominations 
received after the above due date may be retained for evaluation for 
future vacancies after all other nominations received by the due date 
have been evaluated and considered.

[[Page 46219]]


ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Tewabe Asebe by email at 
[email protected] or by regular mail at the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30: 
E24-456, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tewabe Asebe by phone at 202-366-5523 
or by email at [email protected]. Interested parties can also access 
information about the GPAC and LPAC by visiting PHMSA's website at: 
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards-rulemaking/pipeline/pipeline-advisory-committees.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Advisory Committee Background and Duties

    The GPAC and LPAC are statutorily mandated advisory committees that 
provide recommendations to PHMSA and the Secretary regarding proposed 
standards for gas and liquid pipelines and facilities. The committees 
were mandated by 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sec.  60115 and 
established pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), to review PHMSA's regulatory initiatives and 
determine their technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-
effectiveness, and practicability. These committees prepare and submit 
reports to the Secretary regarding the technical feasibility, 
reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability of a proposed 
standard no later than 90 days after receiving the standard and its 
supporting analyses. The Secretary must publish each report, including 
any recommended actions and minority views. The Secretary is not bound 
by a committee's conclusions; however, if the Secretary rejects the 
conclusions, the Secretary must publish the reasons for the rejection.

II. Membership

    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60115, the Secretary is authorized to appoint 
15 members to both GPAC and LPAC committees that include (i) five 
members from departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the 
Federal government and the States; (ii) five members from the natural 
gas or hazardous liquid industry, selected in consultation with 
industry representatives; and (iii) five members from the public to 
each committee. Two of the government members of each committee must be 
State officials. Additionally, each committee must have at least three 
industry members who currently participate in the active operation of 
natural gas or hazardous liquid pipelines or pipeline facilities, while 
at least one industry member must have a background, education, or 
experience in risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Each committee 
must have two public members who have a background, education, or 
experience in environmental protection or public safety, while at least 
one public member must have a background, education, or experience in 
risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. At least one public member 
of each committee may not have any financial interest in the pipeline, 
petroleum, or natural gas industries. Finally, no public member of a 
committee may have a significant financial interest in the pipeline, 
petroleum, or gas industries.

III. Qualifications

    Committee members must either have experience with the safety 
regulations that apply to the transportation of natural gas or 
hazardous liquids or the operation of a natural gas or hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, or they must be technically qualified by training, 
experience, or knowledge in at least one field of engineering that is 
applicable to the transportation of gas or hazardous liquids or the 
operation of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility. Members must 
also meet the criteria listed under section I of this notice.
    Nominees should represent a broad spectrum of people for whom the 
candidate can advocate. In addition, the committees would benefit from 
members who have experience working in a consensus-building 
environment. PHMSA is particularly interested in members from 
organizations associated with fire safety, pipeline engineering, risk 
analysis, and emergency response, as well as those from other similar 
public safety or environmental protection groups. The Secretary will 
consult with the national organizations that represent State 
commissioners or utility regulators before selecting any State 
official. The Secretary will also consult with the national 
organizations that represent the owners and operators of pipeline 
facilities before selecting industry members. Nominations are open to 
all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual 
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical 
disability, or marital status. Evaluations will be based on the 
materials submitted.

III. Terms of Service

     Each member serves for a 3-year term unless they resign, 
become unable to serve, cease to be qualified to serve, or are removed 
by the Secretary.
     Members may be reappointed to provide the continuity 
necessary for the review of technical proposals.
     All members serve at their own expense and receive no 
salary from the Federal government, although the government may provide 
travel reimbursement and per diem.
     GPAC and LPAC generally meet in person in Washington, DC, 
or the surrounding metropolitan area.
     PHMSA will ask potential public candidates to provide 
detailed information concerning their employment, financial holdings, 
and research grants and/or contracts so that PHMSA can evaluate any 
potential conflicts of interest.

IV. Nomination Procedures

     Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals--including themselves--for advisory committee membership.
     Nominations must include a current and complete 
r[eacute]sum[eacute] that lists a business and/or home address, a 
telephone number, an email address, an education section, professional 
or business experience, a present occupation, and membership details 
for any other advisory committees (past or present) for each nominee.
     Each nominee must meet the training, education, or 
experience requirements listed under section II.
     Each nomination must include one of the following:
    [cir] A short biography of the nominee, including professional and 
academic credentials for inclusion in membership package.
    [cir] A one-page statement describing how the candidate will 
benefit the advisory committee, considering current membership and the 
candidate's unique perspective that will advance the conversation. This 
statement must also identify a primary and secondary interest to which 
the candidate's expertise best aligns. Finally, candidates should state 
their previous experience on Federal advisory committees and/or 
rulemaking committees (if any), their level of knowledge in their above 
stakeholder groups, and the size of their constituency they represent 
or are able to reach.
    [cir] In lieu of a one-page statement, a professional 
organization's letter of recommendation.
     Nominations must also specify the advisory committee for 
which the nominee is recommended (GPAC or LPAC).
     Nominations must also acknowledge that the nominee is 
aware

[[Page 46220]]

of the nomination unless the individual is self-nominated.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 27, 2020, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2020-16587 Filed 7-30-20; 8:45 am]
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