[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58389-58391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22913]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0086]


Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Transportation; Hydrogen and Emerging 
Fuels Research and Development (R&D) Public Meeting and Forum

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

ACTION: Notice of virtual public meeting and forum.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a virtual public meeting and forum 
titled: ``Pipeline Transportation and Emerging Fuels R&D Public Meeting 
and Forum.'' The public meeting and forum will serve as an opportunity 
for pipeline stakeholders to discuss research gaps and challenges in 
pipeline safety and emerging fuels, including hydrogen transportation. 
Furthermore, it will also serve as a venue for PHMSA, public interest 
groups, industry, academia, intergovernmental partners, and the public 
to collaborate on PHMSA's future R&D agenda.

DATES: The Pipeline Transportation and Emerging Fuels R&D Public 
Meeting and Forum will be held November 30, 2021, through December 2, 
2021. Members of the public who wish to attend the public meeting and 
forum must register between October 15, 2021, and November 15, 2021. 
Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language 
interpretation or other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA no later than 
November 1, 2021. Individuals will have an opportunity on a first come 
first

[[Page 58390]]

serve basis to sign up to participate in specific workgroups between 
October 15, 2021, and November 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: This public meeting and forum will be held virtually. The 
agenda and instructions on how to attend virtually will be published 
once they are finalized on the following public meeting registration 
page at: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=153. 
Presentations will be available on the meeting website and on the E-gov 
website, https://regulations.gov, at docket number PHMSA-2021-0086, no 
later than 30 days following the meeting. You may submit comments, 
identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0086, by any of the following 
methods:
     E-Gov Web: http://www.regulations.gov. This site allows 
the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by 
any agency. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System: West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9:00 
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Instructions: Identify the Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0086, at 
the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, 
please submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that 
PHMSA received your comments, you must include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard. Internet users may submit comments at: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Note: All comments received are posted without edits to 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
     Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice contain 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate 
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to provide confidential 
treatment to information you give to the agency by taking the following 
steps: (1) Mark each page of the original document submission 
containing CBI as ``Confidential;'' (2) send PHMSA a copy of the 
original document with the CBI deleted along with the original, 
unaltered document; and (3) explain why the information you are 
submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Nathan 
Schoenkin, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, DOT: PHMSA--PHP-80, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically 
designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
     Privacy Act: 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.
     Docket: For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. 
Alternatively, you may review the documents in person at the street 
address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Schoenkin by phone at 202-740-
1978 or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The mission of PHMSA is to protect people and the environment by 
advancing the safe transportation of energy products and other 
hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. PHMSA 
oversees the transportation of hazardous materials, including energy 
products, through all modes of the transportation industry--and is 
focused on the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government 
approach to mitigating climate change. PHMSA collaborates with 
stakeholders from the public, academia, interagency, international 
partners, and pipeline industry that share PHMSA's goal of advancing 
knowledge and technology in the pursuit of improved pipeline safety. 
The PHMSA's research agenda will adapt to address existing and future 
initiatives such as the market shift to more climate friendly 
commodities.
    Due to the importance of energy products and other hazardous 
materials to our economy and standard of living, it is essential that 
research projects promote safety, protection of the environment, 
reliability, and ensure our transportation system's efficient and 
reliable performance. To this end, PHMSA hopes to discuss and receive 
public feedback on repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of leak 
prone, legacy cast iron pipelines; integrity of underground fuel 
storage including hydrogen; utilization of inspection tools and network 
components on hydrogen pipeline facilities; integrity management of 
natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline to include carbon dioxide 
lines; and methane mitigation from pipeline infrastructure.

II. Public Forum Details and Agenda

    The virtual meeting and forum will take place November 30, 2021, 
through December 2, 2021. The first day of the virtual public meeting 
will include panel discussions in a general session between government, 
industry, research consortiums, and environmental advocacy stakeholders 
on emerging fuels and pipeline safety R&D. Each panel discussion will 
include an opportunity for questions and answers.
    The second day will be the virtual public forum which will consist 
of smaller workgroups that members of the public will have an 
opportunity to sign up for in advance. The workgroups will explore 
specific research gaps and topics, including the transportation of 
hydrogen by pipelines, and develop relevant research topics to address 
the gaps. The third day of the virtual public meeting will be a report 
from the workgroups as well as a public comment period.

III. Public Participation

    The virtual public meeting and forum will be open to the public. 
Members of the public who wish to attend must register on the meeting 
website and include their names and organization affiliation. PHMSA is 
committed to providing all participants with equal access to these 
meetings. If you need disability accommodations, please contact Nathan 
Schoenkin by phone at 202-740-1978 or via email at 
[email protected].
    PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register quickly enough to provide timely notification regarding last 
minute changes that impact a previously announced meeting. Therefore, 
individuals should check the meeting website listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice or contact Nathan Schoenkin by phone at 202-740-
1978 or via email at

[[Page 58391]]

[email protected] regarding any possible changes.
    PHMSA invites public participation and public comment on the topics 
addressed in this public meeting and forum. Please review the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice for information on how to submit written 
comments.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2021, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2021-22913 Filed 10-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P