[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4327-4328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01596]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0123]


Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of 
Operators' Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of 
Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe

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

ACTION: Notice of public informational webinar.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public informational webinar on the 
scope of Section 114 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines 
and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020). The webinar will 
also cover PHMSA and state inspection plans to ensure compliance of 
operators' inspection and maintenance procedures to eliminate hazardous 
leaks, minimizes releases of methane (the predominant component of 
natural gas), and the replacement or remediation of facilities known to 
leak.

DATES: The informational public webinar will be held on February 17, 
2022, from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., ET. Members of the public who 
wish to attend this webinar must register no later than February 11, 
2022. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language 
interpretation or other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA no later than 
February 11, 2022. For additional information, please see the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The informational public webinar will be held virtually. The 
agenda and instructions on how to attend will be available on the 
meeting website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mkey=0913558304&mtg=159 once they are finalized.
    Presentations from the informational public webinar will be 
available on the meeting website no later than 5 business days 
following the webinar.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor, 
Program Development Division, by phone at (609) 771-7810 or by 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's 
mission includes prevention of the release of natural gas that can 
release methane into the atmosphere. According to the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, methane is a potent greenhouse gas 
with a global warming potential (GWP) of 28-36 times greater than that 
of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Compared to carbon dioxide, 
methane gas has a stronger warming effect, but a shorter lifespan in 
the atmosphere. Due to the high GWP, minimizing releases of methane 
(both fugitive and vented emissions) has near-term benefits to 
mitigating the consequences of climate change. Likewise, remediation or 
replacement of pipeline facilities that are known to leak based on 
material, design, or past operating and maintenance history can result 
in enhanced public safety, environmental protection, and economic 
benefits.
    The PIPES Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260, Division R) was signed into 
law on December 27, 2020. This law contains several provisions that 
specifically address the elimination of hazardous leaks and 
minimization of releases of natural gas from pipeline facilities. 
Section 114(b) of the PIPES Act of 2020 contains self-executing 
provisions that apply directly to pipeline operators. This section 
requires each pipeline operator to update its inspection and 
maintenance plan required under 49 U.S.C. 60108(a) no later than one 
year after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2020 (i.e., by 
December 27, 2021) to address the elimination of hazardous leaks and 
minimization of releases of natural gas (including, and not limited to, 
intentional venting during normal operations and maintenance) from the 
operators' pipeline facilities (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(D)). The PIPES 
Act of 2020 also requires those plans to address the replacement or 
remediation of pipelines that are known to leak due to their material 
(including cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, and historic 
plastics with known issues), design, or past operating and maintenance 
history (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(E)). In addition, 49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2) 
requires that operators continue updating these plans to meet the 
requirements of any future regulations related to leak detection and 
repair that are promulgated under 49 U.S.C. 60102(q). Pursuant to the 
PIPES Act of 2020, operators must have completed updates to their plans 
by December 27, 2021, and PHMSA (along with our state partners) is 
required to inspect these plans in 2022.
    The PIPES Act of 2020 further directs the Comptroller General of 
the United States to conduct a study to evaluate the procedures used by 
PHMSA and states in reviewing plans prepared by pipeline operators 
under section 60108(a) and provide recommendations for how to further 
minimize releases of methane from pipeline facilities without 
compromising pipeline safety. No later than 90 days after the date the 
Comptroller General's report is published, the Secretary of 
Transportation is required to submit to Congress a report that includes 
a response to the results of the study and the recommendations 
contained in the report.
    On June 10, 2021, PHMSA published an advisory bulletin in the 
Federal Register titled ``Statutory Mandate to

[[Page 4328]]

Update Inspection and Maintenance Plans to Address Eliminating 
Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas from Pipeline 
Facilities'' (86 FR 31002) reminding pipeline operators of their 
obligation to comply with Section 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020 by 
December 27, 2021. That advisory bulletin reminded owners and operators 
of pipeline facilities that the PIPES Act of 2020 requires operators to 
update their inspection and maintenance plans to identify procedures to 
prevent and mitigate both vented/intentional and fugitive/unintentional 
pipeline emissions. Vented emissions can occur during repairs, 
maintenance, or operations of pressure relief systems, or other 
controlled activities. Fugitive emissions include leaks from mains or 
service lines, meters, or excavation damage, as well as other 
accidental releases.

II. Public Webinar Details and Agenda

    The public informational webinar will take place on February 17, 
2022. During the webinar, PHMSA will review the scope and requirements 
of Section 114 and plans for PHMSA and state inspection of the 
requirements. Following opening remarks, the webinar will address the 
following topics: (1) Key elements of Section 114; (2) Significant 
sources of natural gas (primarily methane) emissions from pipelines; 
(3) Discussion of which types of pipeline facilities must comply with 
each portion of Section 114; (4) PHMSA and state inspections, including 
reviews of a pipeline operator's programs and procedures to reduce 
methane emissions; (5) Inspection topics related to methane reduction 
and leak-prone pipes; (6) General review of how operators' programs and 
procedures will be inspected; and (7) The timelines for actions 
required by Section 114.

III. Public Participation

    The webinar 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 special 
accommodations, please contact Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810 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 Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810 
or via email at [email protected] regarding any possible changes.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 24, 2022, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-01596 Filed 1-26-22; 8:45 am]
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