[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55080-55081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19386]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. PHMSA-2022-0073]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities

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 requests abstracted 
below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and comment. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the information collections was published 
on June 16, 2022.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit comments regarding these 
information collection requests, 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. Comments can also be submitted electronically at 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-680-
2034, by email at [email protected], or by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 1320.8(d), 
requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected 
agencies the opportunity to comment on information collection and 
recordkeeping requests before they are submitted to OMB for approval. 
In accordance with this regulation, on June 16, 2022, (87 FR 36373) 
PHMSA published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on its plan to renew, without change, three 
information collections that are due to expire in 2023. PHMSA received 
no comments in response to the proposed renewal of these information 
collection requests. This notice announces that PHMSA will submit the 
information collection requests abstracted below to OMB for approval.

[[Page 55081]]

    The following information is provided for each 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 each 
information collection. PHMSA requests comments on the following 
information:
    1. Title: Reporting Safety-Related Conditions on Gas, Hazardous 
Liquid, and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0578.
    Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: 49 CFR 191.23 and 195.55 require each operator of a 
pipeline facility (except master meter operators) to submit to PHMSA a 
written report on any safety-related condition that causes or has 
caused a significant change or restriction in the operation of a 
pipeline facility or a condition that is a hazard to life, property or 
the environment. This information collection supports the PHMSA 
strategic goal of safety by reducing the number of incidents in natural 
gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines as well as in 
liquefied natural gas facilities.
    Affected Public: Operators of Natural Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and 
Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Total Annual Responses: 174.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,044.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    2. Title: Hazardous Liquid Operator Notifications.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0630.
    Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The pipeline safety regulations contained within 49 CFR 
part 195 require hazardous liquid operators to notify PHMSA in various 
instances. Section 195.414 requires hazardous liquid operators who are 
unable to inspect their pipeline facilities within 72 hours of an 
extreme weather event to notify the appropriate PHMSA Region Director 
as soon as practicable. Section 195.452 requires operators of pipelines 
that cannot accommodate an in-line inspection tool to file a petition 
in compliance with Sec.  190.9. These mandatory notifications help 
PHMSA to stay abreast of issues related to the health and safety of the 
nation's pipeline infrastructure.
    Affected Public: Hazardous liquid pipeline operators.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 110.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 125.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    3. Title: Notification Requirements for Gas Transmission Pipelines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0636.
    Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The pipeline safety regulations contained within 49 CFR 
part 192 require operators to make various notifications upon the 
occurrence of certain events. Section 192.506(g) requires that 
operators who use alternative technologies or evaluation processes when 
conducting spike hydrostatic pressure tests to notify PHMSA at least 90 
days in advance. Section 192.607(e)(4) specifies the reporting 
requirements associated with the expanded sampling and testing programs 
required (under Sec.  192.607(e)) when sampling of unknown material 
properties on onshore steel transmission pipelines identify unknown or 
unexpected materials. Section 192.607(e)(5) requires that operators who 
use alternative statistical sampling approaches when verifying unknown 
materials properties to notify PHMSA at least 90 days in advance and 
provide information about the alternative program.
    Section 192.624(b)(4) allows operators to petition for an extension 
of the completion deadlines to reconfirm maximum allowable operating 
pressure (MAOP) by up to one year if they provide an up-to-date plan, 
the reason for the requested extension, current status, completion 
date, remediation activities outstanding, and other factors. Section 
192.624(c)(2)(iii) requires that operators notify PHMSA when they 
choose to use a less conservative pressure reduction factor or longer 
look-back period when reconfirming MAOP under Sec.  192.624(c). Section 
192.624(c)(3)(iii)(A) requires operators to notify PHMSA at least 90 
days in advance when using an ``other technology'' besides those 
enumerated in Sec.  192.624(c)(3) for reconfirming MAOP using 
engineering critical assessment and analysis.
    Section 192.624(c)(6) requires operators to notify PHMSA at least 
90 days in advance of using an alternative technical evaluation process 
in reconfirming MAOP in onshore steel transmission pipelines. Section 
192.712(e)(2)(i)(E) allows operators to use other appropriate Charpy 
energy values (other than those specified in Sec.  192.712(e)(2)(i)) if 
they notify PHMSA in advance.
    Section 192.921(a)(7) requires operators to notify PHMSA (and 
applicable state and local authorities) at least 90 days in advance of 
using alternative baseline integrity assessment methods. Section 
192.937(c)(7) requires operators to notify PHMSA (and applicable state 
and local authorities) at least 90 days in advance of using alternative 
ongoing integrity assessment methods.
    These mandatory notifications help PHMSA to stay abreast of issues 
related to the health and safety of the nation's pipeline 
infrastructure. These notification requirements are necessary to ensure 
safe operation of transmission pipelines, ascertain compliance with gas 
pipeline safety regulations, and to provide a background for incident 
investigations.
    Affected Public: Operators of natural gas transmission pipelines.
    Estimated number of responses: 722.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 1,070.
    Frequency of collection: On occasion.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) The need for the renewal and revision of this collection of 
information for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information,
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are required 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, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 
1.97.
John A. Gale,
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-19386 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P